In spite of the recent American Hotel and Lodging Association announcement of its plan to disrupt the growing vacation rental industry, some hotel companies are looking to extend their presence in vacation rentals instead.
Four Seasons recently launched a vacation rental website with an inventory of properties which are vetted by Four Seasons, and are essentially extensions of the brand in that you can still get many of the amenities that you would at a hotel, including housekeeping, in-room (house) spa treatments, stocked fridge, etc.
“We’re seeing a steady increase in multi-generational and small group travel – guests who want to get away with children, grandparents or groups of friends to celebrate holidays or mark special moments – and these guests are looking at residential options,” said Jose Soriano, vice president, residential operations, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. “Whether a pied-a-terre in the city or a holiday villa, our new website takes the guess work out of finding a Four Seasons vacation rental that offers the privacy, space and freedom of being at home with an ideal base from which to explore a new destination, relax or entertain – all while having full access to Four Seasons signature service and amenities to deliver every comfort and luxury.”
According to the Four Seasons website, guests staying at the “Residences” have access to all of the hotel/ resort’s services and amenities such as:
- Concierge
- Guest Services
- Valet
- Housekeeping
- Room Service
- Fitness facilities
- Pools
- Recreation areas
- Charging privileges at all restaurants, dining outlets, spas and golf courses available on property.
Is this a game-changer for the vacation rental industry? Not today. Four Seasons currently has a very small inventory of rental residences located in their existing developments/resorts. Four Seasons has provided residential rental, real estate and timeshare services for approximately 30 years in their developments. The newly launched website, at least in the short-term, is designed to promote vacation rentals to retain loyal customers and increase occupancy in their residences.
Long-term, it will be interesting to watch Four Seasons’s rental business -and the partnerships they create -and observe how they are using their website and vast data to expand further into the luxury vacation rental industry.
However, the ffering of many of the services is a draw to guests who are not comfortable with self-managed vacation rentals.
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