WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:01.175 --> 00:00:02.185 Speaker: It's the Casa Cast. 00:00:02.725 --> 00:00:09.879 We got Orange Credo Casa Cast, our Capto Casa Cast, created by Casa. 00:00:11.525 --> 00:00:12.465 Its for the show. 00:00:12.635 --> 00:00:13.305 Let's go. 00:00:16.210 --> 00:00:17.320 Steve V2: Hey, welcome to Casa Cast. 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:21.250 I'm Steve Shaw, your host, and today we're with Alfredo Arcos, the director 00:00:21.250 --> 00:00:23.290 of Partner Success for the Americas. 00:00:25.240 --> 00:00:26.400 Alfredo, thanks for coming on today. 00:00:26.700 --> 00:00:27.720 Thank you for having me, Steve. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:32.259 So, Alfredo, you live in Austin, you've got a wife and three kids, and 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:34.919 you come from a family of musicians. 00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:36.069 Speaker 3: That is correct, Steve. 00:00:36.349 --> 00:00:37.489 Steve V2: How far back does that go? 00:00:38.329 --> 00:00:41.760 Speaker 3: Well, as far as I remember, I think before I was born, 00:00:41.760 --> 00:00:45.470 my father was already a musician, and he was touring around the 00:00:45.470 --> 00:00:48.480 world in a band called Los Joao. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:52.930 And they were pretty popular in the 70s and the 80s, so Yeah, 00:00:52.930 --> 00:00:54.099 I have a musician background. 00:00:54.300 --> 00:00:54.919 That's really cool. 00:00:54.919 --> 00:00:56.129 And now what did he play? 00:00:56.339 --> 00:01:00.489 He played the guitar and it was, um, a second voice. 00:01:00.809 --> 00:01:04.580 And my uncle, his brother was the lead voice and the bass player. 00:01:04.789 --> 00:01:05.359 Really? 00:01:05.459 --> 00:01:05.780 Steve V2: Yeah. 00:01:05.899 --> 00:01:06.909 That's pretty cool. 00:01:07.420 --> 00:01:11.359 And so now that's been passed down to you as a musician. 00:01:11.380 --> 00:01:12.559 And what do you play? 00:01:13.330 --> 00:01:14.160 I actually play 00:01:14.229 --> 00:01:17.470 Speaker 3: multiple instruments and you know, every industry evolves. 00:01:17.880 --> 00:01:20.310 I started as a young kid playing drums. 00:01:20.914 --> 00:01:23.235 Then I grew up and I grew up with the guitar. 00:01:23.395 --> 00:01:28.744 It's not I'm just like the companion guitar But then my brother my older 00:01:28.744 --> 00:01:32.515 brother he put together a band He needed a bass player in this 00:01:32.515 --> 00:01:37.174 so I took the bass and I became a bassist Wow Quite the talented guy. 00:01:37.215 --> 00:01:40.634 That's a lot of different instruments to learn to play I mean one once 00:01:40.634 --> 00:01:44.214 you know how to play a string instrument is pretty easy to get 00:01:45.264 --> 00:01:50.684 . Steve V2: Yeah, I play instrument I play the stereo I play it quite well, actually. 00:01:52.184 --> 00:01:55.224 So Alfredo, you come from the hotel background. 00:01:55.994 --> 00:02:01.404 . Speaker 3: I joined Expedia in 2015 on the hotel side of the, of the industry. 00:02:02.094 --> 00:02:08.954 And back then we were totally focused on acquisitions and I needed to move 00:02:08.994 --> 00:02:11.344 and open several offices around Mexico. 00:02:11.534 --> 00:02:13.005 I was managing Mexico at the time. 00:02:13.914 --> 00:02:18.170 Then when COVID hit We needed to shrink a lot of those decisions that we made. 00:02:18.909 --> 00:02:23.879 And I was promoted to director for all the, like the head of Mexico. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:28.179 And I needed to move from Guadalajara to Cancun where I 00:02:28.179 --> 00:02:29.499 took my family to live there. 00:02:30.189 --> 00:02:33.819 That's when I got very much intrigued on the vacation rental industry. 