A View From The Road – Travel with Xplorie Across the New Landscape of the Vacation Rental Industry
November 9, 2020
Xplorie President and CEO Matt Loney hit the road this summer for a 6-month road trip across the country in order to see first-hand how the vacation rental industry was adapting during the pandemic and to gain some insight on how to best navigate the new industry landscape. Here is Matt’s view from the road…
For individuals who share my passion for human interaction, the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging. Lively, in-person meetings have now been replaced with glitchy, impersonal Zoom calls. Exciting and energizing conferences have either been canceled or moved to virtual platforms— where engagement is measured by short comments streaming across a page like some bizarre new social media platform.
Initially, I leaned into this new normal. I challenged myself to use the current circumstances to grow both personally and professionally. I read books on successfully managing a remote workforce. I even had a designated conference “booth” constructed in our office. I purchased professional lighting and high-end microphones. I threw myself into the process of providing the best “experience” for our virtual guests.
But ultimately it all fell— and felt— flat.
Regrouping by… camping?
Looking back, I am not sure why I was surprised. Humans are by our very nature social beings— we’re wired for it. And what more is travel than the expression of the desire to experience that inherent socialization firsthand? To truly understand the importance and power of shared experiences, take a look at the staggering, record-breaking occupancy rates seen in many U.S. drive markets following the easing of stay-at-home orders.
So as COVID-19 cases climbed in some of our popular Xplorie markets— and it became increasingly obvious that the dynamic fall conference season would not include any in-person events— I knew something had to change. I couldn’t spend the next few months cooped up in my virtual office. I needed to regroup.
So I set out to find a creative way to accomplish three things. First, I knew I needed to fulfill my ever-increasing need for socialization. I was craving authentic human interaction, and I knew I was beginning to whither without it. Second, I wanted to indulge my love of travel. And third, I wanted to engage in-person as safely as possible with our Xplorie clients and industry leaders.
After much consideration, I ultimately landed on the use of a Class B RV— aka a “camper van”— as my means of transportation for a 6-month road trip across the country. Go big or go home, right? Literally.
Before I set out on my trip, I wanted to be clear on my goals. The primary goal is, of course, to strengthen Xplorie’s relationships with our amazing clients. Even in the best of times, I rarely had the ideal combination of opportunity and time to meet face-to-face with some of our incredible partners. Now was the moment I could make that happen.
But I also have a secondary goal— to understand and see firsthand the ways in which the pandemic has temporarily, and permanently, changed the travel industry. And what this means for the future of Xplorie.
Acknowledge Loss— And Then Get Moving
A fitting quote I have come to appreciate says we must “mourn our plans and make new ones.” As the largest activity provider to the vacation rental industry, Xplorie has seen significant growth over the past 5 years. Before the pandemic hit, we were poised to grow another 40% year-over-year. Mourning my plans was not something that came easily, but it was important to take a moment to acknowledge the loss. It’s the only way to move on.
Many of the plans and strategies I had for Xplorie in January were either needing to be reprioritized or modified— or simply scrapped altogether. In any other set of circumstances, this would be par for the course. Mid-course corrections to any corporate strategy are completely normal and expected. But building a new strategy when I didn’t have a solid understanding of the landscape? That felt like I was throwing darts in the dark.
Only by deeply understanding the new problems faced by our clients and their guests can Xplorie build new strategies and products that move our industry and our client’s businesses forward. I soon began to realize that the answers I needed to guide Xplorie forward were not likely to be found sitting in our virtual corporate office and enduring more soul-draining Zoom calls. They would need to be discovered and sharpened through in-person meetings and shared experiences in the markets we serve.
So I rented my camper van, stocked up on my face mask collection, packed the van with hand sanitizer, and hit the road.
Making the New Normal Work For Me— And You
As I set out on this epic journey, I am hopeful that I might also accomplish another, more personal goal. I’m hoping to provide a small dose of normalcy to those I have the opportunity to meet during these crazy, challenging times.
And I also hope to be able to share my view from the road with you, documenting my thoughts and experiences for those who are searching for the same clarity to ensure a successful tomorrow for their own businesses.
Since I’m based in Destin, Florida, my first few “warm-up” trips will be to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida. Then we’ll be getting serious and heading into Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia— clocking almost 2,700 miles over seven days. Then it’s on to see our friends in South Padre Island and Galveston, Texas.
Matthew Loney, President and CEO at Xplorie
