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Response to vacation rental ban in Wisconsin provides example for addressing rental restrictions

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Fight ban on vacation rentals

The following letter was written by Jim Radmann to the City Board of Appeals in Cedarburg, WI, in response to rental restrictions and can be used as a model for others facing a vacation rental ban or vacation rental restrictions. Radmann poses various questions to spur an understanding and provide a thought provoking consideration of the situation.

In the Cedarburg area, Radmann is working to define the terms “Single Family Dwelling,” “Tourist Rooming House” and “Short Term Rental.” According to Steve Milo, owner of Vacation Rental Pros, without the definition of “Tourist Rooming House” or “Short Term Rental” in any of the city’s ordinances, the next closest definition is “Single Family Dwelling.”

Letter to City Board of Appeals

We purchased and remodeled a home that was in foreclosure and vacant for over a year. We stay there when it is done, we have a party celebrating the completion of the renovation. We use the home as a place to “hang out” before and after festivals in Cedarburg, WI. We plan to invite many members of our family and friends to stay at our home when they come visit Cedarburg and us.

We ask the city what we need to do if we want to rent the home out to other people once in a while. They say we do not have to do anything. We ask again about things like room tax and again they say we do not need to do that. They further clarify that we do not have to pay room tax since the home is not an INN or Hotel or Motel or Boarding House or B&B. They tell us clearly they are taking a “hands off approach”. They say they know of another home that is being rented out once in a while and that too is fine and the “hands off approach” is being taken on that as well. What does that tell us? What type of permission is implied? Since the one home had been doing this for some time already what does that imply if no issue had been raised for months about that use, by the city? Why is this selective enforcement happening only when we do the same thing? If a home that had been doing this for some time and the city had questions asked about that use by neighbors long prior to our questions to the city why didn’t the city respond to those question in a timely manner before? When we make the decision to also use our home in the same way from time to time what suddenly causes a cease order? Where did the City get the idea we were running a “Tourist Rooming House”? This will be answered further down.

We decide to continue to use the home for access for our family and our friends to the use the creek to fish and to use our paddle boat, and to enjoy the location being so close to downtown Cedarburg.

We decide to rent the house out from time to time to visitors, and as originally planned, to allow our family and friends to use it as well.

The City says we cannot do that. What is “that”? If it is our family that uses the home do we, and only we, have to tell the city when our family comes to town and plans to stay at our house? Do we, and only we, have to tell the city when we decide to stay a night or two at OUR own house? Who is going to police this USE of OUR home? Who polices the USE of all homes in the city? If not why not? How does the city know the use and WHO the users are? Is this not a freedom being taken from us selectively? Is this not a civil right of ours being violated now?

The City says we are using the home as a “Tourist Rooming House”. We thought that would be a great explanation of the use as defined by the state. But since there is nothing in the City Ordinances about this kind of use we felt it would be good to advise the City what the State defines that term as. We decided to present that information to the City willingly since the ordinances are vague and ambiguous on the entire aspect of home rental. It is why we came to the city to ask questions. We understood that if we must fit the City codes as well as the State codes when renting to people, the city codes would be the place to define the specific nature of the detail for that use. When none was found, we had to consider that the City had no use of that type defined and thus we MUST fit the next closest definition which is clearly a Single Family Dwelling. As we looked around at other communities to try to get a clear picture of the definition of use where a home is rented once in a while, and even at other states codes, we found many had their own clear and unambiguous understandings of Short Term Rental, Vacation Rental, Tourist Home, and many other terms used for this part time use, and clearly identified the regulations of that type of use. Cedarburg again does not have any of that clarity in the City Ordinances.

What does the city define a “Tourist Rooming House” as, and where is that defined in the CITY ordinances? Does the City reference the State codes in any way for this section or use of a home in this way? Other cities and counties actually do that, but Cedarburg does not. We say we are using the home as a “Single Family dwelling” and where in that definition is the ability to rent a home denied? Where is it permitted? If that is denied by overall exclusion, as the city ordinances are written so that anything not permitted is not allowed, then Who can rent a home in Cedarburg? When can you rent that home? How long can you rent that home? What kind of rental can you accept? Are oral rental agreements permitted? Are tenancies at will or periodic tenancies allowed? What rules does the City have in the ordinances to follow accordingly on home rental? They describe apartments and condominiums and zones that they must be built in, but what about the actual rental of a home in a residential area? What is the difference between home rental and “Tourist Rooming House” by dictionary definition or any City definition? Why is this not clear in the city codes? What is the use by city definition when the owner also stays at the home and when the home is used by the owners family throughout the year? Since Day-to-Day tenancies ARE allowed by state laws, how are those specifically controlled by the city, if at all? It appears the city ordinances are vague and ambiguous on most all of these subjects.

It appears the City cannot allow rental of ANY residential home in the city as that use is not a permitted use, by the overall ordinance indications. That becomes a new issue for the city in the ability to permit housing rights for anyone in Cedarburg that wishes to rent their home for any period of time. It is apparent the city has selectively enforced their ordinances, as there are many homes for rent and documented as such. Selective Enforcement of Ordinances is also a violation of the law.

These are the underlying but overarching issues that need to be considered in this decision on our specific use of OUR home.

Respectfully Written,
Jim Radmann

Berlin senate drafts bill to ban vacation rentals in saturated districts

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Housetrip focuses on Europe

By Shannon Smith

BERLIN – “[We] could never have believed that this place would ever be seen as inhabitable,” growls a local bar owner in a broken-English video diatribe about the gentrification of Berlin’s Neukölln district.

“This is [the most] difficult for us, because it feels [wrong]. We’re sorry to have kicked this off.”