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:39.070 Like how can you grow a business that's already big and huge and how can you 00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:46.605 give more experience to Or more available experiences for the travelers to have 00:02:46.695 --> 00:02:48.195 around the country, around the world. 00:02:49.635 --> 00:02:54.515 Steve V2: And so with all that experience and amazing background, 00:02:55.185 --> 00:03:00.074 you've been really thinking about how do vacation rentals transition more 00:03:00.204 --> 00:03:05.795 towards the hotel professionalization of the industry in some positive ways. 00:03:06.295 --> 00:03:06.975 . Speaker 3: So yes. 00:03:06.994 --> 00:03:10.954 And one of the things that I've experienced the most is it is very 00:03:10.954 --> 00:03:13.195 different than I didn't expect that when I joined the industry 00:03:13.244 --> 00:03:14.764 is it is very, very different. 00:03:14.764 --> 00:03:20.135 But what I do can say is both industries are focused on people, on giving people 00:03:20.135 --> 00:03:23.234 experiences, and they're going to be relying more and more on technology. 00:03:24.265 --> 00:03:30.825 So one of the things that I'm expecting to transition, at least with verbal, if to 00:03:30.885 --> 00:03:34.954 give more context, a couple of years ago, maybe five years ago, we were home away. 00:03:35.584 --> 00:03:40.575 And we were selling subscriptions for our property managers and everyone 00:03:40.785 --> 00:03:42.075 wanted to do this with Casago. 00:03:42.864 --> 00:03:48.154 Now, we have the model of paper hooking and we're actually 00:03:48.194 --> 00:03:49.424 optimizing in a different way. 00:03:49.454 --> 00:03:51.384 We're just not selling, we're account managing. 00:03:51.804 --> 00:03:56.890 So we're trying to get the most And give the best advices to our 00:03:56.890 --> 00:04:01.079 hosts and property managers so that they can have the best optimized 00:04:01.129 --> 00:04:03.219 product on the shelf for people to 00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:04.059 Steve V2: select them on. 00:04:04.969 --> 00:04:07.349 And what are some of those ways that you're helping them optimize? 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:10.489 Like what would be some practical application to that? 00:04:11.519 --> 00:04:12.099 Speaker 3: I think. 00:04:12.774 --> 00:04:15.535 There's the basic stuff like photos. 00:04:15.584 --> 00:04:17.075 You need professional photos. 00:04:17.095 --> 00:04:21.815 You need to be able to tell them and share what are the main 00:04:21.815 --> 00:04:23.114 difference about your property? 00:04:23.114 --> 00:04:26.684 Why they should be booking your property against another property. 00:04:27.345 --> 00:04:31.205 I mean you're competing with another properties. 00:04:31.275 --> 00:04:34.955 People want to compare and have the ability to make a choice. 00:04:35.105 --> 00:04:35.565 Yeah. 00:04:35.895 --> 00:04:41.474 So I think Right now by being optimized, you have, you have 00:04:41.474 --> 00:04:43.294 to have the right price point. 00:04:43.674 --> 00:04:49.124 You have to be compelling to attract the demand and, uh, it has to be 00:04:49.124 --> 00:04:54.664 easy to book and you as a host should be able to give experience, a great 00:04:54.664 --> 00:04:58.155 experience to whomever goes there that they are willing to come back. 00:04:58.664 --> 00:04:59.195 So I got two 00:04:59.195 --> 00:04:59.984 Steve V2: questions out of that. 00:05:00.815 --> 00:05:04.015 What makes a property more compelling? 00:05:04.015 --> 00:05:05.304 Right. 00:05:05.304 --> 00:05:05.435 I 00:05:05.435 --> 00:05:07.344 Speaker 3: think love. 00:05:07.870 --> 00:05:09.870 Starts when you see things, right? 