The Non-Negotiable Tech Stack for Luxury Hospitality Brands in 2026
You don't need an enterprise technology budget to begin positioning for the AI era. Start with three foundational steps:
Audit your structured data. AI systems parse structured data, not aesthetically beautiful web copy. Make sure your property details, amenities, rates, and policies exist in machine-readable format.
Experiment with AI demand tools. Platforms like Kismet offer free tiers. Get your property represented correctly in AI search before your competitors do.
Build your first-party data stack. AI personalization is only as good as the data feeding it. Guest emails, stay history, and preference data captured through tools like StayFi become the fuel for any AI marketing system.
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Travel Trends for 2026: Elevate Your Luxury Getaways with Sawgrass Insights
Discover the top luxury travel trends for 2026 and learn how to attract high-end travelers with experiential stays, influencer partnerships, and video storytelling.
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4 Game-Changing Tech Tools Every Vacation Rental Owner Should Know About
In today’s competitive vacation rental market, it takes more than great photos to stand out. The most successful owners are the ones who leverage smart technology to drive bookings, build guest loyalty, and maximize revenue. From turning your WiFi into a marketing tool with StayFi to optimizing nightly rates with PriceLabs, here are four game-changing tech tools we always recommend to vacation rental owners who want to stay ahead of the competition.
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The Perfect Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift
We always ask mom what she wants for her birthday, Mother’s Day, and everything in between. From a homemade gift to a luxurious spa day or nice meal, there are tons of options, but what about the gift of travel? It’s not just a new trip, but it’s also the chance to spend quality time together. This Mother’s Day, treat mom to a weekend of memories with those she loves most. Stuck on where to go? Check out these spots and all they have to offer.
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Top Travel Trends and Marketing Strategies for 2025
The travel industry is poised for an exciting year in 2025, with new trends shaping how, where, and why people travel. From immersive experiences to the rise of sustainable tourism, the focus is on creating more personalized and meaningful journeys. For businesses in the travel industry, these trends are also a roadmap to refine marketing strategies and connect with travelers in innovative ways. Check out the following seven trends and coordinating strategies.
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Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan and the United States
Gorgeous blooms signify the change from the cold winter to a vibrant spring. Of these, what could be more iconic than the Japanese cherry blossoms? Known for their eye-popping pink hues and sweet scent, these trees are world famous for their indication of the start of the spring season. Here are four places to visit to see cherry blossoms bloom this year.
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2025 Hospitality Conferences You Don't Want to Miss
For professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve, attending key industry conferences is an invaluable opportunity to gain insights, foster connections, and discover the latest innovations. Here is a carefully curated list of six premier hospitality conferences you won’t want to miss in 2025.
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Sawgrass Awarded 2024 Best Marketing Campaign by VRMA
Sawgrass Marketing has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Best Marketing Campaign by a Supplier by the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). This prestigious recognition highlights Sawgrass’s proven commitment to providing exceptional design, creativity and marketing strategy for the hospitality industry.
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Is Your Marketing Funnel Pouring In Profits? Learn How to Turn the Flow into Bookings!
Running a rental property or short-term rental can be incredibly rewarding, but let's face it—getting those bookings isn’t always a walk in the park. If you’ve noticed that your bookings are slowing down, the issue might not be the property itself, but rather, a hiccup in your marketing funnel. We are going to break down where your marketing funnel might be faltering and, more importantly, how to fix it so you can keep those bookings rolling in.
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4 Strategies to Fill Your Calendar in the Shoulder Season
This year, approximately 62 million people will stay in vacation rentals in the US. So how do you attract those millions of people during your low or what most call shoulder season? With fluctuating demand and reduced occupancy rates, maintaining a steady flow of guests becomes crucial to sustaining profitability throughout the year. Here are four effective strategies that can help you maximize occupancy and capitalize on opportunities during the off-peak seasons.
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Is your brand helping you increase your revenue by 10-20%?
