Guesty Powers Casago, UK Advocacy Strengthens, Comparent Debuts Software Marketplace

Casago Selects Guesty HQ as PMS of Choice After Vacasa Acquisition

• Guesty has been certified as the new property management system (PMS) of choice for Casago’s franchise network, following Casago’s acquisition of Vacasa. 
• This announcement follows Casago’s acquisition of Vacasa, which managed over 35,000 properties across North America.
• The combined company now manages over 40,000 vacation rentals across North America, the Caribbean, Belize, and Costa Rica.
• Guesty’s “HQ” product, designed specifically for franchise structures, will become the standard platform for all Casago franchise partners, including those transitioning from Vacasa systems. 
• David Angotti, Guesty’s Chief Evangelist, will serve in a dual role as senior advisor to Casago, supporting marketing and helping franchisees use technology to drive revenue.
• Casago also revealed that its long-standing Big Bear Vacation franchise, operated by Nick Lanza, has taken over more than 340 former Vacasa properties in California.

About Big Bear Vacations:

Big Bear Vacations is a vacation rental management company based in Big Bear Lake, California. The company manages a portfolio of short-term rental properties and provides operational services such as guest communication, cleaning coordination, maintenance, and booking management. With a focus on the Big Bear region, it serves both property owners and travelers. 

Snigdha’s views:

• As more STR operators explore franchise-style growth, they face a familiar tension: local teams need the flexibility to adapt to regional market conditions, while corporate leadership requires consistent data, workflows, and delivery of a unified guest experience and brand identity across all locations.
• Guesty’s “HQ” product might meet that demand. Unlike legacy PMS systems built for single-office use, Guesty HQ allows each franchisee to manage local operations independently while syncing into a shared dashboard for analytics, owner communication, and oversight.
• The Big Bear acquisition illustrates how Casago is using its franchise model to expand into markets by re-engaging homeowners through experienced local operators and a more community-rooted, franchise-led model.

UK Short-Term Rental Trade Bodies ASAP, PASC, ASSC Form Alliance to Tackle Fragmented Regulation

• Three leading UK trade associations, ASAP (urban serviced apartments), PASC UK (self-catering in England and Wales), and ASSC (Scotland’s holiday lets), have announced a strategic alliance to coordinate their efforts around STR legislation and regulation.
• Each association will maintain its own identity and member services but will collaborate on key policy areas, including planning, licensing, fire safety, and rental reform.
• While England, Wales, and Scotland have distinct legal frameworks, operators in all regions face common challenges: rising compliance burdens, inconsistent recognition of professional operators, and limited transparency in policy-making.
• The alliance aims to promote fair, evidence-based regulation that recognizes the professionalism and economic impact of the sector.
• The groups will also share data and intelligence to enhance the credibility and influence of the STR industry.

Snigdha’s views:

• Fragmented voices don’t shift policy. A unified response gives trade bodies more leverage, clearer messaging, and stronger influence.
• The alliance marks a shift from reactive lobbying to structured, ongoing policy engagement.
• By combining urban serviced apartments and rural holiday lets, the groups are pushing for recognition of professional operators across all segments.
• This alliance joins a growing list of examples, like in the US, UK, and Portugal, where coordinated industry efforts have helped shape or soften regulations.
• Property managers can join these associations and play an active role in advocacy by contributing data, sharing local impact, and responding to consultations.

• Rising regulatory pressure across the UK has exposed a core challenge: fragmented voices rarely shift policy. 
• Without a coordinated approach, professional operators often struggle to influence decision-making or differentiate themselves from the broader STR narrative.
• This alliance, bringing together urban serviced apartments and rural holiday lets,  reflects a shift from reactive lobbying to more structured, ongoing engagement. 
• By coordinating across regions and property types, these associations are working to build a unified front that pushes for the recognition of professional operators.
• That recognition is essential for shaping fair policy, avoiding one-size-fits-all rules, and ensuring that regulations account for the operational standards and compliance efforts of legitimate businesses.
• In the US, UK, and Portugal, coordinated industry efforts have helped shape or soften regulations. Property managers can be part of that momentum by joining these associations, contributing data, and engaging in consultations.

---

Comparent Adds Vacation Rental Software Directory to Help Operators Navigate 100+ Tools

• Comparent has launched what it calls the “Ultimate Vacation Rental Software Marketplace,” positioning itself as a comprehensive resource for STR operators navigating tech decisions. 
• The platform, created by Brooke Pfautz, now allows users to compare over 100 tools across 18 categories, from PMS and revenue management to guest communications and smart home integrations. 
• It’s built on Comparent’s original directory of professional property managers and adds a layer focused on helping operators make smarter software decisions.
• The directory includes side-by-side comparisons, verified user reviews, transparent pricing, and performance data from its own TechStack survey. 
• Top-rated solutions listed on the platform include PriceLabs, Guesty, Hostfully, Key Data Dashboard, among others.

About Comparent:
Comparent is a directory that helps vacation rental homeowners search for and compare vetted property management companies in their local markets.

Snigdha’s views:

• With so many tools emerging across categories like PMS, pricing, operations, and marketing, it’s become harder for property managers to compare options or even know where to start. 
• A central directory like this could help operators cut through the noise, especially with side-by-side comparisons and real user reviews. 
• It can help operators benchmark their current tools and see where others in the industry are placing their trust.
• It may also spotlight overcrowded categories, where too many tools offer similar features with little differentiation, or highlight categories where few tools appear at all.
• For managers, this can help avoid decision fatigue in crowded spaces and surface overlooked opportunities in underdeveloped ones.
• It won’t replace deeper evaluation, but it creates a useful starting point, particularly for those expanding into new tools.