00:05:09.910 --> 00:05:10.150 Yeah. 00:05:10.730 --> 00:05:11.710 In Spanish, we say, 00:05:13.880 --> 00:05:18.570 So once you see a beautiful property, you start getting interest, but 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:23.640 then reviews take a very, uh, it is very important for people. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:25.069 There's comparing reviews. 00:05:25.109 --> 00:05:26.139 How was the experience? 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:26.930 Is it true? 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.759 What you're seeing is what you're expecting. 00:05:28.969 --> 00:05:31.449 Sometimes it's not, which is unfortunate. 00:05:32.030 --> 00:05:33.049 And then the price point. 00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:33.530 Okay. 00:05:33.559 --> 00:05:34.489 It is a beautiful property. 00:05:34.549 --> 00:05:36.020 It's in a beautiful location. 00:05:36.049 --> 00:05:40.280 There's a lot of things that you can do around it, but it's, is it too expensive? 00:05:40.309 --> 00:05:44.119 Or then just a comparison between value and value offered 00:05:44.119 --> 00:05:45.229 and what you're willing to pay. 00:05:46.159 --> 00:05:49.640 And that's, I think, what makes it compelling, what you actually 00:05:49.640 --> 00:05:51.349 pay for the value that you can. 00:05:51.469 --> 00:05:51.799 Steve V2: Sure. 00:05:52.249 --> 00:05:54.559 Is there ever a time when a property is too cheap? 00:05:55.580 --> 00:05:55.760 Yeah. 00:05:55.760 --> 00:05:56.390 A hundred percent. 00:05:56.440 --> 00:05:56.890 That happens 00:05:56.890 --> 00:05:57.229 Speaker 3: a lot. 00:05:57.710 --> 00:05:59.960 It gives you uncertainty on what you're booking. 00:06:00.010 --> 00:06:00.330 Right. 00:06:00.640 --> 00:06:04.010 Sometimes paying a little bit more, wanting to pay a little bit more because 00:06:04.010 --> 00:06:07.109 you want to feel safe, because you want to be in a better location because 00:06:07.889 --> 00:06:09.799 there are multiple factors that affect. 00:06:09.799 --> 00:06:13.830 So pricing, it could go wrong if you go too cheap, right? 00:06:14.109 --> 00:06:17.369 So you need to find a way to find a price point and that's what 00:06:17.419 --> 00:06:19.599 we are here to help you with. 00:06:19.650 --> 00:06:22.439 Steve V2: Well, I will say this, that your team. 00:06:23.320 --> 00:06:24.440 Helps us tremendously. 00:06:24.469 --> 00:06:26.370 We love Alex and Jenny. 00:06:26.870 --> 00:06:27.370 Thank you so much. 00:06:27.830 --> 00:06:31.440 We think at Casago that they're the difference makers between 00:06:31.440 --> 00:06:34.469 you and the quote unquote, other OTAs that are out there. 00:06:34.499 --> 00:06:39.810 We're huge fans of them and they're very loved at the Casago 00:06:40.130 --> 00:06:41.459 company all the way around. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:45.420 So we're really grateful for the things you do and digging into that. 00:06:45.440 --> 00:06:49.994 So you spoke a little bit about being able to be account managers and bring them in. 00:06:50.445 --> 00:06:53.335 market knowledge to our franchise partners. 00:06:54.135 --> 00:06:55.815 And I think there's some new initiatives 00:06:55.835 --> 00:07:01.484 . , can you give us maybe an outline of what's to come and how market knowledge 00:07:01.484 --> 00:07:03.774 can help us become better property 00:07:03.775 --> 00:07:04.335 Speaker 3: managers? 00:07:04.944 --> 00:07:05.585 Of course, Steve. 00:07:05.585 --> 00:07:08.704 Thank you so much first for speaking about Alex and Jenny. 00:07:09.174 --> 00:07:11.974 They're amazing account managers and we need to replicate that. 00:07:12.489 --> 00:07:16.909 for every client or any customer that we have working with VRBO. 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:17.669 No, no, no, no. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.819 Steve V2: Just, just for Casago. