What if the secret to consistent direct bookings wasn’t found in complex digital funnels or expensive marketing campaigns, but right in your local community? Ashley Ramos, a licensed therapist turned short-term rental strategist, has discovered something remarkable: authentic partnerships with local businesses can become your most powerful direct booking engine.

In this episode, you’ll discover how Ashley leverages her clinical social work background to create meaningful guest experiences while building a network of local partnerships that consistently drive bookings to her Arizona properties. From spa collaborations to brand partnerships, she’s proving that community-first strategies can outperform traditional marketing approaches.

Summary and Highlights

👩‍⚕️ Meet Ashley Ramos: From Therapy Practice to STR Success

Ashley Ramos brings a unique perspective to short-term rental hosting as both a licensed therapist and successful STR entrepreneur. With her background in clinical social work, Ashley specializes in creating guest experiences that prioritize relaxation and stress-free stays, particularly for families and groups seeking exceptional experiences.

Based in smaller Arizona towns, Ashley has been building her STR portfolio for three years, focusing on properties that serve as alternatives to the high-competition markets of Scottsdale and Sedona. Her approach combines therapeutic principles with hospitality excellence, creating stays that guests remember long after checkout.

As an Airbnb mentor and co-host, Ashley helps investors and homeowners optimize their properties for consistent 5-star reviews while building sustainable passive income streams. Her philosophy centers on treating every property with the same attention to detail, regardless of market size or location.

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🎯 Key Takeaways: Community-Powered Direct Booking Strategy

Local Business Partnerships Create Win-Win Scenarios

Ashley’s most effective direct booking strategy involves partnering with local spas, hair salons, and med spas that attract relaxation-seeking guests. These businesses refer their clients to Ashley’s properties, while she provides exclusive discounts and recommendations to her guests.

“I’ve been reaching out to a lot of spas, hair salons, nails, and especially unique med spas. Those that are attracting those types of guests who are looking for relaxation, who are looking for some exceptional experience.”

This approach works particularly well in smaller markets where competition is less intense and authentic relationships carry more weight than in saturated metropolitan areas.

Brand Collaborations Reduce Operating Costs

By reaching out to brands whose products align with her guest experience goals, Ashley secures amenities and consumables at no cost. Her properties now feature branded sensory items, essential oils, and comfort products that guests recognize and appreciate.

The strategy emerged from her love of unboxing videos and influencer content, leading her to think: “What if I could get brands on board with my Airbnbs? I wanna provide these guests a great experience, so why not get them on board?”

For hosts looking to implement similar partnerships, consider reaching out to brands that align with your property’s theme and guest demographics. Creating memorable guest experiences often starts with thoughtful amenity selection.

Storytelling Through Social Media Builds Authentic Connections

Ashley emphasizes the power of bringing potential guests along your hosting journey through social media storytelling. By sharing property staging processes, design decisions, and behind-the-scenes content, hosts create emotional connections that translate into bookings.

“When people know who you are, they’re really interested in what you do and what you have to offer, and they’re more willing to kind of book with you.”

This approach particularly resonates with hosts who have smaller portfolios and want to leverage their personal brand for direct booking success.

Friends and Family Networks Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Ashley actively engages her personal network, especially friends and family from her hometown in New Jersey, to spread awareness about her Arizona properties. This strategy works because many people haven’t considered destinations outside mainstream tourist areas.

“I’m constantly telling my friends and family, Hey, you know, share, tell people about us. Let us know if people are looking for a stay.”

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💡 Mindset Insights: The Power of Belief and Action

When asked about mindset advice for starting something new, Ashley emphasized self-belief over external validation:

“I am gonna go back to the just Do It and really believing in yourself. I think sometimes when we’re starting something new, we really want validation from everyone else. Should I do it? Should I start this? But it really comes from you within.”

Her clinical background taught her that waiting for permission or approval often prevents action. For hosts considering launching direct booking websites or implementing new strategies, Ashley’s advice is clear: trust yourself and take action.

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🚀 Rapid Fire Highlights

📚 Book Recommendation: “Buy Back Your Time” – Ashley credits this book with helping her understand the value of her time versus money, particularly in deciding which tasks to delegate versus handle personally.

🧠 Mindset Advice: “Just do it and really believe in yourself” – Stop waiting for external validation and trust your instincts when starting something new.

⚡ Tactical Takeaway: “Collaboration” – Ashley’s go-to strategy focuses on finding mutually beneficial partnerships where both parties can refer business to each other.

