After two successful years of hosting the Vacation Rental Design Summit alongside High Point’s Spring Furniture Market, High Point by Design (HPxD) announces that the third edition of its award-winning conference will take place June 23–27, 2025 in High Point.
Branded “Summer Escape,” the 2025 Summit invites attendees to enjoy the signature education, inspiration and connection they’ve come to expect—this time with a twist. With a new seasonal setting, the event will offer deeper learning opportunities and weave a retreat-like vibe into the programming.
Today, one of the event’s co-founders, designer Jessica Duce, gives us an exclusive look at some of the key topics that will be explored in-depth at this year’s summit, highlighting the latest trends in the ever-evolving vacation rental design industry and the most important things STR designers need to be prepared for:
How expectations of guests and real estate owners are evolving in the short-term rental industry
Expectations have changed with both the guest and the owner [of short term rental properties]. For guests, cheap furnishings, under-furnished spaces, low quality of goods and services, and overall lackluster guest experiences are not going to fly anymore.
The real estate owners [also] have elevated requests as it relates to renters. They want a more “high-end” guest, one that is more sophisticated, well-traveled, and more likely to take good care of the property during their stay.
Short term rental style and vacation locales
Kitsch and cheesy are out. Luxury accommodations and high-end, curated experiences are in. There is a shift from standard homes to well-designed architecture in unique locations.
We’re seeing more investors [in vacation rentals] in areas with events. For example Round Top, Texas, [for] antiques, Carmel, California, [for] food and wine, and Bandon, Oregon, [for] golf.
There is a huge crossover with luxury hotel design and experiences! High-end guests expect all the luxe touches found in a five-star hotel, but they’re looking for the privacy and exclusivity found in well-designed home. Guests are also expecting concierge-level personal service from their hosts.
How the home furnishings industry is reacting to the boom in vacation rentals
We have really seen a shift with many brands now embracing the category and asking us what STR designers need. Companies like Classic Home, Eastern Accents, Regina Andrew and Feizy understand our needs for product requirements and receiving, and work with us on special pricing.
Understanding the ROI on a vacation rental property
Clear communication and mutual understanding are very important. Designers need to understand the ROI for their design for the success of the vacation rental while maintaining the level of guest experience the property owner wants to provide. The property owner needs to understand the why and how, and the power of selection in STR design. Working together on this is what makes the magic happen.
The 2025 VRD Summit takes place June 23–27 in High Point, NC, kicking off with a casual welcome reception Monday evening and concluding with a closing gathering Thursday night. Sponsor showrooms will be open throughout the week, Monday to Friday.
This B2B event is designed for interior designers, real estate and hospitality professionals, developers, and brands working in or entering the short-term rental space. Tickets go on sale April 7, with early bird pricing of $899 available through May 5.
More about the Vacation Rental Design Summit
Founded in 2023 by Jane Dagmi of High Point by Design, Jessica Duce of Vacation Rental Designers, and Ericka Saurit of Saurit Creative, VRD Summit is the only conference focused on how elevated and thoughtful interior and exterior design impacts the guest experience at a vacation rental and the return on investment. The event, which garnered the 2024 Gold Achievement Award from the North Carolina Travel Industry Association, is produced by HPxD and supported by Visit High Point and industry sponsors.