The eerily resonant video went viral over two years ago, capturing the angst of many longer-term residents in the once-run-down area –- and setting off a firestorm of controversy among others, especially newcomers who felt attacked. The video maker, Freiburg-native Matthias Merkle, told Der Spiegel he doesn’t hate anyone and only wanted to begin a discussion.

But today the stakes are even higher: Germany’s capital is short anywhere from 12,000 to 14,000 apartments -– a deficit that is expected to increase. Critics say the growing number of short-term vacation residencies in the city is exacerbating the problem, prompting Berlin’s municipal senate to draft a bill to ban the wrongful use of residencies in highly saturated districts. The piece of legislation is set to go before the Berlin state parliament later this month.

The goal is for Berlin housing to be also available to Berliners, a speaker for the city’s Senate Administration for Urban Development told German news service dpa. If passed, the law would hold apartment owners accountable for occupying or leasing apartments to long-term residents only. Individuals or businesses capitalizing on short-term -– and often significantly higher –- rates for tourists could be subject to fines.

Apartment owners may not be the only group subject to prosecution under the proposed law: fast-growing vacation rental businesses like Wimdu and Airbnb, which currently hosts some 6,600 listings in the city, put the onus on users to beware local laws regarding short-term sublets.

“We’re currently reviewing proposed legislation in Berlin and other local regulatory efforts,” Airbnb Communications Head Kim Rubey told SmartPlanet.

“[We have an interest in protecting] those who are contributing positively to cities through additional tourism and economic activity, while simultaneously preventing behavior that has an adverse effect on neighborhoods.”

“The more we talk to cities, the more they begin to understand the benefits to the economy and to neighborhoods that the typical Airbnb experience can provide.”

While Airbnb has said that it is actively discussing the laws of places like New York with state and city officials following the near-prosecution of one Airbnb user there to the tune of $40,000, it is uncertain how passage and enforcement of the Berlin legislation will play out. Cities such as San Francisco and Paris already restrict vacation rentals in some way.

“Vacation homes are an important market…More>>

Priceline’s Booking.com adds more vacation rentals with Interhome partnership

By
VRM Intel Staff
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vacation rental marketing Europe

The expansion of vacation rentals on the site begins a process of putting Booking.com – and its clearly successful and aggressive marketing and contracting model for hotels –into the same sector as the likes of HomeAway, and TripAdvisor to a lesser degree. The difference at this stage is that Booking.com is going down the partner route through the likes of InterHome, rather than contracting directly with individual property owners.

By Tnooz’s Kevin May

January 8, 2013 — It shouldn’t come as a surprise to observers of Booking.com (and the quest for global domination) as it now looks to be increasing its coverage of vacation rental properties.

After small and tentative steps until now, Booking.com has struck a deal with vacation rental service Interhome to pull in properties to the global platform for consumers to search and secure.

Interhome is currently providing around 2,500 properties around the world, a fraction of its global portfolio of 32,000.

In some respects the Priceline-owned brand is simply extending its existing service (visitors to the site have been able to book bungalows and cottages “for many years”, an official says), but an agreement with a dedicated supplier such as InterHome is an interesting and strategic move.

 

The Booking.com official adds: “Our goal is to be the place on the Internet where travelers can find the right place to stay at whatever budget or for whatever need no matter where they come from or where they wish to travel.”

 

Wyndham discounts vacation rentals in U.S. ski destinations

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Vacation rental discounts on ski destinations

January 8, 2013 — Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world’s largest professionally managed vacation rentals business, announced today discounts on lodging in top North American snow destinations. The 100 Hour Ski Sale offers up to 50% savings on professionally managed rental accommodations in Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, and Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Park City, Utah; and Sun Valley, Idaho.

Discounts include (but aren’t limited to):

  • Up to 50% off rental accommodations in Breckenridge and Keystone for between Jan. 9, 2013 and April 15, 2013
  • Up to 45% off stays of 5+ nights in Steamboat Springs
  • 20% off 3-4 night stay or up to 30% off 5+ nights in Park City, UT and Sun Valley, ID
  • And more

Forbes contributor questions vacation rental ban in NYC

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VRM Intel Staff
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New York City Vacation Rentals

January 9, 2013 –Forbes contributor Tim Worstall’s questioned the NYC ban on short-term rentals in his January 9 post: 50% Of Airbnb’s NYC Listings Are Illegal: Airbnb’s Fault Or The Law’s?

“Views can and will vary on this of course but could anyone explain to me why there is a law that states this? Surely my property is my property for me to do as I wish with? Or have I missed something?”

 

By Tim Worstall

Of course, the fastest way to gibbering madness known to mankind is contemplation of the housing laws in New York City. Endless attempts to protect tenants, to force landlords to provide cheap and decent housing, have led to people being crowded into some of the world’s smallest and most expensive housing.

An illustration of which is this about Airbnb’s problems in the city:

“Apartment rental site Airbnb’s revolutionary simplicity has made it easy for tens of thousands of people to both list and discover lodging options in private residences and book them easily, quickly, and safely. But a basic search on Airbnb.com for New York City lodging demonstrates that more than half of the available bookings on the popular vacation rental website are likely illegal according to New York State law. Hosts of these units are subject to fines ranging from $1,000 for a first offense to $20,000 for repeated violations, according to a New York City Council bill passed in October.”

The question is of course, is this just Airbnb (or even the users of the site) willfully ignoring stout and good laws which protect consumers from the evils that may befall them? Or is this an illustration of that housing law that leads to the gibbering madness? More>>

New Jersey experiencing slow bookings due to Sandy

By
VRM Intel Staff
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New Jersey Vacation Rental Industry

AP –January 7, 2013 –By this point in winter, Sharon Roher would ordinarily be closing in on renting her two Seaside Heights properties for the entire summer.

