In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) is joined by Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry) to break down how to make the most of STR conferences.
If you’ve ever left a conference wondering whether it was worth the time or cost, this is for you. Eric shares his “3 Conference Hacks” and explains how being intentional before and during an event can dramatically change the outcome.
You’ll hear:
- Why the hallways and cocktail hours are more valuable than the panels
- How Eric preps as an introvert (hint: start with a workout)
- What questions to ask that leave a lasting impression
- The Will Guidara story that changed how Eric shows up at events
- How to host your own meetup (and why it positions you as a connector)
- Why VRMA is still the one to watch, and what we’re teaching there
We also talk about:
- The upcoming VRMA Vegas workshop: “Pricing Power: How the Top STR Hosts Outpace the Market”
- What makes that session different (no fluff, just actionable results)
- A preview of Freewyld’s newest expansion plans and how to connect if you’re a property owner or investor
🎯 Mentioned in the Episode:
- Freewyld Foundry – Revenue Management for $1M+ STR Portfolios
- VRMA International Conference
- IMN Conference in Park City
🔥 Eric’s Go-To Networking Questions:
- “What are you working on right now that excites you the most?”
- “Is there any way I can support you?”
📍 If you’ll be at IMN in Park City or VRMA in Vegas—come say hi. Ask us the two questions above, and let’s connect.
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Kaye Putnam:
Welcome back to another episode of Get Paid For Your Pad. I’m Kaye Putnam, Head of Marketing for Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry. I’m here with Eric Moeller, CEO of both companies. Welcome back, Eric.
Eric Moeller:
Thanks, Kaye. I’m currently recording from a closet… I have three kids under five running around, and this is the only quiet place during our big Moeller family reunion. Hopefully, we can get through this episode with decent audio!
Kaye:
We’re diving into STR conferences today. Eric, what’s your experience been like attending them?
Eric:
I’ve been to tons over the years. In the short-term rental industry, conferences can be hit or miss, especially from an educational standpoint. The space originated from the vacation rental industry, which tends to be a bit old-school. As STRs have grown, the events are starting to evolve, but I still find the most valuable moments happen outside the scheduled sessions—connecting in hallways or at the bar. That’s actually what led Jasper and me to start our mastermind—we realized those informal conversations were far more useful than the panels.
That said, I’m excited to be back on the conference circuit. I have one coming up in a few days in Park City—one of my favorite places. It’s meaningful because Freewyld was conceptualized in the mountains there. I’ll be running a panel on branding and storytelling in STRs, so it feels full circle.
Kaye:
I’m still new to STR-specific conferences, but I’ve had the same experience in other industries—tons of inspiration, but not always actionable content. But the connections? Game-changing. You’re going straight from Camp Moeller to IMN in Park City, right?
Eric:
Exactly. And I’ve developed three go-to “conference hacks” for making the most of events, especially as a CEO.
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Be intentional about networking. I map out who will be there and reach out on LinkedIn ahead of time to set up coffee meetings. During the event, I ask people who they think I should meet—who the movers and shakers are.
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Host your own gathering. We usually organize a dinner or cocktail hour to bring people together. Becoming a connector in the room amplifies your presence.
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Get on stage. If you can speak, do it. Share your expertise, promote your company, and offer value. It changes the game.
Kaye:
You mentioned you’re more introverted—which might surprise people. How do you manage your energy during events?
Eric:
Yeah, I’m definitely an introvert. I love speaking and networking, but it’s draining. I usually need to retreat after high-energy situations. I’ve been going to events since I was 16—starting with Amway—so I’ve had time to refine my approach. These days, I’m very intentional about my schedule. I always start event days with a hard workout to move energy, and I plan out exactly who I want to meet and what sessions are worth attending.
One of my favorite stories is from the last IMN in Nashville. Will Guidara—author of Unreasonable Hospitality—was the keynote. I reached out beforehand, and to my surprise, he responded and wanted to meet. We connected backstage before his talk. He flew in, did his talk, met a few key people, and flew out the same day. That level of intentionality really stuck with me. It made me rethink how I show up at these events.
