Tiffany Edwards

Vacation Rental Managing Partner & Vacation Rental Policy Consultant, Weatherby Consulting & Coletta Consulting

Tiffany Edwards is a nationally recognized leader in the vacation rental industry. She is the owner of Weatherby Consulting, overseeing operations for a multi-state portfolio of vacation and long-term rental properties, and the founder of Coletta Consulting, where she leads government affairs and policy advocacy for clients nationwide. Edwards has partnered with organizations such as Airbnb, Expedia Group, KeyData, and Oxford Economics and played a key role in shaping national vacation rental reopening strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. She serves as treasurer of the Walton County Tourist Development Council, founding director of the Florida Professional Vacation Rental Coalition, and chair of the Government Affairs Council for the Vacation Rental Managers Association. She is also an active board member of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. Edwards is a mother of two, a spin instructor, and a podcast host, bringing together business leadership, family values, and community service.

Describe a defining moment or achievement in your career.

The COVID-19 shutdown left many businesses uncertain about their future, and the vacation rental industry was no exception. With travel bans in place and tourism largely unwelcome, the path to recovery was unclear. To address this crisis, I formed and led a national daily task force dedicated to working collaboratively with elected officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders to safely reopen vacation rentals. The task force brought together senior leaders from VRBO, national trade associations, data analysts, and vacation rental professionals, collectively representing millions of properties, DMOs, and suppliers. Each morning, I facilitated strategic discussions to address pressing issues, finalized a standardized health and cleaning protocol accepted by all stakeholders, and identified high-priority regions for reopening. We also built targeted grassroots and grass tops campaigns to support local adoption of safe vacation rental practices. Within a month, we achieved our first major success in Florida—securing reopening ahead of Memorial Day weekend, a critical milestone for the industry. This model was then replicated in key markets across the country. For my leadership and impact, I was honored with the 2021 President’s Award from the Vacation Rental Managers Association—
the highest industry recognition. While I’m proud of the award, what means most to me is the real-world impact we made during one of the most challenging moments in our industry’s history.

How do you define success?

Often, we get too hung up on “success” being singular or business focused. In my opinion, to be truly successful, I need to achieve just as much in my business as outside. I don’t believe in balance: Every day the scales tip in different directions, but I do believe in priorities. My faith, my family, my business, my community, and my health are my priorities. My success is measured by how I showed up for each. I set goals and ask questions. Did I entertain any meetings that could have been an email? Did I connect with a team member this week? Was I present for my kid’s daily recaps? Did I lift more than last month? Did I support something this week that has an impact on the community? Success isn’t based on the end of a career or a look back; it’s a daily achievement.

What motivates you?

Purpose. In everything I do, there has to be a purpose that is greater than myself. Purpose drives my passion and creates an unwavering dedication.

Tell us about a time when you were met with a crossroads decision. How did you face that? 

Over the last decade, my husband and I have acquired vacation rental companies throughout the country. My husband managed the operations while
I continued to grow my vacation rental policy consulting company. However, a couple of years ago, we realized we were working more in parallel than together. Our travel schedules remained opposite, and while my business was growing, I was spending hours in locations that did not serve our family businesses. We were often unable to meet the regulatory consulting needs of our personal markets. It was clear something had to change. Truth be told, I was fearful to start ending contracts with my clients and shift focus to operations instead of government discussions. But I quickly realized that hesitation was due to my own ego and being committed to only what I had built instead of the opportunity of what we could do together. I had to reposition my thinking. It was a shift in what I want out of my work. I learned I wanted to help our teams succeed, to still provide regulatory guidance in markets of direct impact to us, and strengthen the family business as opposed to being outside of it.

What advice do you have for young women pursuing their careers? 

Your successes are not yours alone. No one achieves without others lifting them up—those who work beside them or inspire them. Life is a team sport. Every relationship provides an opportunity to learn and grow, no matter the position. In a growing culture of self-importance, professional success is achieved by standing with others, not on the podium by yourself.