This year, she has only four weeks booked and is struggling to figure out how many of her customers will return to the Ocean County beach resort, which is among the Jersey Shore towns hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy nearly two and a half months ago.

Even though Atlantic and Cape May counties — geographically about half of New Jersey’s 127-mile coastline — were left largely unscathed, it’s the entire blocks of homes and businesses reduced to rubble in Ocean and Monmouth counties that are seared into the nation’s consciousness.New Jersey Vacation Rental Industry

Sandy’s enduring image has been Seaside Heights’ roller coaster, which once sat upon a boardwalk made famous by the exploits of Snooki and Pauly D. It remains partially submerged in the Atlantic Ocean.

Those images of devastation, fearful shore homeowners and businesses say, could ultimately have a negative impact on New Jersey’s $38 billion-a-year tourism industry — a trade that depends heavily on the coast for its bottom line.

“The first thought out of everyone’s mouth is, ‘Are they going to have a summer season?’” Roher told The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 60-year-old lives year-round in Pleasant Valley, Pa.

The answer from municipal officials, businesses and property owners is loud and clear: Yes, Virginia and Maryland, North Carolina, and Delaware … New Jersey will, indeed, have a summer season.

Yes, despite the delay in passage of federal recovery aid and the bevy of beach towns from Delmarva to the Outer Banks that would love to poach — ahem, woo — vacationers with their Southern charms. Marketers in competing coastal states have initiated plans to put the hard sell on target audiences in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.  More>>

Orbitz and New York State partner to use online video to attract tourism

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VRM Intel Staff
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Adirondacks vacation marketing

Research points to online video as an important source of inspiration in the travel planning process, prompting 45 percent of leisure travelers and 74 percent of affluent travelers to book travel after viewing an online travel video.

CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Leading online travel company Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW) and Empire State Development, New York’s chief economic development agency which administers the world-famous I LOVE NEW YORK tourism program, have launched a seven-part online video series, “Orbitz Originals: New York State,” which can be viewed exclusively at Orbitz.com/NYState. The series, which is the first by Orbitz to feature a U.S. destination, kicks off by highlighting the extraordinary Catskills and Adirondacks regions as seen through the eyes of award winning travel expert Richard Bangs. It will be followed by future episodes focused on other tourism regions throughout the state.

Research points to online video as an important source of inspiration in the travel planning process, prompting 45 percent of leisure travelers and 74 percent of affluent travelers to book travel after viewing an online travel video*. PHD, the media agency for Empire State Development, recognized this potential and helped bring the partners together on the new media collaboration. “Orbitz Originals: New York State” harnesses the power of online video to stimulate audiences with stunning visuals in a compact format that offers an unprecedented level of integration between inspiration and the act of booking travel at Orbitz.com. The marketing partnership will run through January 31 alongside an Orbitz.com winter sale offering up to 30 percent off hotels across New York State.

Each episode of “Orbitz Originals: New York State” explores a specific theme in the featured destination, including Adirondacks vacation marketing“Adirondacks: Olympic Sized Experience,” “Catskills: Spirit of Place,” and “Microbrews & Megabites,” to name a few. Richard Bangs then takes viewers on his adventures throughout the landscape, providing a trip template that viewers can replicate themselves via travel bookings made at Orbitz.com/NYState.

“I LOVE NEW YORK is excited to work with Orbitz in providing this innovative online series that will introduce travelers to our state’s many diverse destinations,” said Harvey Cohen, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Empire State Development. “It is one more example of our renewed effort to work with local tourism regions to highlight the diversity and beauty of our entire state.”

Beginning in the Adirondacks, Bangs journeys through a perfect mix of wilderness and civilization amid spectacular landscapes, unique culinary attractions and luxurious mountain resorts. The Adirondacks are home to Adirondack Park, the largest natural wilderness area in the Eastern United States, and Lake Placid, the only North American city to have hosted two separate Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980). In the Catskills, Bangs explores the natural beauty and celebrated hospitality that make the region one of the nation’s premiere vacation retreats. Alongside a vast array of outdoor adventures with hundreds of lakes, streams and trails, unique places to stay include mountaintop resorts, family dude ranches and charming inns where guests are surrounded by natural beauty and mountain landscapes at every turn.

“Orbitz is a leader in leveraging innovative media platforms that connect passionate travelers to beautiful destinations with a wide range of activities and attractions,” said Josh Winkler, vice president of partner marketing at Orbitz Worldwide. “Previous ‘Orbitz Originals’ installments have seen tremendous success driving travel to international locations such as Ireland and the Cayman Islands, so we’re thrilled to feature New York as the first U.S. destination in the ‘Originals’ series.”

*Source: The Traveler’s Road to Decision, Google and Ipsos MediaCT (July 2012)

About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (www.ratestogo.com) and the Away Network (www.away.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution (corp.orbitz.com/partnerships/distribution) delivers private label travel solutions to a broad range of partners including many of the world’s largest airlines, and Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed corporate travel solutions for corporations. For more information on partnership opportunities with Orbitz Worldwide, visit corp.orbitz.com.

Orbitz Worldwide uses its Investor Relations website to make information available to its investors and the public at investors.orbitz.com. The public can sign up to receive email alerts whenever the company posts new information to the website.

About Orbitz.com
Orbitz.com is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book an array of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Since launching its website in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world and has led the industry with innovations including the Orbitz Matrix Display and Orbitz Price Assurance. The Matrix Display revolutionized the way the travel industry displayed fares and makes it quick and easy for consumers to compare flights, rental cars and vacation packages. Orbitz.com also offers “Insider Steals,” a weekly, members-only flash sale that provides exclusive deals of 50% or more off of handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world as well as “Mobile Steals,” exclusive hotel deals of up to 50% off in the most popular destinations around the world, available to mobile consumers via m.orbitz.com and the full suite of Orbitz mobile apps. On Orbitz.com consumers can search a broad range of suppliers worldwide. Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide. Stay connected to Orbitz.com with sale alerts, exclusive promotions and engaging conversations by following Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and the Orbitz Travel Blog.

