Why Every Property Manager Needs to Get Involved in Advocacy with Ginger Harrelson of Beachball Properties
April 21, 2026
In Part 2 of this conversation with Ginger Harrelson, founder of Beachball Properties and Orange Beach City Councilwoman, the discussion moves from the legislative fight into the boots-on-ground reality of what OTA non-compliance costs professional property managers every day. Ginger breaks down why the owner contract makes you personally liable for lodging tax remittance, even when a platform is collecting and holding those funds. She addresses the growing unlicensed cohosting crisis, including a coordinated form letter soliciting owners away from professional management companies using nearly identical language across the industry. The conversation covers practical steps any property manager can take to get involved in advocacy, from signing letters to showing up at city council meetings. Ginger also shares her community marketing philosophy, including how she built a Facebook group with over 115,000 followers that drives direct bookings for Beachball Properties. This episode is sponsored by RevMax, the premier full service revenue management system built for vacation rental managers who are looking for a market edge.
This episode is sponsored by RevMax.
Part 2 of Ginger Harrelson's conversation with Lynell Gordon on The Vacation Rental Show shifts from the legislative fight into the daily reality of what professional property managers are up against and what they can actually do about it. Ginger covers the legal liability gap that exists when OTAs hold lodging tax funds, the unlicensed cohosting crisis playing out through coordinated owner solicitation letters, and the practical case for why every licensed property manager should be engaged in advocacy at some level, whether that means signing a letter, attending a council meeting, or running for office.
What You'll Learn:
- Why your owner contract makes you personally liable for lodging tax compliance, even when the OTA collects and holds those funds
- How unlicensed cohosts are using a coordinated form letter to solicit your owners directly, and why the real estate commission has no authority to stop them
- What property managers in licensed law states can do right now to engage in meaningful advocacy
- Why getting a seat at the table, including a city council seat, is one of the most impactful moves a property manager can make
- How community building through social media translates directly into brand loyalty and direct bookings
- Why the timing of owner fund distribution matters more than most new property managers realize
Ginger Harrelson is the founder and operator of Beachball Properties, a professional vacation rental management company based in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. A licensed attorney and elected Orange Beach City Councilwoman, Ginger brings a rare combination of legal expertise, operational experience, and civic leadership to her advocacy work. She has been a leading voice in challenging OTA tax compliance practices in Alabama and was instrumental in organizing the professional property management community to engage with state legislators on issues of fairness, accountability, and licensure.
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Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Sofia Rossato of Inhabit, and many more.
Check out the three most downloaded episodes:
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- Life in Maui as a Property Manager with Scott Jordan, Owner of Maui Life Realty
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