Compass is proud to announce an exciting new chapter for short-term rental homeowners in Southeast Tennessee. A local ownership group has officially acquired Vacasa’s regional operations, transitioning leadership to Casago Smoky Mountains, a locally-owned and operated franchise of the national brand Casago, led by CEO Blake Dailey.
This acquisition represents a major “local reset” for hundreds of homeowners who have faced challenges under national systems that didn’t fully understand the unique realities of the Smoky Mountains and surrounding markets. Now, with a locally invested team—including Compass as a key partner—operations are being rebuilt with a focus on homeowner 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. “For too long, decisions were made by a national office that didn’t understand our mountain markets. That ends today.”
Casago Smoky Mountains is rolling out a number of immediate changes aimed at improving service, communication, and results for property owners:
Local revenue management: Unit-level pricing based on local events, demand, and data—not national averages.
Upgraded operations systems: Faster response times, better tracking, and clearer communication.
Dedicated Owner Success and Local Ops teams: Direct points of contact and transparent reporting.
In the first 60 days, Casago Smoky Mountains will provide homeowners with weekly updates on key metrics including pricing performance, occupancy, reviews, and owner proceeds, along with a monthly review cadence.
The leadership team has a proven track record of growing vacation rental portfolios organically, managing over 300 mostly owned units, and operating with a commitment to owner-first service. As owners themselves, they understand the importance of maximizing returns while delivering 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.”
Casago Smoky Mountains is a locally-owned and operated vacation rental management company serving the Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas. As part of the Casago franchise network, we blend national technology and reach with local expertise and owner-first service, ensuring homeowners and guests alike enjoy the very best experience.