About New York State
New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like ice-fishing, snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers big excitement and tons activities for all travelers. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com/winter for all of our winter activities. Media can find press releases and more at thebeat.iloveny.com.

SOURCE Orbitz Worldwide

Checklist for your 2013 Search and Social Media Marketing for Vacation Rental Managers

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Call conversions for vacation retntal sales

As online marketing continues to evolve, it is critical for your brand that you stay on top of search and social marketing tactics. Search Mojo recently published their 2013 Search and Social Media Marketing Tactics Checklist, which includes 30 of the most important search and social media marketing tactics you cannot overlook in 2013.

A couple of new terms your team may not have encountered are:

1. Semantic markup

Although semantic markup has been a part of HTML since the beginning, few optimizers take advantage of the increased CTR it allows. Semantic markup is the use of HTML markup to reinforce the meaning of the information in webpages rather than merely to define its presentation (look). Semantic HTML is processed by regular web browsers as well as by many other user agents. CSS is used to suggest its presentation to human users.

Semantic markup can increase chances that information from your website will be highlighted in search engine results pages via rich snippets, attracting greater attention and clickthroughs. Search Engine Land’s Chris Smith gives more how-to information in 13 Semantic Markup Tips for 2013.

2. Remarketing

According to Google, remarketing with Google Analytics lets you tap into valuable insights about your website visitors who show an interest in your products and services. Remarketing is a feature that lets you reach people who have previously visited your site, and show them relevant ads when they visit other sites on the Google Display Network. When people leave your site without buying anything, for example, remarketing helps you connect with these potential customers while they browse other websites. You can even show them a compelling message or offer that will encourage them to return to your site and complete a purchase.

Visual Data Systems (VDS) talks more about remarketing for vacation rentals in their blog post “2012 Pubcon Takeaways.”

 

Packlate packs it up?

By
VRM Intel Staff
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packlate.com

Packlate.com, based in  Conshohocken, PA, is reevaluating its business model.

As of June, 2012, Packlate.com distributed 25,000+ vacation rental properties in over 30 countries to online consumers and worked with wholesalers, airlines, and online travel agencies (OTA’s) to book vacation rentals directly online.

On Dec. 20, 2012, Packlate.com posted the following message on their site:

Effective immediately Packlate.com is no longer accepting and processing reservations.

We’ve been working hard over 3 years to make “door-level real time vacation home reservations” work in a big way globally and we’re currently evaluating the best way forward. We’ve done millions of dollars of bookings across the world and learned a ton. We’re looking at how to put our technology, knowledge, relationships, and experience to its best use.

We value our relationships and the faith that you put in us.

Respectfully,

The Packlate Team

 

Flipkey names top 13 vacation rental destinations for 2013.

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Florida vacation destination

(PRWEB) January 03, 2013

FlipKey™, the leading vacation rental website, has revealed the top 13 vacation rental destinations for 2013 based on FlipKey traveler demand to-date, and Florida tops the list. The Sunshine State has secured nine out of 13 spots, with Kissimmee, located near many family theme parks, leading the list, and Miami Beach rounding it out at number 13.

FlipKey, which features more than 170,000 vacation homes across 8,000 destinations around the world, also looked back on this past year to highlight the top 12 vacation rental destinations in 2012, as well as the most requested properties of the year. The data shows that overall, warm weather spots take the cake when it comes to vacation rental hot picks.

Leading 13 Destinations for 2013 (based on 2013 booking requests to-date on FlipKey)

1.    Kissimmee, FL
2.    Naples, FL
3.    Siesta Key, FL
4.    Marco Island, FL
5.    Kihei, HI
6.    Palm Springs, CA
7.    Cape Coral, FL
8.    Key West, FL
9.    Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
10.    Holmes Beach, FL
11.    Honolulu, HI
12.    Fort Myers Beach, FL
13.    Miami Beach, FL

Top 12 Destinations of 2012

1.    Miami Beach, FL
2.    Paris, France
3.    Rome, Italy
4.    Panama City Beach, FL
5.    New York City, NY
6.    London, England
7.    Kissimmee, FL
8.    Manhattan, NY
9.    Barcelona, Spain
10.    Orlando, FL
11.    Seminyak, Bali
12.    Siesta Key, FL

Top 12 Requested Properties of 2012

San Francisco didn’t make the top destinations list, but among the most requested properties on FlipKey.com, the city by the bay took the top three spots, while Boston, MA and Miami, FL secured two spots each.

1.    San Francisco, CA: Big Luxury Condo at Pier 39, Coit Tower, Sleeps 4-6
2.    San Francisco, CA: 2BR in downtown San Francisco, central
3.    San Francisco, CA: Penthouse, Central, Amazing Bay View, Balcony, Sleeps 6
4.    Chicago, IL: Great Huge 2bd/2ba, Mag Mile, Museums, Parks
5.    San Francisco, CA: Golden Gate Vacations – Fantastic 3BD SF Rental
6.    San Francisco, CA: Two Bedroom, Modern Home next to Buena Vista Park
7.    Miami Beach, FL: South Beach Lux 1 BR / Collins Avenue & 21st
8.    New York, NY: NYC Park Avenue Loft Vacation Rental
9.    Miami Beach, FL: Modern 2000 sq Ft, 2 Bedroom LOFT- 100 Ft to Bch
10.    Boston, MA: Best priced apt in Boston’s little Italy
11.    Paris, France: St Honore 3 BR/2 BA A/C Luxury Adjacent to Louvre
12.    Boston, MA: Back Bay / 900SF / 2 Bed / Private Garden Terrace

For more information, please visit http://www.flipkey.com.

