Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Publications
HOSPITALITY HONORS, AWARDS, PARTNER RECOGNITION
PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT & VOLUNTEERING
References
Timeline
Generic
Darik Eaton

Darik Eaton

Kalāheo

Summary

Dynamic operations leader with a proven track record at Kauai Exclusive Management, driving a 42% increase in booking revenue through strategic channel optimization. Expert in revenue management and team leadership, I excel in cultivating partnerships and enhancing guest experiences, consistently achieving high satisfaction scores and operational efficiencies.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Operations

Kauai Exclusive Management
Lihue
04.2024 - Current
  • Oversaw vacation rental operations for luxury properties on Kauai, enhancing guest experience and revenue management.
  • Spearheaded channel optimization resulting in $680K (42%) increase in booking revenue from VRBO/Expedia.
  • Achieved monthly year-over-year revenue gains of 12.8%–47.8% through effective pricing strategy.
  • Implemented $125 damage waiver for four-plus-bedroom homes, projecting $20K annual revenue boost.
  • Cultivated strategic partnerships, securing two real estate transactions and one management contract.
  • Onboarded Breezeway software to enhance service documentation and team efficiency.
  • Standardized procurement processes with Bargreen Ellingson, reducing costs for flatware and glassware packages.
  • Planned maintenance schedules to optimize property performance and vendor management.

Stock Trading Professional

Self-employeed
Lihue
11.2020 - Current
  • Utilized various trading strategies such as cash secured puts and swing trading to grow family assets.
    Engaged in day trading and selling volatility for improved portfolio performance.
    Achieved certification from True Trading Group 18 Course, reinforcing trading skills.

Branch Manager

Sixt Rent a Car
Lihue
01.2023 - 02.2024
  • Manage all aspects of branch along with Senior Branch Manager including overseeing scheduling, vendor relationships, accounts payable while ensuring branch and employees follow corporate image and brand requirements at all times. Lead and coach sales team to ensure meeting and exceeding corporate and branch goals on Incremental Revenue Per Day (IRPD) and Customer Excitement Surveys (CES).
  • SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • Oversaw branch during corporate transition of major systems to the cloud within weeks of completing training
  • February 2023 Lihue Branch Achieved highest CES of any location in North America with more than 80 responses with 4.73
  • March 2023 Lihue Branch Achieved highest CES of any location in North America with more than 50 responses with 4.78
  • Within weeks of hire identified inefficiencies and areas to find cost savings for the branch
  • Received 2nd Golden Ticket for Customer Service in Branches History from Diamond Loyalty Customer
  • Instrumental Branch Google Rating from 4.7 to 4.8 in first 90 days through increased customer outreach
  • In second full month achieved above goal numbers for IRPD with perfect Personal 5.0 Service CES
  • Implemented systems and processes to increase Lihue CES from 4.69 to 4.86 in first 90 days again achieving highest client satisfaction in North America
  • Increased efficiencies with vendor in the cleaning and turn around of vehicles from .66/manhour to 1.2 per manhour in 90 days

Founder & General Manager

Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals
01.2008 - 12.2020
  • Responsible for new property acquisition, revenue management, interior design and remodel project management of properties as well as the client onboarding process. Seattle Oasis had a unique approach which included unique design and branding of each property, interior design and construction management, and individualized marketing and revenue management plans. Led the reservations, guest services, housekeeping and laundry departments to ensure industry leading guest satisfaction scores. Grew vacation rental management company from 1 to 55 properties with more than $3.8 Million in Revenue, RevPAR of $197.40 in the Downtown Seattle Market. Twelve of our managed properties were included in the exclusive Airbnb Plus Program upon its launch to the Seattle Market. Several Months of Airbnb Superhost ratings scored our accommodations by guests as high as Hotel 1000 and other iconic Seattle hotels. This team leadership lead to frequent speaker requests, podcast guest requests, and even a feature in the worlds first streaming television show dedicated to Vacation Rentals “Vacation Rental Show: Sense of Place.”
  • SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • Achieved 85% Team member retention rate throughout history of company
  • 2019 Invited to become a launch participant in the Marriott Vacation Homes Partnership Program
  • 2018 Launched International 24/7 Live Customer Support Service Center
  • 2017 Launched customized hand-written Welcome Letter Program for each arriving guest
  • 12 Properties invited, inspected, reviewed, and accepted into Airbnb Plus Program upon Seattle launch of program
  • 2013 Industry Leader in launching “Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals” Guest Services Application in Google Play and Apple Store
  • 2013 Pioneer in using QR Codes to increase Guest Social Media Engagement and Customer Satisfaction
  • Industry innovator in creating and integrating interior design business within rental program and onboarding process

Director of Operations

Princeville Vacation Rentals, Kauai Real Estate Group
10.2016 - 01.2020
  • Direct oversight of revenue management, on-island operations, housekeeping; as well as reservations and guest services teams. Grew company from 8 to 40 properties implementing reservations and guest services systems to inexperienced ownership group while managing and growing Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals
  • SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • Improved Guest Satisfaction Scores 20% to achieve Superhost Status
  • 4 Properties Invited into Airbnb Plus Program upon expansion to Hawaii
  • Developed Technology and Information Resource Program to equip international reservations and customer service teams in Seattle & Jakarta

Sales Broker and Credit Specialist

Atlas Financial
12.2008 - 05.2011
  • Built and maintained relationships with vendor and manufacturing clients to extend financing services to their end customer. Wrote funding proposals for credit desks for approval with banking partners.
  • SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • Achieved Sales Quota quicker than any other hire in company
  • Achieved National Monthly Top Producing Broker from several banking partners