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🔗 Connect with Ashley Ramos

Instagram (Mentorship): @aramos_
Instagram (STR Properties): @urbanvacays
TikTok: @ashleytravelss
Email: info@urbannestrental.com

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Ready to implement community partnerships for your direct bookings? Start by identifying local businesses that serve your target guest demographic and reach out with collaboration ideas. And if you’re ready to create a professional website that converts those referrals into bookings, visit CraftedStays.co to start your free trial today.

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Transcription

Ashley: I would have to say collaboration, and that’s really been my go-to word for the year because I have noticed such a difference when I’m able to collaborate with others, whether it’s something for them or something that benefits me, it’s just, it’s been such a difference. In my business because even collaborating with other people and helping them in their business, you know, how can I help them or what can I do for them?

Ashley: Because you never know what they can do for you or who they send your way.

Gil: Before we bring on my guest, I wanted to talk just a little bit about something that I’ve been hearing a lot from Host. I keep on hearing the same thing. I know my website isn’t converting, but I can’t afford $8,000 on an agency to rebuild it. Here’s the thing, you’re letting all these marketing strategies, you’re driving traffic and you’re putting it all to work.

Gil: But if your site isn’t really built to convert, you’re basically lighting your energy and money on fire. And even if you could afford an agency build. Every time you want to test something or make a change, you’re having to pay them again. You can’t iterate, you can’t test, and you really can improve on things.

Gil: You don’t need a custom $10,000 website to get the conversion rates that really matter. You just need the right platform. That’s why I build Crafted Stays. It’s purpose built for short-term rentals and design from the ground up to help you drive more direct bookings. You can finally turn that traffic into bookings and you can keep on testing and improving.

Gil: As you learn, you can make changes all on the platform. You don’t need to learn something new. So if you need some help or you wanna get started, go ahead and go to Craft to stays.co and start your free trial. Now let’s bring on our guests and dive deep into hospitality and marketing.

Gil: Hey folks. Welcome back to the book Solid Show, the podcast where we’re bringing on top operators to discuss marketing, revenue management, and the guest experience to drive towards being booked solid. On today’s show, I have Ashley Ramos. She is someone that I met at Level Up Your Listing. She has a very interesting tactic on how she approaches direct bookings.

Gil: It’s not the typical what do we see in digital marketing where you’re thinking about funnels and so on, but she, what she’s really leverages is really. Gil: The community around her, the local businesses. So it’s great to have her kind of talk a little bit about how she approaches this. It’s gonna be a tight show, but I’m really happy to bring her on.

Gil: So without further ado, let’s bring her in. 

Gil: Hey Ashley, welcome to the show.

Ashley: Hi. Thanks for having me.

Gil: Yeah, it’s great to see you again. Uh, it’s been a couple months since we saw each other. Uh, I think we met in Level Up. Um, but for folks that don’t know you or haven’t, uh, haven’t had a chance to meet you yet, can you give a quick introduction on who you are?

Ashley: Sure. So my name’s Ashley Ramos. I am a Airbnb host, mentor, and co-host. I also have a therapy practice. I am a clinician. So my background is in clinical social work, so I’ve really just been diving into the short-term rental world with my background in, uh, social work and really just connecting with guests and connecting them to their experiences when it comes to a short-term rental.

Gil: How, how long have you been investing now?

Ashley: I have been in the short-term rental world for about three years, so still, you know, kind of new in it.

Gil: Yeah, it, it’s, that’s kinda like the, where the, I’m also kind of like maybe just a little bit before that, um, but in that big wave of getting into COVID. Things are starting to stabilize within COVID still, but that’s like the big rise of where a lot of short-term rental hosts kind of like got into the scene as well too.

Ashley: Yes, uh, that’s actually where I started. So I first did a mentorship for about a year, and it was right around that time of COVID where I started to really look into, okay, what else can I do? I was doing therapy from home. And I was like, I was losing clients. You know, people were not really wanting to do the whole virtual thing.

Ashley: And so I said, what else can I do? And I came across this woman who was traveling, and that was something that I loved to do, was to travel. And so I started following her, and then I realized. Oh, she’s traveling so much because she’s doing Airbnb. She’s renting out her home as she travels. And that’s where I really kind of got into it.

Ashley: I was like, oh, what is this? Let me learn about it. And I joined her mentorship and really took about a year to learn it all.

Gil: What was the mentorship, if you don’t mind sharing?

Ashley: How much was it?

Gil: No. Who, who was the mentor?

