Rental Escapes Appoints Vonda Keeler as Director of Travel Advisor Partnerships

Rental Escapes is bolstering its leadership team with two appointments designed to deepen industry engagement and sharpen sales strategy. The Montreal-based luxury villa rental company has named Vonda Keeler director of travel advisor partnerships and elevated Willie Fernandez to chief sales and marketing officer. Keeler brings nearly a decade of experience in advisor relations and business development, most notably at Blue Diamond Resorts, where she advanced from business development manager to regional manager. Her background is distinctive in that she began her career as an advisor herself, giving her direct insight into the pressures and expectations of frontline sellers. That perspective will be central to her new role, which emphasizes not just outreach but long-term partnership building. The hire signals Rental Escapes’ intent to move beyond transactional sales and into more sustained collaboration with the trade. The company has been investing heavily in support programs like Keys to Success, a training and marketing platform designed to help agencies position villa stays as a repeatable revenue stream rather than a one-off indulgence. Keeler will oversee the expansion of these efforts, including education and tools that allow partners to match clients with the right villa while layering in value-add services such as concierge booking. Her appointment coincides with Fernandez’s promotion, which consolidates sales and marketing under one office. Fernandez, who joined Rental Escapes in 2022, has been a visible advocate for tightening the company’s relationship with the trade. By pairing his broader brand remit with Keeler’s targeted advisor engagement, Rental Escapes is positioning itself to compete more directly with villa specialists and larger hospitality players alike. Villas have surged in popularity among affluent travelers seeking privacy and personalization—trends that accelerated during the pandemic and have remained resilient even as high-end hotels recover. For suppliers, the challenge lies in standardizing the booking experience without losing the bespoke appeal that defines the category. By investing in leadership that straddles both product marketing and advisor relations, Rental Escapes is betting it can deliver on both. The company’s portfolio spans more than 5,000 vetted properties across 70 destinations, supported by a concierge team that arranges services from private chefs to boat charters.