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Economics, Psychology

Pitzer College
Claremont, CA
05.2004

Bachelor of Arts - International Business

Universidad Del País Vasco
Bilbao, Spain
05.2003

Skills

  • Revenue management
  • Vendor management
  • Channel optimization
  • Property acquisition
  • Customer relationship management
  • Sales forecasting
  • Team leadership
  • Data analysis
  • Process improvement

Affiliations

  • Founding Member, Secretary
  • Vacation Rental Managers of Washington (VRMAWA) and Northwest Vacation Rental Professionals (NWVRP) 2011-2021
  • Created bi-laws and helped form non-profit to lobby for the vacation rental industry in Washington State sharing information with stakeholders when dealing with city, county, and state level legislation efforts
  • Planned annual conferences with vendor showcase to fund lobbying efforts of organization
  • VRMAWA changed names and became NWVRP as Associate Members in other states joined to expand lobbying efforts throughout the Pacific Northwest, Southwestern Canada, Alaska and Hawaii
  • Grew membership from 8 founding members to NWVRP representing 8 States and 2 Canadian Territories and 100 Companies
  • Vice-President, Board of Directors
  • Belltown Court Homeowners Association Seattle, WA 2017-2019
  • Provided leadership in the first ever transition of Management Companies for the 245 Unit HOA with $2.8 Million Annual Budget
  • Oversaw first revision in 12 years of the rental rules as a Rental Committee Member representing both the board and interests of Short-Term Rental Owners
  • Oversaw bid proposal and selection process for elevator car replacement Project for 2/4 elevators in building
  • Reduced debt and improved cash flow through refinance and payoff of developer loans on HOA owned units and leveraging US treasury sweeps for reserves
  • Seattle Short Term Rental Alliance (SSTRA) 2016-2019
  • Formed alliance to fight city regulations and illegal potential ban on short term rental activity as defined as rentals less than 30 days in Seattle city limits
  • Formed alliances across businesses including area restaurants, tour operators, advertising platforms and service providers to inform City Council on size of industry
  • Invested 10+ hours a week directly lobbying city council members, and legislative aids on the process of creating lasting revenue stream for affordable housing directly from short term rental activity
  • Member
  • Vacation Rental Managers Associate (VRMA) 2010-2020
  • Attended 1-2 Annual Regional, National, International & European Conferences Annually
  • Frequently requested and highly attended speaker and panelist at annual and regional conferences
  • Member, Board of Directors
  • Belltown Court Homeowners Association Seattle, WA 2008-2010
  • Owner-Member at large
  • Guided HOA through questions and threats of litigation of improperly passed amendments to declaration by previous boards
  • Created programs to pay for unbudgeted emergency improvements in 245 unit HOA + Commercial Units

Publications

  • 2019 VRMA International Conference Speaker – Hilton New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2018 VRMA International Conference Speaker – MGM Grand Las Vegas, Nevada
  • 2017 European VRAMA Conference Speaker & Panelist – Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • 2016 Vacation Rental Success Summit Keynote Speaker – Toronto, Canada
  • 2015 VRMA National Conference Speaker – Phoenix, Arizona
  • 2020 – Get Paid For Your Pad – Ep 347 “The Perfect System to Manage Inventory in Your STR Units – With Darik Eaton”
  • 2018 – Vacation Rental Show – Sense of Place – Season 1 Ep 12 “Seattle – Worth Fighting For”
  • 2018 – Square Peg Round Hole: Small Business Massive Action Podcast – Ep 60 “What to Do When The Right Goes Wrong in Your Small Business”
  • 2018 – Skift – “Decoding the Modern Vacation Rental Technology Landscape”
  • 2017 – Rentals United – “35 Vacation Rental Industry Movers & Shakers Under 35”
  • 2017 – Habitat “A New Way to Defuse Noise Complaints”
  • 2017 – Unlocked by Matt Landau – EP 03 “From Side-Hustle to big Hustle with Darik Eaton”
  • 2017 – The Lens “Seattle’s Vacation Rentals Industry Hit New Rules”
  • 2016 – Geekwire “Airbnb fights crackdown with new data, claiming year-round entire home rentals are a small fraction of Seattle housing stock”
  • 2016 – Vacation Rental Success Podcast – VRS157 “Vacation Rental Stager & Designer Sally Lauren Nichols”
  • 2016 – Vacation Rental Success Podcast – VRS132 “Vacation Rental Property Management with a Difference with Darik Eaton”

HOSPITALITY HONORS, AWARDS, PARTNER RECOGNITION

  • Q1 2019 – Q3 2021 Achieved Airbnb Superhost for Property Management Company with up to 1400 Annual Reviews and 4.9/5 Average Guest Review Score
  • 2018-2020 HomeAway.com Premier Partner
  • 2018-2020 Booking.com Preferred Partner
  • 2014-2017 “Best of Western Washington” Best Vacation Rentals King 5 Seattle NBC Affiliate

PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT & VOLUNTEERING

  • Stock Marketing Mechanics and Psychology – True Trading Group 2021
  • State of Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson Exam 2020
  • Alakai O Kauai Parent Teacher Network 2019 – Current
  • Vistage Kauai Member 2019 – 2021
  • Business Networkers International (BNI) 2011 – 2018

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Director of Operations

Kauai Exclusive Management
04.2024 - Current

Branch Manager

Sixt Rent a Car
01.2023 - 02.2024

Stock Trading Professional

Self-employeed
11.2020 - Current

Director of Operations

Princeville Vacation Rentals, Kauai Real Estate Group
10.2016 - 01.2020

Sales Broker and Credit Specialist

Atlas Financial
12.2008 - 05.2011

Founder & General Manager

Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals
01.2008 - 12.2020

Bachelor of Arts - Economics, Psychology

Pitzer College

Bachelor of Arts - International Business

Universidad Del País Vasco

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