Whether your choice is sand or snow, FlipKey rentals provide more amenities, privacy, and comforts of home than traditional hotel stays. With more than 170,000 listings that include spacious properties in unique destinations around the world, FlipKey gives you the opportunity to book the perfect vacation for 2013. And with a stringent verification process in place for owners and property managers, travelers can have peace of mind when using FlipKey.

CAVRMA posts vacation rental regulations and laws for California.

By
VRM Intel Staff
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California vacation rental regulations

The California Vacation Rental Managers Alliance (CAVRMA), the statewide association formed to meet the professional needs of companies and professionals who rent and manage resort, vacation and other short-term rentals, has added to its site an aggregate list of laws and regulations directly affecting vacation rentals.

For example, in Palm Springs: All short term rental units will obtain a registration certificate, comply with all relevant safety and building codes, provide evidence of valid business license, transient occupancy registration certification, and general liability insurance.

Read more >>

 

 

Wyndham acquires Gulf Shores’s Kaiser Realty and more

By
VRM Intel Staff
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January 2, 2013 –Gulf Shores, AL —Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) announced today it has acquired Kaiser Realty in Gulf Shores, AL, along with Oceana Resorts, in Myrtle Beach, SC, and Cumbrian Cottages in the United Kingdom.

Starting off the New Year with clear intention to acquire marketshare in the vacation rental industry, Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, said, “The acquisition of Oceana, Kaiser and Cumbrian Cottages significantly enhances the leisure accommodations we offer in popular vacation destinations.”

Wyndham Worldwide’s Bob Milne and Kaiser Realty’s Glen Kaiser currently serve on the board of directors for the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA).

Wyndham Vacation Rentals now includes more than 100,000 properties in over 500 unique destinations. All three businesses and their rental inventory will join the Wyndham Vacation Rentals portfolio, which features more than 25 established brands across the world, including ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals

By Amy Hinote

Fun Fact: Kaiser Realty and Oceana Resorts attended Blizzard University in Glenwood Springs, CO, together in October, 2009.

Interesting online advice to vacation home owners

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Vacation Home Owners

Jeff Brown’s December 27 article in TheStreet.com “How to Market Your Vacation Home Without Going Crazy” instructs vacation home owners in the best way to rent their vacation property.

Brown suggests the following:Vacation Home Owners

How will you get your renters?

The best option is to combine your own efforts with those of a professional. In many vacation areas, real estate agencies offer rental services, often for a commission of up to 25% of the rent. A good pro will have tips on making your place more appealing and will know how much rent you can get during the high season and offseason.

In a well-designed arrangement, the agent’s incentives are aligned with the owner’s. Both of you, for instance, want to get the highest rent possible without scaring off prospective renters by overcharging. A good pro will know when it will pay to accept less rather than risk going vacant for a week.

Although the commission is negotiable, keep in mind that the agent will represent other properties and, given a choice, will steer prospective renters to the units that provide the biggest income and rent with the least effort. You might give the agent extra incentive by negotiating a sliding commission that would pay more if your rental income exceeds a given threshold. You might, for instance, pay 20% on the first $10,000 in income, 30% on anything above that.

Be sure that the agent will advertise the property on the multiple listing service for rentals used by all agents in the area, and that other agents will be provided a healthy slice of the commission if they bring in renters. Again, you might try to beat the average.

Also be clear on the duties your agent will perform. Those should include vetting prospective renters, arranging for cleaning and inspection after a renter leaves and sending in a handyman for such things as a plugged drain.

Your deal with the agent should also allow you to seek renters on your own. That will save you on commission costs and spur your agent to beat you to the punch in signing up renters. Many owners advertise on sites such as Vacation Rentals by Owner.

What do you think about Brown’s advice? Does your vacation rental management company offer sliding commissions?

Tom K’s 2012 End of Year Security Summary

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VRM Intel Staff
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Cyber Security for Vacation Rental Managers

2012 End of Year Security Summary
By Tom K

December 27, 2012 – Cyberspace isn’t getting any safer. The bad guys continue to make a great living picking the low hanging fruit.

Maintaining basic security measures will keep the fruits of your labors out of their reach. Our Year End Security Summary tradition reviews the core basics along with a few advanced topics.

So please, as you prepare for this New Year, take a few minutes to review these simple but necessary security items:

7 Security Basics: shutterstock_122697100

1. Centrally managed Corporate Anti Virus Protection
See Protect Your Company from Viruses and Malware with Enterprise Anti Virus Systems

2. Centrally managed Windows Updates
See Centrally Manage Microsoft Updates Across Your Enterprise For Free!

3. Centrally managed Corporate Spam Protection
See Got Spam? Eradicate Spam and Email Viruses BEFORE they get to Your Environment!

4. Use Secure Passwords – don’t make it easy for the bad guys to get in
See Secure Passwords – You need to get this right!

Read More >>

 

About Tom Kaczmarek

Tom K has spent the last 26 years working with company leaders to develop their business and technology strategies and create IT environments that will best serve their business goals, optimize the use of their computing resources, maximize their systems up-time, and get the most out of their IT investment.

Tom K’s experience was developed as a Director and lead consultant with three respected technology firms, one servicing Vacation Rental Management companies across the country, and two servicing NYC Clients in the banking, finance, and manufacturing industries. Tom also served as CTO for an e-Commerce Web Consultation firm and as IT Director for an international consumer testing company. He holds senior technical certifications from Cisco, Microsoft, Citrix, HP, and Intel.

