PhoCusWright Debunks Major Vacation Rental Myth: SNAD - Blog post by PhocusWrightConnect on client satisfaction for vacation rentals
Open Travel Alliance and the Future of Travel Distribution - Post by Phocuswright on distribution’s role for vacation rentals
Picking Topics For Your Vacation Rental Site Blog Is As Easy As 1-2-3! - Blog Post by Joel Fellman on topics for property manager blogs
Tourism Week - Technology Tip #1 - The Costs of a Website - Blog Post on PhocusWrightConnect on the costs to build a travel website.
Tourism Week - Technology Tip #2 - Building On-line Credibility - Blog Post on PhocusWrightConnect on the importance of online credibility.
Yield Management - Its Time Has Come - Post on the Escapia Blog on Yield Management
Not worth a post, but worth a click …
Vacation Rentals by Owner Sites Are they Profitable - Interesting blog article by Jake Robinson on the profitability of vacation rental websites.
Vacation Rentals: What You Need to Know - Article in smartertravel.com explaining the term vacation rental
Agents ‘missing out’ on domestic boom - An article on ttglive on UK agents not benefiting from domestic tourism boom
Company News
Europe’s leading budget airline EasyJet is to offer 30,000 vacation rentals on its website after striking a deal with European vacation rental agent Interhome.
Easyjet will offer the properties on its website under the brand easyJet villas.
easyjet villas
“This jointly developed accommodation portal compliments easyJet.com as a one stop travel shop by offering consumers a simple, quick and easy website with a huge choice of accommodation options.” says Bill Mckimm, EasyJet’s head of ancillary revenue.
Easyjet follows suit with Ryanair who already offer vacation rentals on its sites under the brand Ryanairvillas.com in partnership with Hostelworld.com Limited
Edited Press Release
UK-based holiday cottage company cottages4you has just signed up its 10,000th UK property.
With its Europe portfolio, the holiday cottage company now has more than 15,000 properties to choose from.
Cottages4You Logo
“Self-catering cottages and villas offer great value as well as space and independence and that applies to holidays in Europe as well as the UK. Adding a 10,000th cottage in Britain is a fantastic landmark for cottages4you.” said managing director Geoff Cowley.
Edited Press Release
Endless Vacation Rentals (EVR), a Wyndham Worldwide brand, announced on Thursday a strategic marketing alliance with ResortQuest that will offer both EVR and ResortQuest customers access to even more quality vacation destinations in North America.
 Endless Vacation Rentals Logo |
 ResortQuest Logo |
As part of this relationship, Endless Vacation Rentals will offer its customers greater access to a host of popular properties, including beach destinations in Florida, South Carolina, Delaware and Alabama; and, ResortQuest will in turn be able to offer its clients the ability to book numerous new vacation destinations directly through the ResortQuest.com website.
“This relationship with ResortQuest allows us to continue building on the quality vacation rentals we offer our customers,” said Sean Lowe, Senior Vice President, Endless Vacation Rentals. “We’re excited to add to the locations and properties that Endless Vacation Rentals already provides to thousands of vacationing families every year.”
“We are also very excited about this new strategic alliance with Endless Vacation Rentals,” adds Park Brady, CEO of ResortQuest. “Our goal is to provide vacation rental customers with the best choices wherever they want to travel. This alliance opens up both our web sites and comprehensive booking systems to consumers throughout the world.”
Endless Vacation Rentals offers more than 200,000 vacation rental accommodations in 100+ countries. ResortQuest and its partner affiliates offer over 100,000 vacation rental choices, in more than 100 destinations world-wide.
Not worth a post, but worth a click …
Earn More From Your Vacation Home
- Kiplinger Article on how to make money through renting out second home
Cottage rentals heat up for summer - Article about increased number of cottages rented out in Canada
Edited Press Release
TripAdvisor today announced a new way for travelers to find vacation bargains on tripadvisor.com. The so called Vacation Rentals Calculator is designed to help travelers easily determine if they would save more money staying at a hotel or a vacation rental. Vacation rentals on TripAdvisor are powered by FlipKey, a leading online vacation rentals service, of which TripAdvisor owns the majority stake.
Travelers can quickly uncover the enormous potential savings vacation rentals might offer. With the click of a few buttons, TripAdvisor’s new Vacation Rentals Calculator analyzes a destination’s average lodging prices, number of guests, length of stay, and dining preferences, to determine if a hotel or rental offers the biggest bang for the vacation buck.
Vacation Rentals Calculator
Orlando: Estimated Lodging and Dining Costs for Six Travelers Staying Seven Nights
Destination: Vacation Rental Hotel
Orlando
Lodging Costs $990 $2,180
Meals Costs $1,120 $1,680
Total Costs $2,110 $3,860
Negril, Jamaica: Estimated Lodging and Dining Costs for Two Travelers Staying Seven Nights
Destination: Vacation Rental Hotel
Negril, Jamaica
Lodging Costs $2,520 $880
Meals Costs $420 $630
Total Costs $2,940 $1,510
Myrtle Beach: Estimated Lodging and Dining Costs for Four Travelers Staying Seven Nights
Destination: Vacation Rental Hotel
Myrtle Beach
Lodging Costs $610 $960
Meals Costs $700 $1,050
Total Costs $1,310 $2,010
“More than 50 percent of travelers in a recent TripAdvisor survey said they will be staying at a rental property this year, and these accommodations can offer a great bargain alternative for cash-strapped travelers,” said Steve Kaufer, CEO of TripAdvisor. “Vacation rentals have sometimes been overlooked as there wasn’t significant information readily available from other travelers, but now with the integration of FlipKey’s listings and reviews, TripAdvisor will help travelers get the truth on rental properties before they go.”
Edited Press Release
Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies announced the launch of its new philanthropic program, www.wishesbywyndham.com/
Wishes by Wyndham
“Wyndham Worldwide hosts over 240 million guests every year in our hotels, vacation rental properties and timeshare resorts,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Worldwide. “One of our core values is to support our communities. Our associates, owners and franchisees are committed to enhancing the quality of life where we live and work.”
Wyndham Worldwide has adopted four signature charities that reflect the Company’s interests in women and children: Hole in the Wall Camps, Christel House International, Starlight Children’s Foundation and BEYOND THE MOON.
In addition to supporting the four charities, Wyndham Worldwide will continue to donate unused room nights, and professional and volunteer time to help raise awareness and contributions for local charities. Additionally, www.wyndhamrewards.com members can contribute their points in support of any of the four signature charities.