Ashley: Oh, uh, her name is Susie. She was like one of the only people I had seen on social media promoting Airbnb and really making a lot of money off of it.

Ashley: So she convinced me.

Gil: I bet you things have changed quite a bit since, since then. Now, now especially, you’re into it.

Ashley: Yes, for sure. I think also around that time of COVID, that was the time where people were just kind of throwing anything up and it was working and people were making money. And then right when that came down, it was really where the hard work came in and it was more so, okay, how do I really appeal to these guests and these people coming versus I’m just gonna throw anything up and see what sticks.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. A lot has changed in the industry just in that timeframe, I think. You mentioned like in the very beginning, um, or in the early pandemics, you could pretty much put anything up there and people will rent them. And I think there’s a combination of just demand was just so high during COVID, um, but also.

Gil: Just the quality standard was much lower as well too. Um, people didn’t expect as much now back then, but what I’ve noticed over the past, past few years is that hosts have really stepped it up a few notches, if not significantly, where markets gotten a lot more competitive. All of us that, um. Start off just throwing properties up there, they realize like, oh, actually I need to refresh it now since it’s gotten a lot more competitive.

Gil: Um, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a lot of folks that maybe over index on the design side of things early on. So like we spent significant amount of money to revamp our properties before, so we didn’t have to like clean things up afterwards. But yeah, it is, it’s a different place than, than it was in in pre pandemic.

Gil: Huh?

Ashley: Yeah, I, that’s why, you know, people say that the market is very saturated, but it’s saturated with a lot of hosts that came out of that whole COVID era, or even pre COVID, where they, you know, their properties were making money without having to put too much thought or design into it.

Ashley: And so, uh, the, the market is saturated, but not with amazing or great properties.

Gil: Yeah, that’s a good point. And, and do you see the same thing in, in your specific area too? So maybe like, talk a little bit about. Your prop, your area, your, your market, and kinda the competition there.

Ashley: Yeah, so my market where I’m at, I’m in smaller towns here in Arizona, and so what works is that I don’t have this crazy competition. So markets like a Scottsdale or Sedona, your competition is way up here. I mean, you know, these, those properties are beautiful. And so if you’re not able or willing to put in a lot of that.

Ashley: Expert design, those wonderful and amazing amenities, you’re not gonna do so great in those markets. Whereas my market, where I’m at in these smaller towns, it’s more so a family type of vibe. They’re coming for certain amenities where I don’t have to go all out or extreme. They’re happy with having. A crib, they’re happy with having kid friendly items, they’re happy with having bikes to go to the downtown.

Ashley: Um, things like that.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. That’s interesting. Um, so as you’re designing your places, so we talked a little bit before the show, but you have a combination of different strategies, um, that you acquire from. Um, talk a little bit about kind of what you focus on.

Ashley: Yeah, so I really focus on families. I also focus on groups when it comes to my larger homes, and I really start to think, okay, again, with my background in clinical social work, I’m thinking, okay, what are these people wanting when they come here? If they’re coming with kids or they’re coming in a group.

Ashley: More than likely, they want to not experience stress. They want to be relaxed. And I started to think, what are some of those things I can handle for them or I can provide to them or give them access to? And when it comes to design, I really like to think of the kids. Okay. Travel is really stressful. It’s a lot.

Ashley: Maybe I’m gonna have some sensory items in there for these kids. Even sensory items for the adults too. I’m gonna have things that are really. Coming, like those, um, essential oils and things of that nature. So from there I started to reach out to different brands and businesses and letting them know, Hey, I, this is what I specialize in.

Ashley: This is what I offer to my guests and what I like to have in my properties. Would you be willing to come on board? And people have said yes. Brands have said yes. And so I’ve been getting, um. Products to put inside of my properties for guests to use, and I’ve been able to partner with businesses around and offer them discounts when they book, uh, through my stays.

Gil: That’s, that’s amazing. So you, so you’re getting brands to actually help you on a lot of your consumables that you have inside your property, so you’re not having to, to for that over.

Ashley: Yeah, which is exactly, which is nice. And so that kind of cuts expenses right for me when it comes to stocking and having these things in there. But they’re not only that, they’re branded items. So my guests are feeling like, Ooh, I see this in the store. I buy this myself, and I’m getting this here at my Airbnb.

Gil: What, what led you to have that moment of thinking like, oh, that’s because that’s out, that’s outside the box. Like where did you pick that up from?