Tom K brought his expertise from Wall St. to the Vacation Rental and Real Estate industry in 2003. Through his technical skills and business acumen, Tom has helped numerous companies effectively utilize technology to realize their business goals, increase productivity, and improve their bottom line.

Tom K’s extensive experience as both consultant and IT Director provides him with an in-depth understanding of the needs and expectations of his Clients, from both the business and the technical prospective. This knowledge allows Tom to consistently provide the solutions and exceptional levels of service required to exceed those expectations.

 

Wyndham’s Bob Milne Elected to VRMA Board

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VRM Intel Staff
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Wyndham Vacation Rentals

Wyndham Vacation RentalsDecember 20, 2012 -Wyndham Worldwide -Bob Milne, president of Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America, LLC, has been elected to serve as a director for the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA), the international trade association for the professionally managed vacation rental industry. Milne joins the non-profit group’s Board of Directors effective immediately.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of an international association that is proactively committed to being both a valuable resource and a dedicated advocate for the professionally managed vacation rental industry,” said Milne. “VRMA has tremendous knowledge, insights and tools to offer to vacation rental professionals to help meet the needs of renters and owners as we continue to grow our industry together.”

Milne will be contributing his time and talent to help identify and establish best practices within the vacation rental industry and advance the betterment of the association on an international level. He joins 11 other professionals to form one voice that governs the association. The VRMA Board of Directors defines the association’s strategic vision and planning; represents the association in cooperative efforts with local, national and international associations; identifies and nurtures future association leaders and more. Read more>>

Don’t miss the “Dream” Housekeeping Seminar, Feb 18-20, Orlando

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VRM Intel Staff
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Housekeeping for vacation rentals
Housekeeping for vacation rentals

Have you ever imagined the perfect housekeeping seminar for vacation rental managers…one that would provide the latest news, up-to-date information and education to take your housekeeping department to the next level and give your company the ultimate competitive advantage?

Company owners, General Managers and Executive Housekeeping for vacation rentalsHousekeepers, now it is here. Your “Dream” Housekeeping Seminar.

Hosted by industry expert Steve Craig of Pro Resort Housekeeping and sponsored by HomeAway, Red Sky Travel Insurance, and Status-Tracker, the specialized “Dream” Seminar is designed to equip professional property managers  with the latest news, information and education about vacation rental housekeeping.

The event will be held Feb 18-20, 2013, at Doubletree by Hilton at Sea World, Orlando, FL and will include topics such as:

  • New product launches
  • Industry updates from VRHP, FVRMA, CFVRMA and VRMA
  • Fundamentals of VR housekeeping
  • Training housekeepers
  • Pre-employment screening
  • Marketing your housekeeping department
  • The ideal clothing for the active housekeeper
  • Smart phone apps relating to housekeeping
  • Using QR codes to benefit housekeeping
  • Vacuum contest: uprights versus cannisters
  • Carpet care every housekeeper and inspector should know
  • Getting housekeepers to return each year
  • How to gain the total support of other departments
  • Ways to prevent linen losses and prevent owner anger
  • Standardized Linens

The seminar is limited to the first 100 registrants. To register, go to www.proresort.net or email proresort@aol.com for more information.

**The first 50 registered can opt to attend a 12:30 to 4:30pm BONUS session on Monday the 18th all about vacation rental maintenance! FREE! No extra charge for this valuable session!

 

5 Steps to Upgrading Property Management Software

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VRM Intel Staff
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Increase bookings

If you are a Vacation Rental Manager and are considering upgrading your property management system, DO NOT BE HASTY! Think of the process in these 5 steps. The tendency is to underplay steps 1 and 4, to the great detriment of the end result.  This is not an easy process, but you can stack the odds significantly in your favor.

1. Evaluate the current situation

  • Precisely what is wrong with your current system? Just being old is not a good enough reason to change
  • Define your specific business needs, especially how you interact with owners and how you rent units, and don’t forget local legal and taxation requirements

2. Compare available software solutions

  • Each system has strengths and weaknesses and certain systems just can’t support certain business practices – Never Assume!
  • Just because a system is newer, doesn’t mean that it does what you need
  • Make SURE all critical business processes can be accomplished, including integration with your web site, web distribution partners and any other 3rd party systems that matter to your business

3. Choose a system and negotiate the details

  • Work out an implementation timeline that fits your reservation patterns
  • Include sufficient training, and determine whether it is on-site or remote
  • Carefully define any customization that may be required
  • Carefully define any customization that may be required

4. Plan for the implementation

  • Pick a project manager/champion from your staff who has the authority to hold others accountable and the energy to cheerlead
  • Select 2 ‘go live’ dates, one for reservations and the other for owners’ statements
  • Try to electronically migrate as much valuable data as possible
  • Define the period during which you will maintain dual entry into both systems, and prepare your staff for the impact of this – try to minimize the length of time without losing control of availability and financial accuracy

5. Implement the new system

  • Training sessions are required of your staff as scheduled – No Exceptions
  • ‘To do’ items for the implementation are at least as important as any other tasks
  • Get rental availability perfect first, and the money right on its heels
  • Include an introduction letter to your owners with the first monthly statement from the new system
  • Keep the old system around for reference, but TURN IT OFF as soon as possible for daily entry
  • And you’re off to new horizons!

About Tom Leddy

Tom Leddy is one of the software pioneers of the vacation rental industry.  Leddy, together with Evan Gull and Pat Curry, founded First Resort Software in 1985.  FRS became a leader in providing technology solutions to the vacation rental industry.

