SEVIERVILLE, TN — A new chapter begins for short-term rental homeowners across Southeast Tennessee as a local ownership group officially acquires Vacasa’s regional operations. The acquisition marks a full transition to locally-owned and operated leadership under Blake Dailey, CEO of Altara, a franchise of the national vacation rental brand Casago.

The move represents a major “local reset” for hundreds of homeowners who have struggled under national systems that failed to reflect the realities of the Smoky Mountains and surrounding markets. The new ownership team—comprised of local investors and hospitality operators, including development and property management leader Compass—plans to rebuild operations, prioritizing owner earnings, guest experience, and local accountability.

“We live here, we operate here, and we’re rebuilding this company with the goals of helping homeowners earn more with less friction, and giving guests a seamless, elevated stay experience that keeps them coming back,” said Dailey, CEO of Altara Vacation Rentals Powered by Casago. “For too long, decisions were made by a national office that didn’t understand our mountain markets. That ends today.”

Immediate changes include:
• Unit-level revenue management using local data, events, and demand patterns—not national averages.
• Upgraded operations systems for faster response times, cleaner tracking, and better communication.
• Dedicated Owner Success and Local Ops teams providing direct points of contact and transparent reporting.

In the first 60 days, the company will deliver weekly updates to homeowners on key metrics—pricing performance, occupancy, reviews, and owner proceeds—along with a monthly review cadence.

The leadership team’s proven track record includes organically growing to over 300 mostly owned units, built on a foundation of owner alignment, firsthand experience as property owners themselves, and a commitment to precision pricing and exceptional guest experiences.

“We’re not chasing top-line revenue at the owner’s expense,” said Dailey. “Our incentives are tied to owner proceeds—when owners win, we win.” The new Altara team invites local homeowners to join an upcoming Owner Town Hall at The Pines on October 24th to review the transition plan and ask questions live.