Ashley: Ah, you know, I really, in another life, I would’ve been an influencer and I just love watching unboxing videos and seeing how they do the reviews, and so I just, I love watching those. And then it made me think, huh? What if I could get brands on board with my Airbnbs? I wanna provide these guests a great experience, so why not get them on board?

Ashley: And I just was like, let me reach out to these people. I mean, the worst they could say is no. And I just started doing it.

Gil: that’s, that’s really clever. That’s really clever. And I like how you’re just like, you just had a thought and you’re just gonna try it out and see if it works. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But like, if it does work, then that. That’s, that’s really smart. That’s really smart. Have you seen that create any content?

Gil: Because like you mentioned like the unboxing stuff and I, the, what I immediately think is like UGC use user generate content there. Have you seen folks post about those types of amenities and, and tag you guys in?

Ashley: Yes. So I usually ask my guests, I’ll send a message over and say, Hey, if you use any of our amenities, can you take a picture? Send it over or tag us. Uh, it’s a few times now they have. I’m really working on that ’cause I really wanna see how the guests are loving it. Uh, sometimes they’ll, they guests have a habit of putting all of their words into your private note when they leave a review.

Ashley: And I’m like, please put this in your public review so everyone can see. And so I get a lot of public reviews or public message or private messages telling me, oh, we really enjoyed this, or We really love the effort and the little touches that you put into our stay. So I, I’m assuming they’re liking it and I’ll, I just hope to get more feedback on it for sure.

Ashley: It’s a newer thing, so hoping to get more feedback.

Gil: Yeah, I don’t know if you do like a post-day message. We, we do one at our, our, our property where after they leave at two o’clock we’ll send them two o’clock local time. We’ll, we’ll send them a message saying, um, I ho I’m hoping you got, had a good slate with us. You should be getting a review soon.

Gil: And it kind of like pulls them back into, um, to deliver a review with us.

Ashley: Yeah, I, I do have one set up, but you know what, now that we’re talking about it, maybe I’ll add something in there about leaving us, um, any feedback on amenities or products used? Uh, right now I just have one that’s set up to guide them on how to review, because that was something to where guests kind of struggle with figuring out, okay, how do I, how do I review correctly and accurately?

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. So, so now you’ve kind of scaled your portfolio. What are you looking to expand into now? Like what’s, what’s on your horizon?

Ashley: I really want to get into luxury style properties and some of those properties too that are, um, what are they called? The properties that are The ones that are different where when you search up, uh, the properties, they’re called like, um,

Gil: like unique stays.

Ashley: u Yes. Unique stays. I don’t know why I couldn’t think of that.

Ashley: Yes, like a unique, a unique type of stay. I recently came across this rock in the ground that they’ve transformed into an Airbnb and. Super cool. They’re booked out solid. And so I was like, that is so cool. How unique is that and, and the experience that you’re providing? So be, I’m really loving the experience part of the short-term rental world, so I wanna get more into unique stays and really, uh, just a luxury style home.

Gil: Yeah, it sounds like you have a much higher touch where maybe because a lot of your properties are also kind of somewhat local to you, you’re, you’re thinking about crafting the entire experience where that lends itself well towards more of the luxurious, more premium and it stays, and that’s kinda like where you’re focusing your attention towards.

Ashley: yes. Especially with getting these brands and businesses on board. You know, I would love to see their products or love to see the partnership in a more luxurious style type of home.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. Talk to me a little bit about kind of your direct booking strategy there. We talked a little bit about it before the show, um, but can you guys, can you give some of our listeners here kind of what is, what has been some of the biggest drivers for your direct bookings?

Ashley: Yes. So right now I, because I’ve been working on that partnership with brands and and businesses, what I have been kind of curating is getting these businesses to drive. Guests to book my property. So we are kind of exchanging, uh, information. They’re letting their, um. Their customers, they’re letting their customers know about my property and I’m letting my guests know about their business.

Ashley: And so I’m seeing people driving, coming over to my page or my listing, you know, saying, oh, I heard you from so and so, or This person told me that you have an Airbnb. We’re gonna keep it in mind for our next vacation. So that has been my main focus for right now on getting those direct bookings.

Gil: Nice. So you’re working with local businesses, almost like a referral. What type of businesses are you like focusing your attention towards?

Ashley: Yes, I’ve been reaching out to a lot of spas, um, hair salons, nails, um, especially unique med spas. Those that are attracting those types of guests who are looking for relaxation, who are looking for some exceptional, um, experience. Those types of spas and, and businesses are who I’ve been really reaching out to and partnering with.