In 1998, Leddy participated in a consolidation IPO that created ResortQuest International, the first public company in the vacation rental industry.  From December, 2004 until the end of 2007, Leddy was an Executive Vice President at Instant Software, Inc.  Today he is president of Leddy Associates, Inc. a full service consulting practice specializing in the vacation rental industry.  Leddy Associates provides companies within the vacation home rental business consulting services aimed at improving profitability, achieving greater financial and market awareness, and taking advantages of industry best practices.  He can be reached directly at tleddy@leddyassociates.com

Property Owners weigh the decision to self-manage or use a professional

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VRM Intel Staff
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Book vacation rental online

Using a Property Manager vs. Renting Your Vacation Home by Owner

Editor’s Note: This is an older blog posted on HomeAway Community. We are referencing it on VRM Intel with the sole purpose of providing insight into the decision-making process of vacation home owners when they are choosing to self-manage or choose a professional property manager.

When you are thinking about how you will manage the rental of your vacation home, you have to choose which management style will work best for you.

Using a Property Manager

Should you choose to worth with a property manager, you should start by researching management companies online.  Analyze the results that come up on the search engines. The main objective for the management company that you choose is: can the company rent your property?  Since the Internet is the number one place where vacationers look for properties to rent, you will want a property manager who focuses on building their Internet presence.

To start, look to see where the company comes up in the search results by putting in the name of your town and various search terms. If you see the particular company’s name come up again and again, that’s certainly a company you want to investigate. In addition to Internet research, talk to other property owners in the area to see if they can recommend a good property manager.

Additionally, you can ask your real estate agent for names of management companies. Agents constantly visit properties so they can see if the management companies are doing a good job of maintaining them. Agents can be an excellent source of referrals.

You will want to find a property manager who can and will handle everything for you. In exchange for their services, they typically charge a commission, which can range from 20 to 50 percent of the rental income.

Before hiring a property manager, verify the following:

  • Will they advertise the property both locally and internationally?
  • Will they guarantee a minimum level of bookings?
  • Will they interview potential guests to make sure they are suitable?
  • Will they inspect the property before and after each rental and do an inventory inspection?
  • How do they welcome the guests into your property?
  • Will they organize repairs and maintenance and provide receipts?
  • How will they communicate with you?

Self-Managing (aka Renting by Owner)

Today, hundreds of thousands of vacation homeowners choose to rent without the use of a property manager. For many, there are 3 main reasons they choose to rent by owner instead of using a property management company.

Read More >>

Rental Brochures: To Print, or Not To Print?

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VRM Intel Staff
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But as consumers grow accustomed to shopping for vacation rentals online, the question becomes, “To print, or not to print?”

This article is courtesy of the Vacation Rental Managers Association. Learn more about joining the vacation rental industry’s trade association.

Rental brochures (aka Vacation Guides, Property catalogs, etc), especially popular on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, have long been a way for vacation rental professionals to showcase vacation rental properties, amenities, destinations and attractions at-a-glance. But as consumers grow accustomed to shopping for vacation rentals online, the question becomes: To print, or not to print?

vacation guide, rental brochure for vacation rentals

Flipkey competes to stay in top tier of vacation rental websites

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Flipkey, with TripAdvisor as its backer, wants to fish in the big pond, but it has big obstacles in the way and a lot to prove.

By Dennis Schaal

Flipkey CEO TJ Mahony knows something about competing, having earlier in his career created the Compete.com website. But his TripAdvisor-owned vacation rental website has a mountain to climb if it is even to get into the conversation with its bigger rival HomeAway.

Traffic figures from what used to be Mahony’s Compete.com, which measures the U.S. online travel marketplace, tell part of the story. As of May 20, HomeAway.com boasted nearly 2.3 million monthly unique visitors and Flipkey had about 30% of that, or 676,671.

That doesn’t even take into account HomeAway-owned VRBO.com, which recorded even larger traffic than HomeAway.com at nearly 2.9 million monthly unique visitors, according to Compete. (Compete’s numbers aren’t exact, but they do a better job than most of approximating market share.)

Part of this huge scale advantage for HomeAway is reflected on the search engine optimization front, which is key for vacation rental owners and property managers seeking a bang for their listings bucks. In other words, if they list their properties on Flipkey, what kind of clout will they have in the search engines?

If you do a Google search for “Orlando vacation rental,” the top three organic listings are for HomeAway websites, followed way down the page by one for Flipkey and another for TripAdvisor.

Read more >>

 

Top 8 Ways to Compete and Beat RBOs

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VRM Intel Staff
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But as consumers grow accustomed to shopping for vacation rentals online, the question becomes, “To print, or not to print?”

This article is courtesy of the Vacation Rental Managers Association. Learn more about joining the vacation rental industry’s trade association.

How can professional management companies compete with rent-by-owners in their local market? Here are the top 8 ways to show potential guests the value of staying in a professionally managed vacation rental:

 1. ANSWER INQUIRIES QUICKLY:  The number one way to show a customer value is by giving better service right off the bat when you get an inquiry.  Most vacation home owners are not sitting at their computer all day ready to respond to an inquiry. But your staff is. Respond within 30 minutes to the email inquiry, and if the potential guest includes their number in the inquiry, CALL before emailing.  They will be so impressed with the quick response, and immediately you’ve shown them the difference of a professional vacation manager vs. a private owner.

2. RESCUE THE GUEST:  It is quite daunting for guests to search through countless listings on RBO sites to find the right property for them with no central number to call for advice.  So, when you get a guest on the phone that’s been searching these sites, get them to your website right away, and let them know you’ll help them, making it easy for them to find the right property for their stay.  They will appreciate the life raft.  Most customers prefer receiving the professional, personalized service a vacation rental agent can provide over the negligible savings they think they are receiving with an RBO property.