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:19.429 Speaker 3: Okay. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:20.449 Exactly right. 00:07:20.469 --> 00:07:20.919 That's true. 00:07:22.069 --> 00:07:22.839 The best for the best. 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:25.659 So, yes, that's where account management comes in. 00:07:25.669 --> 00:07:31.159 So, one of the differences between the hotels and the vacation rentals, there are 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:33.359 lots of differences, but this one's key. 00:07:33.359 --> 00:07:33.429 Okay. 00:07:34.294 --> 00:07:39.634 The hotel is located in one place and there will always be a hotel and houses. 00:07:40.024 --> 00:07:43.844 They sometimes are part of the, of a vacation rental property owner. 00:07:43.844 --> 00:07:47.224 And then the other day could not be right. 00:07:47.544 --> 00:07:51.094 So we need people that could be alert on that happening. 00:07:51.494 --> 00:07:54.844 People that knows what's happening in the market, people that knows what 00:07:54.844 --> 00:07:56.094 is the seasonality of the market. 00:07:56.114 --> 00:08:02.314 So we can provide the best data available to those property managers or, okay. 00:08:03.304 --> 00:08:09.324 or whoever works with us to make the best decision available to make 00:08:09.424 --> 00:08:10.994 the best out of their businesses. 00:08:11.014 --> 00:08:11.324 Yeah. 00:08:11.944 --> 00:08:16.244 Steve V2: Is there some KPIs that you guys are able to share with us or 00:08:16.294 --> 00:08:20.964 measurements of quality or expertise that we're going to be able to look 00:08:20.964 --> 00:08:24.834 at when we're thinking about market knowledge and trying to figure out 00:08:24.844 --> 00:08:26.464 how to best serve our customers? 00:08:26.895 --> 00:08:28.125 homeowners and our guests. 00:08:28.715 --> 00:08:29.185 What I 00:08:29.235 --> 00:08:31.985 Speaker 3: do can share is we can talk about revenue. 00:08:32.495 --> 00:08:35.055 We can talk about calendar and bookings. 00:08:35.545 --> 00:08:39.195 And I think if we focus on that, increasing our bookings, 00:08:39.195 --> 00:08:42.804 increasing our revenue, that will allow us to make decisions. 00:08:42.805 --> 00:08:43.115 Okay. 00:08:43.155 --> 00:08:45.185 So what is the trade off in the future? 00:08:45.285 --> 00:08:50.185 Are my willing to open more dates to make more business? 00:08:50.215 --> 00:08:51.575 Or you know what? 00:08:51.595 --> 00:08:53.885 I'm actually saving those dates because I want to book. 00:08:53.925 --> 00:08:57.319 I mean, There's a lot of channels, there's a lot of ways to make revenue, 00:08:57.359 --> 00:09:01.800 and that's on each one of the business participants to make a call on. 00:09:02.410 --> 00:09:07.290 But what we at Spargo can promise is we will deliver the demand and we'll 00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:11.089 help you make the best choices to optimize your properties to get the more 00:09:11.109 --> 00:09:12.719 bookings and the best revenue available. 00:09:12.800 --> 00:09:14.129 Steve V2: Yeah, that's great. 00:09:14.199 --> 00:09:15.359 We really appreciate that. 00:09:15.359 --> 00:09:18.084 So, final questions as we're starting to wind down. 00:09:18.084 --> 00:09:19.569 First of all, appreciate you coming on. 00:09:20.345 --> 00:09:21.735 This is your first CosaCon. 00:09:22.025 --> 00:09:22.485 Yes. 00:09:22.525 --> 00:09:27.885 What's your initial thoughts as you see this first day sort of transpiring? 00:09:28.764 --> 00:09:30.925 Speaker 3: I can say at least two things, Steve. 00:09:30.965 --> 00:09:35.005 One, I've been amazed of the quality of the people, like you 00:09:35.115 --> 00:09:39.965 and your team, how they built the relationship with everyone here. 00:09:39.995 --> 00:09:42.225 So it's, you feel like you're at home. 00:09:42.795 --> 00:09:44.555 So that's, that's an amazing feeling. 