Kaye:
That’s amazing. Having a purpose makes everything easier—no more awkward “So, what did you think of that speaker?” small talk. How do you connect meaningfully with people you meet in hallways?
Eric:
I avoid the generic “What do you do?” It doesn’t lead anywhere memorable. Instead, I ask:
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What are you working on right now that excites you the most?
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Is there any way I can support you?
These questions catch people off guard in a good way. You get genuine, surprising answers, and they remember you. I learned those from my time in the Entrepreneur House, and they’ve served me ever since.
Kaye:
So, how do you answer those questions yourself?
Eric:
It depends on the day. Right now, I’m energized by being with family and being able to share what we’re building at Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry. I’m pumped that our business is scaling, that we’re working with incredible clients and seeing real results. And there’s a new hotel opportunity in San Diego I’m excited about—it’s early, so I’m not sharing too much yet, but it’s promising.
Kaye:
What do you ask for when someone reflects that “how can I support you” question back to you?
Eric:
It depends on who they are. If they’re well-connected, I’ll ask who I should talk to—who’s shaking up the industry. If they know any qualified STR operators, I might ask for a referral to RPM. The key is being authentic and clear about how they can help, right in the moment.
Kaye:
Great tip. Follow-through often fades if you don’t act right away. What do you do after the event?
Eric:
First, I sleep! Events wipe me out. But I also bring a notebook and write down who I met, what I learned, and anything I want to implement. Once I’m back in the office, I follow up and take action on those insights.
By the way, my top picks for STR events right now are:
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IMN
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VR Nation (I haven’t been, but it’s getting great feedback)
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VRMA
VRMA has had its ups and downs, but they’re adapting. We’re speaking at the upcoming VRMA in Vegas, which is exciting. The biggest value of VRMA is the network—it brings the whole industry together.
Kaye:
Yes! We were invited to lead a revenue management workshop at VRMA this fall. The organizers specifically asked for something interactive and non-promotional, which shows they’re serious about evolving the programming.
Eric:
Exactly. Panels and presentations often don’t go deep enough. But with this workshop, our goal is for attendees to walk away with a real result. We spent time with Jasper and the team refining what that “one thing” would be—and we’ll save that surprise for the attendees. The session is called Pricing Power: How the Top STR Operators Outpace the Market.
I’ll be leading it with you, Jasper, and likely Miles from our team. It’ll be hands-on, tactical, and powerful.
Also, I’ll be moderating a branding and storytelling panel at IMN in Park City. We’ve already discussed making it more conversational and authentic—not another boring panel.
Kaye:
That’s the theme: intention. If you’re going to attend an event, do it with purpose. Many of us work behind screens all day, and these in-person opportunities accelerate relationship-building like nothing else.
Eric:
Exactly. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling, go in with a plan. Know the top five people you want to meet, five things you want to learn, and what value you can offer in return. I do “sprints”—I’ll network for an hour, then take a break to reset, then jump back in. It helps me stay present.
If you’ll be at IMN in Park City (July 21–22), come say hi. My panel is on the 21st. And definitely make plans to attend VRMA in Vegas—we’re considering hosting a Freewyld Connection event while we’re there.
Kaye:
One more bonus tip—someone in our mastermind said they joined before attending a big event, and it made all the difference. If you’re introverted or new to events, joining a community in advance helps you show up already knowing people. You hit the ground running.
Eric:
Network before you network.
Kaye:
Exactly. Thanks so much, Eric—this was super insightful.
Eric:
Likewise. And before we wrap, a quick reminder: We’re expanding our RPM (Revenue & Pricing Management) service. If you—or someone you know—manages at least 15 listings and over $1M in revenue, send them to freewyldfoundry.com. We’re offering free pricing audits, and we have solutions for operators at every stage.
Kaye:
One last data point—Jasper shared this week that while markets are down ~7% overall, our clients are up ~18%, thanks to our 24.6% impact across 1,600 listings and $60M in bookings. We’re proud of the results we’re seeing and would love to help more operators achieve the same.
Eric:
Yeah, it’s incredible. If you’re interested, apply for the audit and let’s connect. Now I’m off to escape this hot closet and play with my kids!
Kaye:
Thanks for listening, everyone. Bye!
Eric:
Bye!
