Holiday Season is Here! Get your share of the frenzy……

I am not one to sleep at the mall or in the Walmart parking lot in anticipation of the Black Friday sales.  That said, I do enjoy watching the frenzy and mayhem of this shopping extravaganza.  This year, I was in Salt Lake for Thanksgiving, and decided to take a jog early Friday morning and to run by the local Walmart. 

It was entertaining.  What I learned was that there seems to be plenty of money out there waiting to be spent.  There is definitely less money for the Tiffany's of the world, but the Walmart's of the world seem to be selling stuff, stuff of all kinds.  Is this because people want cheap?  I argue, no.  People want (1) Useful, and (2) Value.

So what does this mean for the vacation home rental industry?  It does not mean that we should focus on price.  Let me repeat that, it does not mean we should focus on price.  A focus on price implies that cheaper is better. 

Easier said than done you say.  OK, yes.  But think about what people want Useful, and Value.  I suggest we focus on the usefulness of a vacation home vs. a hotel.  The value for a larger group.  The value of having a kitchen and laundry.  The usefulness of having a family room, and not 3 separate hotel rooms with nowhere to hang out.

Get you message together and send those email campaigns out there.  Now is the time to fight for that very sparse disposable income.  Get them to put a great vacation under the tree.

Ralf
LiveRez