Vacation Rentals Are Booming — But Operations Are Broken

How ETI Solutions Is Transforming Cleaning Teams With Smarter Chemistry, Standardized Training & Real Operational Support

The vacation-rental industry is booming. Withover 1.4 million active vacation rentals in the U.S., guest demand has never been stronger. Travelers want space, comfort, and the feeling of home — and this industry delivers.

But behind the scenes, something critical is breaking:

Operations.

Despite explosive growth, most companies still face the same issues they struggled with a decade ago:

• No standardized training

• No consistent cleaning systems

• The wrong chemicals for the job

• Build-up on floors

• Laundry problems

• Turnover inconsistency

• No sustainable solutions

• Teams who care, but lack tools and education

And after two decades working inside this industry, one truth has become undeniable:

The vacation-rental industry doesn’t have a cleaning problem — it has an operations problem.

This is exactly the gap ETI Solutions was built to fill.

The Rapid Growth That Left Operations Behind

Vacation rentals scaled at a speed that outpaced infrastructure. Companies grew inventory long before they grew operational systems.

A typical manager may jump from 10 to 100 homes without ever establishing:

• A training program

• A chemical program

• Par levels or inventory structure

• Laundry systems

• Consistent turnover flow

• Back-of-house operations

Most companies operate in survival mode.
Not because they want to — but because they’ve never been shown a better way.

Cleaners Want to Do a Great Job — But Haven’t Been Equipped

Most cleaners care deeply about their work.
They want to succeed. They want to be valued. They want clear expectations.

But caring isn’t the issue.
Training is.

Too many companies hand workers:

• Random store-bought chemicals

• A towel bundle

• A checklist

• A keycode

…and expect hotel-level results.

No industry thrives on guesswork.

Hospitality certainly doesn’t.

The Chemistry Problem No One Talks About

Vacation rentals don’t operate like residential homes or hotels. They require chemistry that is:

• Strong enough for high turnover

• Safe for frequent use

• Designed to prevent build-up

• Consistently diluted

• Refillable and sustainable

• Easy for teams to inventory

But most companies use:

1. Commercial hotel chemicals– which cause residue, sticky floors, wax build-up, and black-foot complaints.

2. Grocery store products– which aren’t designed for hospitality-level cleaning.

This mismatch is one of the biggest operational failures in the industry.

And one ETI Solutions set out to solve.

Where Operations Break Down Most Often

After years of consulting and hands-on training, the same challenges appear across every market.

1. Floors — The #1 Guest Complaint in America

Black-foot floors. Sticky floors. Oily floors.

These aren’t “bad cleaners” — they’re bad chemistry.

Layers of polymers and fragrances from the wrong products trap dirt and create guest-visible residue.

This is the fastest way to lose a 5-star review.

2. Laundry — The Industry’s Blind Spot

Laundry issues cost operators thousands a year in:

• Burned labor

• Rewash cycles

• Stain setting

• Damaged linens

• Improper sorting or loading

Without systems, laundry becomes a silent profit leak.

3. Inconsistent Turnover Flow

Every cleaner working in their own order guarantees:

• Missed tasks

• Longer cleans

• Lower morale

• More inconsistencies

• Higher return trips

Professional hospitality requires a predictable sequence — something most operators lack.

4. Training That Isn’t Training

Teaching someone how to clean a house is not the same as training them for vacation-rental operations.

Turnovers require:

• Structure

• Speed

• Systems

• Understanding of guest expectations

• Product knowledge

• Safety protocols

Most companies don’t train. They simply hope.

5. Using the Wrong Tools

You can’t run a professional operation with:

• Residential vacuums

• Discount-store mops

• Random towels

• Misaligned chemicals

• No dilution system

• No SOPs

A professional outcome requires professional tools.

The ETI Solutions Mission: Fix the System, Elevate the Team

ETI Solutions didn’t enter this industry to sell chemicals.
We entered it to fix an operational crisis.

For two decades, we’ve worked inside vacation rentals — hands-on, shoulder-to-shoulder with the teams who make the industry function.

Our commitment is simple:

Give vacation-rental teams the tools, chemistry, and education they’ve always deserved.

Here’s how we do it.

1. Smarter, Safer, Refillable Chemistry — Made for STR Operations

Our Drop-N-Go system was engineered specifically for vacation-rental cleaning teams.

It solves problems no traditional chemical line has:

• No build-up

• No sticky floors

• No residue

• No wasted product

• No guesswork dilution

• Dramatically reduced plastic waste

• Light, refillable cartridges

• Consistent performance every turnover

It’s the first sustainable cleaning system tailored to the needs of short-term rentals.

2. Training That Transforms Cleaning Teams Into Operations Professionals

Training is not an event.
It’s a culture.

ETI Solutions provides:

• On-site training

• Hands-on field instruction

• “Art of Clean” workshop

• SOP development

• Laundry operations coaching

• Turnover-flow design

• Ongoing fractional operations support

• Education through VRMA, VRHP, webinars, and speaking events

We don’t stand at the front of a room.
We enter properties with teams and train in real environments.

This is where the confidence begins.

3. Real Operational Support, Not Just Products

We help operators build:

• Par levels

• Inventory systems

• Inspection processes

• Deep-clean routines

• Laundry systems

• Chemical usage tracking

• Consistent staffing workflows

ETI Solutions is more than a chemical manufacturer.
We are a partner in improving:

• Efficiency

• Team culture

• Guest satisfaction

• Profitability

When operations become predictable, everything else becomes easier.

Why ETI Solutions Gives Back to the Industry

We’ve spent years at conferences, on panels, inside homes, inside laundry facilities, and working with teams from coast to coast.

This industry has given us:

• Community

• Relationships

• Purpose

• A chance to help people grow

Giving back through training, sustainability, and operational support is part of our DNA.

We believe housekeepers and operations teams are the unsung heroes of vacation rentals - and when they succeed, the whole industry rises.

The Future of Vacation-Rental Operations Requires Standards

Vacation rentals have outgrown the “DIY host” era.

The next era requires:

• Standardization

• Sustainability

• Smarter chemistry

• Professional-grade training

• Operational discipline

• Confidence on the front lines

And ETI Solutions is leading this shift.

We’re here to empower the teams that power hospitality.

Because when operations thrive…

• Guests notice

• Reviews reflect it

• Teams feel valued

• Companies scale confidently

• The industry becomes stronger

A Better Industry Starts With Better Operations

Vacation rentals are booming.
Demand isn’t slowing.
Growth isn’t stopping.

But only the companies who strengthen their operations will succeed long term.

ETI Solutions is here to help:

• Smarter tools

• Safer chemistry

• Sustainable systems

• Real, hands-on education

This is how we fix broken operations.
This is how we elevate teams.
This is how we build an industry ready for the future of hospitality.