Meet BrightSide, Breezeway's newest integration partner! We connected with BrightSide to learn more about their beginnings, how they stand out from other property management systems, and how you can do more with the Breezeway and BrightSide integration.
Tell us about BrightSide!
The foundation of BrightSide was laid back in the late 1990’s. Charles Hawkins created a software package called “Rental Management” for some of the first short term rental agencies in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In 2003, Charles and his eldest son, Emmett, rewrote the software as a web-based application titled “RM4.” After this update, RM4 started gaining traction in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. In 2006, Emmett formed Hawkins Computer Services, and was joined a year later by his brother Raymond.
In 2015, we launched a new version on a new technology stack and renamed the software “BrightSide Rental Management.” Our very first client is still with us, and some of the early adopters continue to affectionately refer to us as “RM4.” In 2024, “BrightSide Rental Management” became “BrightSide.”
Whether you manage one property or a thousand, BrightSide is here to provide the best support in the industry. Do more. Work Less.™ We want people to understand that using BrightSide will help them get their time back. So much effort goes into managing vacation rental properties, that companies need a way to do more, but in a way that saves time. We constantly hear, “It is so easy to use!”
How many different tools and technologies does BrightSide integrate with?
BrightSide has developed a number of built in tools to help manage properties. In addition, BrightSide integrates with more than three dozen third party companies to help expand the convenience of using our software. Property managers are offering more services to owners than ever before. They need software to help them manage it and still have time to live their lives.
How would you differentiate BrightSide's capabilities from other property management systems on the market, particularly when it comes to multi-channel distribution and operational efficiency?
BrightSide doesn’t use third party channel managers for any of our integrations. Our API connects directly with the OTAs, meaning we don’t depend on a third party’s software for BrightSide to work. We cut out the middleman and work directly, which leads to less issues and better communication.
Colonial Properties says it best, "What makes Brightside and Breezeway truly remarkable is how well they work together. The integration is seamless, so information flows smoothly from bookings to operations. This means our team spends less time on repetitive tasks and more time on ensuring every guest has an amazing stay."
What's one key takeaway people should know about BrightSide, and where can they go to learn more?
BrightSide is a small company, but we want people to know that our software is as robust as the multinational companies. Our clients are based all over America, Cabo, Belize, and Canada. Our client support is second to none. We answer emails in minutes or hours, not days or weeks. We still answer the phone when a client calls or call them back if we can’t.
For more information, go to the BrightSide website or call 865-233-3778 and talk to Marc.
Visit our integration page to see how Breezeway and BrightSide work together.