00:09:45.545 --> 00:09:48.174 And the second thing that I could say is like, it is super 00:09:48.174 --> 00:09:53.265 professionalized, organized, You have the ability to speak with everyone. 00:09:53.385 --> 00:09:58.314 You have the ability to provide valuable information for them to get some trends, 00:09:58.314 --> 00:10:04.234 to get what's happening in their world and actually implement it very fast. 00:10:04.404 --> 00:10:05.855 So congratulations on this. 00:10:06.024 --> 00:10:06.364 Thank you. 00:10:06.365 --> 00:10:09.015 And congratulations on choosing Mexico city, by the way. 00:10:09.255 --> 00:10:09.975 Steve V2: Isn't this great. 00:10:10.105 --> 00:10:11.834 It is a great destination. 00:10:12.334 --> 00:10:14.624 what's your favorite thing about Casago? 00:10:17.469 --> 00:10:18.369 I will definitely say 00:10:18.369 --> 00:10:18.809 Speaker 3: the people. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:19.459 Steve V2: Yeah. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:22.029 Speaker 3: It makes total difference when you connect with people. 00:10:22.689 --> 00:10:25.029 Businesses are done within people. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:25.359 So 00:10:25.829 --> 00:10:26.139 Steve V2: congratulations 00:10:26.149 --> 00:10:26.199 Speaker 3: on that. 00:10:26.989 --> 00:10:29.509 Steve V2: Have you ever heard the words owner centric before? 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:30.379 Yes, sir. 00:10:30.579 --> 00:10:34.019 So, you know, that's a big part of what we talk about every day with Casago. 00:10:34.909 --> 00:10:39.389 Now with you coming in from the outside, your perspective really matters. 00:10:40.509 --> 00:10:42.199 What does owner centric mean to you? 00:10:43.824 --> 00:10:46.114 Speaker 3: That is a very broad question that I will, I will try to 00:10:46.114 --> 00:10:47.594 narrow it down at least in two things. 00:10:47.604 --> 00:10:56.964 So on recentric it's you're not just any owner, each owner matters and they, 00:10:57.104 --> 00:11:01.574 each one of them have different needs and you're actually have the time to get 00:11:01.574 --> 00:11:03.334 to know those needs and tend to them. 00:11:03.474 --> 00:11:04.891 Yeah, I love 00:11:04.891 --> 00:11:05.454 Steve V2: that. 00:11:05.454 --> 00:11:06.684 Thank you very much for coming on. 00:11:06.864 --> 00:11:08.034 Thank you for having me, Steve. 00:11:08.154 --> 00:11:12.069 And then lastly, You and I have a date with destiny. 00:11:12.149 --> 00:11:12.639 Yes. 00:11:12.809 --> 00:11:14.629 With some hot chicken wings coming up. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.789 So that's going to be a lot of fun. 00:11:15.909 --> 00:11:16.439 That's going to be 00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:16.829 Speaker 3: fun. 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:21.939 I'm Mexican but I'm not that, I don't eat that much. 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:24.319 I'm new Mexican so I feel like 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.519 Steve V2: I've got the advantage on you. 00:11:25.609 --> 00:11:26.039 . Speaker 3: Let's do 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:26.179 Steve V2: it. 00:11:26.209 --> 00:11:26.689 Challenge 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.419 Speaker 3: accepted. 00:11:28.850 --> 00:11:29.120 Steve V2: All right. 00:11:29.510 --> 00:11:30.410 See you in Austin for that. 00:11:30.415 --> 00:11:30.685 Thanks pal. 00:11:30.685 --> 00:11:31.365 Thank you my friend. 00:11:31.915 --> 00:11:32.965 Speaker: It's the casa cast. 00:11:33.415 --> 00:11:36.725 We're ca they 00:11:39.095 --> 00:11:39.605 don't call. 00:11:45.065 --> 00:11:45.725 We got orange 00:11:48.935 --> 00:11:49.285 Herto.