25Feb/110

Vantage Resort Realty: A LiveRez Partner Paying Attention to the Small Details

Vantage Resort Realty of Maryland
Location: Ocean City, Maryland and surrounding areas
Website: VantageOceanCity.com
Units: About 500
Quick Quote: "LiveRez has definitely helped me increase my reservations."
Interesting Stat: Vantage bookings have increased 350 percent with help from LiveRez.

The little things mean a lot to Brooke Pfautz, manager of Vantage Resort Realty of Maryland.   He believes attention to detail is important in the travel industry and that’s why he goes out of his way to offer Vantage guests perks they don’t find anywhere else.VantageResortRealty screen shot

“We have a free concierge service, linens like fine hotels, and a business center for guests in our office building,” said Pfautz, who believes these small – but important – amenities set his rental properties apart from others in the Ocean City, Maryland area.  Vantage even offers free gym memberships to guests.

Pfautz helped build the company from nothing three years ago to a venture that manages about 500 properties by paying attention to detail and continuously meeting guest needs.

His company even guarantees guests have a true vacation experience, despite what mother nature might hold in store.  Vantage’s “Sunny Days” guarantee program issues $500 credits to travelers who stay in one of its properties and experience rain four days in a row.   That is an offer not found many places in the travel industry, but Pfautz believes that’s why the rental experience he offers can’t be matched in his market.

Riv607kitch“I realized I had to do something different,” he explained.  “I couldn’t do things like everyone else.”

Vantage pays attention to even the smallest details.  To give potential guests a detailed view of properties, Fautz pays a professional photographer to take pictures of his rentals.  “They say a picture is worth a thousand words and it’s so true,” Pfautz said.

Though he has been one of the primary drivers behind Vantage’s success, he has had help.  Vantage utilizes vacation rental software supplied by LiveRez, which he says has helped make bookings easier for customers.  “It’s easy to use for reservations,” said Pfautz.  “It’s pretty seemless.”

But he had choices in deciding what software would help him build his business.  Pfautz said he checked out several vacation rental software companies before deciding on LiveRez.

So what was the deciding factor? LiveRez partner reviews.  When talking with a consultant at LiveRez, Pfautz asked for contact information for three other vacation rental companies utilizing the software platform.  After calling the three partners, Pfautz admitted he was “shocked” LiveRez partners only had good things to say about the experiences.

“I was not expecting that,” Fautz said. RustyAnchor13SunsetView

Pfautz is satisfied with the decision he made to partner with LiveRez.  “It was a good decision,” he said.  He acknowledges that LiveRez has been one factor in increasing his reservations 350 percent in the past twelve months.  “LiveRez has definitely helped me increase my reservations,” he concluded.

By paying attention to detail and exceeding guest expectations, Pfautz and Vantage Resort Realty of Maryland have proved that little things do matter.  “We went from an idea on the back of a napkin to the No. 2 player in our market,” he explained.

Check out Vantage’s LiveRez-built travel site here.

17Feb/110

Webinar No. 2: How to close bookings over the phone

Put this one on your calendar: On Wednesday, March 2, LiveRez is hosting its second webinar of 2011 and you're invited.  Because we are always looking to share strategies to help you drive your bookings, this brief meeting will teach you how to close more of them over the phone.  This is a critical skill that will help you bring more guests to your properties.

Registration for the meeting is simple.  Visit us here to sign up, or call us at 1-800-343-2891 to make your reservation.

Marchwebinar

The meeting is slated to start at noon (MST) and should run for about an hour.

15Feb/110

Three-click bookings: How LiveRez can help you drive more bookings

With things on the information superhighway speeding up each day, it's more important than ever for companies to be fast and efficient in turning prospective customers into solid guests.  This is especially true in the vacation property arena, where clients have a myriad of choices before them.

LiveRez.com websites employ a three-click booking procedure which makes it easier for potential guests to make reservations on your site.

Here's how it works: Potential guests come to your website looking for a vacation rental for a family trip.  In your site's simple format, they decide what kind of property they are looking for, how many people it must fit, and the dates and location of the trip.  Then with the first click, potential guests are one-third of the way through the entire booking process.

Search

Next: Guests are treated to all your property listings matching desired specifications.  They don't have to search over your site to find what they need; it's all in front of them in an eye-pleasing configuration.  Properties are shown with clear, detailed images and easy-to-understand descriptions, outlining various amenities.

Shop

Finally: In the last step, potential bookers are converted into solid guests, achieving your ultimate objectives: full properties.  Before purchasing, guests may read longer descriptions of homes or condos so they know exactly what they getting for their money. LiveRez partners can also embed videos and virtual tours into these pages, allowing guests to experience homes or condos in vivid detail.

The process is simple, clear, and easy for guests to understand.  The Easier the process the more booking the property managers will get.

Booking

Three-click booking is just another reason LiveRez is an emerging-leader in the vacation rental software industry.  We continually strive for easy-to-use platforms that drive customers to your website and turn them into additional revenue for you and your properties.  To see what LiveRez can do for you, visit our website here or call us at toll-free at 1-800-343-2891.