Gil: Nice. Um, now that you kinda have some of that foundations in place. What are some of the things that you’re looking to add on top of that, or how do you plan to, uh, continue to add to your direct booking stack?

Ashley: Whew, that’s a good question. I think, uh, I’m gonna continue seeing where this takes me with partnering with these, uh, community events. I think maybe expanding more than just local businesses and really getting in touch with more community based organizations as well.

Gil: Yeah. I like how you’re leveraging that on kind of within the community, and maybe this is because you’re in the outskirts of the metro areas there, you’re in a smaller town there, you have a lot more leverage there by kind of bringing the community together. Whereas where some of my properties are, and I’m wearing Gatlinburg for instance, it’s harder to do some of those things because.

Gil: Those businesses have, like, they’re a lot bigger than us. They, there’s so many rentals near us, so it’s hard for us to have like a deeper connection there where I think that that’s something that’s quite unique for your area, where you can have a tighter relationship with local businesses there that can refer businesses, and they’re welcome to, because if someone’s asking for a stay, there’s only so many of those kind of in your area that they can refer you to.

Ashley: Yeah. And not only that, but I think in my market, a lot of people don’t value what they have and they think, oh, I’m not in a Scottsdale, or I’m not in a Sedona, so I’m not really gonna put it out there. But for me, you know, this is my, my property. I treat it like a Scottsdale, or I treat it like a Sedona.

Ashley: And so I’m really gonna go all out for it in as it pertains to my guest, but I’m gonna go all out for it, and I’m gonna do the most that I can.

Gil: That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Um, is there anything else that you wanna talk about or any other, uh, tactics that you use on direct bookings that you wanted to share with our listeners today?

Ashley: Tactics. I would probably say getting, and again, this is gonna kind of coincide with community, but getting your friends and family involved. So I, I’m constantly telling my friends and family, Hey, you know, share, tell people about us. Um, let us know if people are looking for a stay. I mean, from my, I’m from New Jersey and so my hometown, a lot of people have never been to Arizona, so I’m constantly showing them, telling them things about Arizona.

Ashley: And a lot of them have said, you know, I’ve never considered Arizona, but I am now. And I know when I go, I know where to stay. And I’ve had so many people reach out to me about my properties and wanting to stay with me even though I’m not. Uh, in, uh, Scottsdale or in Sedona and I’m on the kind of outskirts, but they’re still willing to stay with me, so.

Gil: Yeah. And when people follow along, kind of like your journey there. Um, I don’t know if you’re doing any email campaigns right now, but it probably sounds like you’re more gearing towards more the social media side to really stay connected with your, with your, your guest or possible guests. Is that right?

Ashley: Yes. Yep. So the email, I am working on that. But yes, right now I’m focusing on social media and really getting people to follow along my journey and get to know me. When people know who you are, they’re really interested in what you do and what you have to offer, and they’re, they’re more willing to kind of book with you.

Gil: Yeah, I that, that’s a very effective strategy. I’ve a lot of our. A lot of our customers of craft estates, they have maybe smaller portfolios and they’re trying to figure out how to leverage themselves. And I found like some of the more successful ones, that have done really well in direct bookings is ones that have like.

Gil: Actually brought folks along their hosting journey. They will show themselves, putting the property together, staging it out, picking countertops together. And that starts to create a lot of empathy with the audience and yourself, where once that property does go live, they want to be part of that.

Gil: So I’ve seen the storytelling side of things like work super effectively.

Ashley: Yes, that’s what it is, the storytelling for sure. And you have to put yourself out there and it’s something you gotta just get comfortable with doing.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that’s almost like a, a force a force thing now where you, I think in the past it’s not so important, but now, nowadays, like if you really want to stand out, like you kind of have to put yourself out there. You can’t just kind of hide behind the scenes anymore.

Ashley: Yes. You, you can’t. You can’t. And as again, with my background in clinical social work, it wasn’t something that I was ever used to doing, so I definitely had to force myself and throw myself out there and say, Hey. Just do it. If you wanna, if you wanna be successful in this, just do it and don’t hold yourself back.

Gil: And how, how’s, how’s it, how’s that like comfort level gone for you? Have you, are you, are you more comfortable now or are you still kind of like trying to, trying to get like pump yourself up every time? You, you, you create a reel.

Ashley: Yes, yes. I mean, every single time it’s like, am I spending too much time on this? Should I just post it? And then I’m like, forget it. I’m just gonna post it. I’m just gonna throw it out there. I’m just gonna talk on my story as if I look at it a million times. I’m gonna find something I don’t like about it, and then I’m not gonna post it.

