VRM Days 2025: Zagreb reaffirms status as the centre of the regional short-term rental sector
Third edition of the conference VRM Days The event was held on 21 and 22 October 2025 at the Mozaik Event Centre in Zagreb, bringing together a large number of experts from the short-term rental sector, representatives of domestic and international companies, technology platforms, and educators. This year, the event once again confirmed its status as the leading regional conference dedicated to digitalisation and professionalisation. short-term rental industry.
Excellent organisation and positive energy
This year's VRM Days stood out for its exceptionally good organisation, dynamic schedule, and thoughtfully designed programme which allowed attendees to choose topics according to their own interests. The parallel halls were filled to capacity — the programme took place simultaneously on the main stage, where did it take place The central part of the conference with panels and lectures by leading experts, to in the small hall, in which Partner companies organised practical workshops and presentations of their solutions. This structure enabled participants to choose between inspirational strategic themes and practical, educational content.
The atmosphere among attendees – from accommodation owners and property managers to marketing experts and developers – was extremely positive and professional. Over two days of lectures, workshops, and panels, the conference proved that it has become more than just a professional gathering – it is a space for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and the creation of business opportunities.
Opening the conference, Saša Bosanac, founder of VRM Days, highlighted the importance of the role of private accommodation in global tourism:
“Private accommodation accounts for over 14 percent of global tourism traffic today, and the aim is to find ways to further increase this share.”
Day one: Technology, marketing, and business growth
The first day featured presentations on market trends and short-term rental prospects in Croatia.
- The introductory lecture „Market trends & How to capture the demand in Croatia“ was led by Antonio Laveneziana (Airbnb) – showed how global and local trends are impacting the Croatian market.
- This was followed by the lecture „Croatia's STR Market: Insights, Trends, and Outlook 2025/2026“, held by Miro Blažević (Lighthouse) which brought relevant data about the local market.
- Panel Beyond Beds: additional & hidden revenue moderated Miško Macolić (Marketing), the panellists were Tomislav Cimerman Krk Adria, Josip Žurak Authland I Igor Popović (Adriagate) — they discussed how additional services, experiences and personalisation are becoming more important than the overnight stay itself.
- The topic „Channel Management in the Age of Digital Natives: What the Next Generation Expects“ was also touched upon Silvanom Cvek (Beerent) as the main speaker, who highlighted the changes brought about by digital guest generations.
- In the afternoon session, the workshop „Scaling Smart: How Tech Will Empower the Next Era of Short-Term Rental Leaders“ was moderated by Jessica Gillingham (Abode Worldwide) among panellists Lee Bonvoisin Hostaway, Tomislava Zovka (On the run), Alexandra Limperta (GuestReady) I Barbara Vincenzi (HomeToGo) – Theme: How technology enables growth and scaling.
- The lecture „The Social Media Marketing Mix“ was given by Daniela Derin (Skol Apartments) with specific advice on online presence and marketing.
The day concluded with a networking dinner and informal conversation – a moment for forging connections that often blossom into collaborations.
Day two: AI, branding and the future of Croatian tourism
The second day began with the lecture „Tech-Enabled Hospitality: The Forces Redefining the Modern STR Operator“, which was led by Jessica Gillingham (Abode Worldwide) – focus on the impact of technology in hospitality and short-term rentals.
- The lecture „New trends in travels“ had Vlatko Pavlović (Booking.com), which showed how traveller habits are changing.
- The panel „Croatia: 2026-2031 predictions – Future of Croatian tourism“ was moderated by Goran Rihelj (hrturizam.hr), and the panel participants were Iva Bencun (Zadar Tourist Board), Oliver Kesar (Faculty of Economics and Business Zagreb) and Dragan Šimac (Analitix.ai) – they discussed long-term trends, sustainability, and sector development.
- The lecture „If you're selling, but not building your own brand – you're building someone else's“ brought Barbara Slade Jagodić (Slade.hr), promoting the significance of its own brand and positioning.
- The theme „Service or Experience? How AI is Changing the Rules of Hospitality“ was addressed through a presentation Vedrana Bajera (Wonderful), focusing on personalisation and artificial intelligence in the guest experience.
- The panel „How to choose the right one? And why are there so many tech issues?“ was moderated by Ivan Brezak Brkan (Netokracija) with panellists Daria Alfirevića (Nokumo), Giovanni Conte (PriceLabs), Magnanelli Brand (Avantio) i Bojan Pešić (Tokeet) – Theme: Choosing the right technological solutions and implementation challenges.
VRM Days 2025 Conference She offered not only an overview of current topics in the short-term rental sector, but also concrete tools, examples, and contacts that can bring a business advantage.
With this edition, Zagreb has once again confirmed itself as a centre for innovation and ideas in tourism, and the organisers have raised the bar of expectations for next year – with a clear goal for private accommodation to receive its deserved place in the global tourism ecosystem.
