Key Takeaways
- Casago officially launched a locally owned vacation rental franchise in Belize on July 1
- The operation was formed through the purchase of Vacasa Belize Ltd. and will be led by two longtime Vacasa executives
- The expansion continues Casago’s strategy of shifting former Vacasa markets to locally led franchise operators
A U.S.-based vacation rental management company is expanding its franchise network internationally with a new locally operated business in Belize.
Casago, a large property management and vacation rental management compnay headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, officially launched its Belize location on July 1 after purchasing Vacasa Belize Ltd. and transitioning the business to local ownership.
According to the company’s announcement, the new franchise will be led by longtime Vacasa executives Sheldon Arnold and Rolando Guzman.
Arnold, who has held senior management roles with Vacasa since 2017, will serve as president and CEO.
Guzman, who also spent several years in leadership roles with the company, will become chief commercial officer.
“Belize is our homeland, and this opportunity means a great deal to us,” Arnold said in the announcement. “We have spent years building relationships with homeowners, team members and local partners across the region.”
Casago shifts another Vacasa market to local ownership
The Belize launch is the latest example of Casago moving a former Vacasa-managed market to a locally owned franchise.
The model gives local operators control over day-to-day decisions and homeowner relationships while Casago provides technology, systems and broader operational support.
Arnold said the new company will focus on homeowners while also improving the guest experience across the portfolio.
Casago Belize will manage vacation homes across the country, including coastal properties, island retreats and rentals near Belize’s mainland adventure destinations. The existing local team will continue serving homeowners and guests under the new ownership structure.
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Casago founder and CEO Steve Schwab said Arnold and Guzman bring an advantage because they already know the market, its homeowners and the local teams.
“Sheldon and Rolando are exactly the kind of local operators Casago was built to support,” Schwab said. “They know the homeowners, they know the teams and they know Belize.”
The launch follows Casago’s acquisition of Vacasa in 2025 and continues the company’s move toward a franchise-first operating model.
Rather than managing every destination from one central organization, Casago is placing more markets in the hands of local owners supported by the company’s larger technology and operating network.
A launch event in Belize brought together employees, community partners and tourism officials to introduce the new leadership team and mark the transition to local ownership.
The company did not announce which international markets could be next, but said Belize is part of its growing network of locally operated franchises.
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