Based on the continued dramatic growth and appeal of condominium accommodations with hotel-type amenities among travelers, the Onsite Property Management Association (OPMA) will further maximize awareness among consumers of the numerous benefits tied to this hybrid lodging experience.
During a recent OPMA advisory board conference call, the council members voted unanimously to settle on the generic term “condo hotel” as the most accurate description of the association’s lodging sector. As a result, an integral part of OPMA’s new national awareness campaign will be to encourage DMOs (destination marketing organizations) and state lodging associations around the country to feature condo hotels on their websites as a separate search option for travelers seeking this type of lodging.
Rick Fisher, executive director of OPMA, monitors consumer travel trends and is working closely with hospitality industry partners in meeting the lodging expectations of visitors searching destination websites.
“What’s so appealing to millions of travelers is that condo hotels represent the best of both worlds—condo-type accommodations offering the comforts of home and sought-after hotel amenities such as on-site check-in, guest services, housekeeping, maintenance and security,” Fisher said. “At this time, on most DMO websites, on-site managed properties that qualify as condo hotels are often listed under ‘hotels’ or ‘vacation home rentals.’ Our industry, like so many others, needs to match up with the ever-evolving needs and expectations of the traveling public and the condo hotel sector is one of those areas.”
In many of the most popular leisure destinations, condo hotels collectively represent one of the largest—if not the largest—numbers of available rental units in any one market. As a result, condo hotels are a major contributor of tax revenue dollars to area DMOs and economies around the country.
OPMA’s president and founder, Paul Wohlford, is also vice president of business development for Resort Collection, a property management and real estate company headquartered in Panama City Beach, Florida. Resort Collection features nine condo hotel properties and an inventory of over 900 rental units. Wohlford, like many other on-site property managers, feels strongly that the condo hotel segment is here to stay and should be positioned as a unique, significant lodging option within the overall hospitality industry.
“In our own market area of Panama City Beach, we have already engaged our DMO in discussions to include the term ‘condo hotel’ as a visitor search option under lodging,” Wohlford said. “They recognize, as we do, that on-site managed properties provide rental guests a lodging experience different from traditional hotels and stand-alone condo accommodations, and they have agreed to feature ‘condo hotel’ as an additional lodging search category. Our OPMA members are pursuing this same initiative with their respective DMOs and state lodging associations throughout the country.”
In addition to the targeting of DMOs and the overall lodging industry, OPMA will be complementing those efforts with a regional and national public relations media campaign to elevate consumer awareness of the condo hotel rental experience and how it differs from other types of lodging.
About OPMA
Founded in March 2014 as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the Onsite Property Management Association (OPMA) is spearheading an effort to support the advancement of on-site rental property management companies. By providing education and advocacy, OPMA will promote the value of the short-term rental experience through on-site property management companies. By leveraging the collective experience of industry veterans, this network of mutual support will elevate industry standards to ensure superior guest and owner experiences. The association is committed to providing a clear and cooperative message and to championing the growth and success of the industry. To learn more about the Onsite Property Management Association, visit www.theopma.org or call (877) 870-6510.