Ashley: Then I’m gonna be upset. So I really have to kind of give myself a pep talk and say, Hey, you wanted to do this right. Put it out there. Just put it out there.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. That’s awesome. Yeah. All right, Ashley, we usually end the show with three questions, so kind. The first question first, what’s a good book recommendation that you have for me and our listener here?

Ashley: yes, so I recently joined the book club, so I have a bunch of books in my mind right now, but the one that I’m reading is called, um, buy Back Your Time.

Gil: Yep.

Ashley: And I’m sure people have heard about this book, but this book, I think I’m going to read it a million times because it’s just that good. I’m not completely done with it yet, but yes, yes.

Ashley: I keep it

Gil: me. Put up the, so, so I’m also part of the book club as well too.

Ashley: Oh, yay.

Gil: I’m admittedly not far into this book. I’m very disappointed in myself because I haven’t found the time to read as much as I want to. I follow Dan quite a bit. I’m actually part of, um, his, he, he’s big in the SaaS space, in the software space, so I’ve been following him for a while now and he has a lot of good content on specifically building tech companies.

Gil: So I’ve been, and, and I, I came across this book a little while ago. Uh, he has actually has a second book out that I’m, I’m trying to get through as well too. But yeah, it’s a, it’s so far, it’s been a phenomenal book.

Ashley: He’s actually very kind. Uh, we chatted for a bit on social media and which I was not expecting to hear from him at all, so that was nice. Uh, but the book is really good and these are all things that. You kind of know and you’re like, yeah, I should be doing these things. But I think the way that it’s broken down is just awesome.

Ashley: How he goes in and talks about it. I’m not gonna give away what the book exactly is about what it says, but his formulas and the way that he speaks on your time versus money is just, it made, made everything click for me because for a while I was doing things that I probably should not have been doing it.

Ashley: Originally I was cleaning my properties. And myself, and it was just costing me so much more time. And so while reading this, I’m like, man, I wish I would’ve read this a long time ago.

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I can’t wait to see kind of how you continue to use it as you scale up as well, too.

Ashley: for sure,

Gil: Awesome.

Ashley: many gems to

Gil: Yeah. Yeah. Um, second question, what’s one piece of mindset advice that you would give to someone that’s starting something completely new?

Ashley: Yeah, I am gonna go back to the just Do It and really believing in yourself. I think sometimes when we’re starting something new, we really want validation from everyone else. Should I do it? Should I start this? But it really comes from you within, and when you believe in yourself and you just make yourself do it, then you’re gonna be more successful than.

Ashley: Waiting around for other people to give you that. Okay. In the green light to go.

Gil: Yeah. I love that. I love that. All right, last question. What’s one tactical takeaway that you want our listeners to put into practice to either. Or get started in direct bookings or amplify it.

Ashley: I would have to say collaboration, and that’s really been my. Go-to Word for the Year because I have noticed such a difference when I’m able to collaborate with others, whether it’s something for them or something that benefits me. It’s just, it’s been such a difference in my business. So again, I, I’ll say collaboration.

Gil: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I think in, in, in your case here, um, you gave the example of like collaborating with local businesses there, just like trying to figure out who in your space that you can, can partner up together. And perhaps you’re sending them leads, they’re sending you leads there, but really taking really a hard look at kind of the folks around you that you can leverage.

Ashley: Yes. Because even collaborating with other people and helping them in their business, you know, how can I help them or what can I do for them? Because you never know what they can do for you or who they send your who they send your way.

Gil: Yeah. I love that. Awesome. Ashley, it was a, it was a huge joy to kind of walk along your journey and kind of understand kind of how you’ve grown, where you, where you’re gonna be, uh, how you think about direct bookings and your marketing there. So I appreciate you sharing that with us.

Ashley: Yeah, thanks for having me. Uh, I enjoyed talking about this,

Gil: Yeah. Awesome. Where can folks find out more about you? Where can they follow on your journey?

Ashley: Yeah, so my hosting page, or my mentorship page on Instagram is underscore a Ramos underscore underscore. And then my short term rental page, which is a newer page, is Urban Vacay. So Urban Vacay, V-A-C-A-Y-S.

Gil: Awesome. All right. I’ll be sure to include the show notes, uh, those links inside the show notes so that folks don’t have to scramble for pen and paper. Um, but Ashley, it was a pleasure to have you on.

Ashley: Yeah. Thanks for having me.

Gil: Thank you. Bye.

Ashley: Bye.