Think Big – Tap into the Global Market to Maximize Reservations!

To run at or near full capacity and maximize reservations and revenues has always been the aim of the independent vacation rental owner and now it’s possible for even the smallest operation to access the widening possibilities offered by a huge global market – given the right support.

The vacation rental market has seen revolutionary changes in the way it works. The traditional travel agent and the property owner advertising in the travel supplements have had to change or disappear in the wake of online marketing. But while there have been inevitable casualties of this revolution, it has also created great opportunities to maximize reservations for those vacation rental owners who are prepared. A good parallel to illustrate the changes in the way the vacation rental market operates is the airline industry where airplanes often run near full capacity and where passengers on the same flight pay widely different rates according to when and where they bought their tickets. This is largely due to the ticket agencies offering ‘cheaper’ flights to customers while supporting the airlines with a constant flow of travelers to help maximize reservations and fill their planes at off-peak times. The whole system depends on the prevalence of the internet, and the ability to operate in real time, allowing tickets to be offered to a large market and sold right up to the last minute. All parties benefit in different ways: the airlines maximize reservations and revenues while the travelers enjoy cheaper flight availability and the agencies get a return on their efforts.

Operate in real time to maximize reservations

A similar system to maximize reservations is now in place for rental property owners who have a website, a presence on one or more of the popular vacation listing websites and a smart reservation system that can handle and process inquiries and reservations 24/7. Ours gives you seamless integration of all your rates, calendars and terms/conditions – and keeps you in full control of your reservations. Other good news is that you don’t have to be a computer geek to be successful in this form of online marketing! Homes and Rooms will provide you with a professional website and all the smart software tools you’ll need to begin benefiting fully from online marketing and maximize reservations. For the cost of an annual subscription and a presence on one or more listings agencies (such as HomeAway, Airbnb, VRBO) you’re in the game!

An ever-widening market

Increasingly, the international nature of the internet means ever-widening marketing possibilities to maximize reservations for virtually any vacation rental. Remember, it’s always peak season for vacations somewhere in the world: summer in England is winter in Australia and while New Yorkers are freezing in sub-zero temperatures, parts of Florida are basking in warm sunshine. So, by marketing your property online, you are also opening up to a whole new audience of visitors from out of state or abroad who may be interested in your property. At Homes and Rooms we’ll prepare you for that too, with our Currency Builder which comes as part of our service and makes dealing with foreign payments and changing rates a pushover.

Links to similar topics:

Foreign currency? Bring it on!