3. EXPLAIN YOUR VALUE:  Don’t assume potential guests understand the difference of renting from a private owner vs. a professional manager. Their buddy told them in passing to try out going through a private owner and they are giving it a go. Explain simply and not defensively why it’s going to be a better experience with your company vs. an out-of-state owner.  Some value points:  24/7 in-town service during their stay; taking secure, online credit card payments; offering vacation insurance; professional cleaning and maintenance standards; and guest amenities (discount lift tickets, ski rentals, restaurant discounts, etc.).  Overall, the guest can book with confidence that the professionally managed rental they are staying in comes with greater quality assurance and if expectations are not met, the management can offer a reasonable solution.

4. MEET EVERYONE’S NEEDS WITH VARIETY:  A private owner can’t do “consultative selling” because, well, they only have one property to sell!  You can ask questions of the potential guest, and then guide them to the perfect property in your portfolio of rentals.  They will feel they are getting the right place for their needs vs. feeling they are being forced into the only property the owner has to offer. Property managers employ agents who are trained to match guest expectations with the right property in order to ensure the best vacation experience for the guest.

5. SELL THE “EASY” EXPERIENCE:  With a private owner, the renter has to do a lot of work. They have to make sure they have all of the information needed, codes, contact info, etc.  And if something is wrong, they probably have to just live with it.  If they want anything while they are in town, they have to figure it out on their own.  Stress to the guest that you have an office nearby, that there is a 24/7 emergency number, and your staff is happy to help anytime during your stay.

6.  OFFER LOCAL ADVICE:  Second homeowners are not “locals.”  Sell the advantage that you know the best beach spots to hit, the secret bike trail no one ever goes to, or who has the best steak in town these days.  That’s what guests want – the local scoop!

7. PROFESSIONAL EMAILS:  This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a big deal. Make sure your emails are informative, helpful and answer all of their questions. First impressions make a big difference and immediately tell the guest that you can take care of them.

8. TELL YOUR STORY: Professional management firms offer peace of mind that the vacation rental the guest books actually exists and that the business is accountable for all transactions and rental terms. Casually mentioning the peace-of-mind your company offers help the guests rest easier about their vacation investment. With a professionally managed rental, the guest doesn’t worry about the horror stories that can haunt their vacation experience: the house that floods during the guest’s stay and there’s no one to fix it; not being able to get a refund from a private owner; walk-ins who show up in your office because the RBO key didn’t work, etc. Online rental scams, fraudulent bank drafts, and other criminal activity take place daily on the internet and many innocent consumers have been conned at a high price, including ruining their vacation. hure for vacation rentals

Readmore..

Susan Wojcicki resigned as a member of the HomeAway Board of Directors

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VRM Intel Staff
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Susan Wojcicki has resigned as member of the HomeAway Board

On Dec 13, 2012, HomeAway announced Susan Wojcicki has resigned as member of the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board, effective immediately. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission filing, “the resignation was not as a result of any disagreement with the Company. Rather, Ms. Wojcicki chose to resign due to time constraints and her need to focus on her significant responsibilities as senior vice president of product management and engineering for all advertising products at Google.”Susan Wojcicki has resigned as member of the HomeAway Board

Wojcicki was 16th on Forbes Magazine’s List of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2011. And 25th on the 2012 list. According to Forbes,  Wojcicki “is the woman behind all of Google’s ad products, AdWords and AdSense, Analytics and DoubleClick, and was responsible for 96% of the company’s $37.9 billion revenue in 2011.”

Wojcicki’s history with Google has deep roots, She rented her garage to Sergey Brin and Larry Page and their emerging search engine in 1998 and was the 16th person to be hired at the company.

HomeAway elected BabyCenter’s Tina Sharkey to fill the vacancy. Sharkey served as AOL’s  Senior Vice President and General Manager of a portfolio of AOL properties including AOL.com and AOL Instant Messenger.

By Amy Hinote

Customer Service Tips for a Front Desk

By
VRM Intel Staff
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A few tips can help you ensure that you’re making the most of your front desk’s customer service opportunity.

Small businesses such as hotels, auto dealer service centers and professional offices typically make use of a front desk area to greet and serve customers. A clean, efficient front desk operation provides a favorable impression of your business and makes customers feel welcome. A few tips can help you ensure that you’re making the most of this customer service opportunity.

Continuous Staffing

Your front desk should be staffed at all times during business hours. If customers have to wait for an employee to show up or need to go in search of somebody, it gives them a bad impression of your business’s level of customer service, and it can inconvenience them if they’re in a hurry. Be sure to have a system in place for desk coverage during lunch and breaks.

First Impressions

Your front desk is often the point of initial contact for your customer, so it can leave a lasting impression of your business. It’s important that you have an employee with a friendly personality manning the desk, and the individual should be…

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When do you have to pay employees for being on call?

By
VRM Intel Staff
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Determining whether on-call time constitutes ‘hours worked’.

By Pete McPherson, HRhero

The pay rules under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for “on call” time are a source of confusion – and potential liability. Questions may arise in the context of nonexempt employees who have just been notified that they’re on call because of a weather-related service issue, computer personnel who are on call if the system goes down, maintenance workers who are on call for service issues, or customer service personnel who are on call for a customer who needs to have a problem resolved outside of regular hours.

Of course, you don’t have to pay exempt, salaried employees extra for being on call. This article focuses on nonexempt, hourly employees.

Background and examples

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) guidance on the on-call issue consists of only two sentences:

An employee who is required to remain on call on the employer’s premises or so close thereto that he cannot use the time effectively for his own purposes is working while “on call.” An employee who is not required to remain on the employer’s premises but is merely required to leave word at his home or with company officials where he may be reached is not working while on call.

Read More >>

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