Through a curated brand story, brand identity, guest experience, and social media, your hotel and vacation rental will imprint more on your guests than you realize. We help you find clarity to create a cohesive and impactful brand identity that communicates your story, values, and aesthetics that can then be targeted to your desired customer. Branding is the beginning of your first-class, hospitality experience. Learn how to leverage your brand to ensure target audience alignment and differentiation in the market.
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Sawgrass Spotlight: Exploring the Intersection of Hospitality and Technology with Jessica Gillingham
Jessica and her team have really outdone themselves by creating something pretty unique for the hospitality industry—the Short-Term Rental Index - an invaluable resource and the first of it’s kind. This index serves as a crucial resource for property managers, owners, and hosts, offering a comprehensive overview of the technology available to tackle various operational challenges—from guest experience enhancements to efficient property management solutions. Here are ways Jessica and her team are contributing to the dynamic world of hospitality PR and marketing through technology.
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Elevating Luxury Travel: Insights from Sawgrass Marketing's Conversation with Sirreti
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with WOLF WORSTER, founder of SIRRETI- a pioneering force in the ultra-luxury short-term rental (STR) market to hear about what Sirreti is doing to set the bar for the ultra-luxury traveler.
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7 Romantic Destinations to put on your Valentine's Travel List
As Valentine's Day approaches, our hearts turn toward the most romantic destinations right here in the USA, places where love feels as natural as a gentle Southern breeze and as genuine as a warm embrace. At Sawgrass, we believe in the power of authentic experiences, so we are sharing some of our favorite destinations that embody our philosophy of hospitality and culture, from the beaches of Hawaii to the snowy forests of New England.
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Leverage These 2024 Travel Trends in Your Marketing Strategy
It’s no secret, the travel industry isn’t slowing, and 2024 is expected to be a banner year. We've researched the top trends of hospitality travel for this year and are diving deep into the realms of wellness wonders, the influencer revolution, tantalizing partnerships, the luxury renaissance on rails, and the heartwarming embrace of multigenerational travel. So, get ready to rethink your marketing strategy because these trends can elevate your hospitality brand to new heights.
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Travel Trends to look for in 2024 with Heather Christopher of HC Travel Firm
In the ever-changing landscape of travel, understanding the trends, challenges, and opportunities is crucial for anyone looking to explore the world. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Heather Christopher, the visionary behind HC TRAVEL FIRM, to discuss her journey in the travel industry and her insights into travel trends as we step into 2024.
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Influencer Marketing for Vacation Rentals [VRMA International]
Couldn’t make VRMA International this year? Well, I’m bringing our presentation on influencer marketing to you. Check out how strategic partnerships with travel bloggers and content creators can skyrocket your social strategy.
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VRMA International: Marketing Your STRs Will Be Different in 2024
With so much knowledge and experience in one location - the ideas, advice, and camaraderie flowed freely. I truly felt that community was strongly valued over competition. As I reflect on what I heard from the travel community as a whole, one thing stood out above everything else: the overall industry is at a pivotal transformation point.
The vacation rental industry is at an intersection of three core events. Here’s how they’ll impact you.
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Sawgrass Success Stories: Luxury Experiences Attracting Millennials and Gen Z with a Stellar Social Media Presence
To captivate Millennials and GenZ audiences (you know the generations who are redefining the travel market), brands must be willing to evolve and redefine their own efforts. In this article we explore how in today's dynamic digital age, a robust social media presence isn't just a luxury – it's a necessity, and what short term rental owners and managers can do to boost their efforts.
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VRMA International - And the One Marketing Strategy You MUST Walk Away With
Did you know there’s a new generation that is redefining the travel market? We’re talking Gen Z and Millenials, adn they aren’t the travelers you’ve marketed to for the past 10 years; they value time outside a traditional office setting and look for careers that can support their wanderlust desires. So how can you shift your marketing strategy to naturally reach them while leaving a lasting impression that will set you apart from the competition?
We’ve got a few ideas
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