The Cohost Bros 98 - From Luxury STR Builder to VR Nation President | Tera Lorimer
In this bonus episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast, Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Tera Lorimer, a luxury vacation rental operator with nearly two decades of experience in the industry and the current President of VR Nation.
Tera’s journey started in 2001 as a custom home builder, constructing vacation homes near Mount Baker, Washington, one of the snowiest places in North America. Over time she transitioned into managing many of those homes herself, building a luxury STR management business focused on high-end properties in gated communities near the ski resort.
Through years of growth, mistakes, and hard lessons, Tera developed a strong brand built around quality standards, clear expectations, and learning when to say no to the wrong properties.
In addition to running her management company, she now serves as President of VR Nation, an organization focused on connecting professional operators, vendors, and leaders in the vacation rental industry.
In this episode, we discuss:
• How Tera transitioned from builder to luxury STR operator • Managing vacation rentals in the Mount Baker ski market • Why saying no to the wrong properties is critical for long-term success • How the vacation rental industry has evolved over the last 20 years • The growing consolidation and professionalization of STR management • What VR Nation is doing to support operators and industry collaboration
If you're building a vacation rental business or looking to connect with leaders shaping the industry, this episode offers perspective from someone who has been in the space since long before STRs became mainstream.
🎟️ VR Nation Conference
If you want to connect with operators and vendors across the vacation rental industry, check out the VR Nation Conference in Denver.
Use code cohostbros to get $100 off your ticket. (All lowercase)
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Matt Codd
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Austin Spitzenberger
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/