We have all heard much about the ‘green vacation’ and offering new options to appeal to special interest travelers.  Today I saw an interesting validation of the green theme from Marriott.  Yep, the big boys are getting into the green travel.

The part I found interesting here is that Marriott is starting by cleaning up its vacation club corporate headquarters.  There is something to be learned for your vacation rental business – when starting a green strategy, make sure you start from within.  That will show your commitment to the cause, as well as get your team excited about the direction.

Interesting Statistic – Estimated Styrofoam and Plastic Waste Sent to Landfill Each Year from Marriott Vacation Club Corporate Headquarters:
Styrofoam Plates – 47,000
Plastic Forks – 28,000
Plastic Knives – 16,000
Plastic Spoons – 36,000
Styrofoam Cups – 127,000
Total Sent to Landfill – 254,000  

Read about it.

There has been a long battle in Hawaii between vacation rental managers and some communities.  This bring up a couple of important issues for us to consider in all the communities in which we operate, and which we call home. 

Read the the full article from Yahoo News.

Leverage:  Take Hawaii as an example where there are roughly 73,000 units for visitor accommodations and only about 5% of these are vacation rentals.  the rest are hotels.  That number includes the high number of illegal short-term rentals.  Leverage is compromised by the importance of hotels vs. vacation rentals, and the high number of illegal rentals do not help our image and bargaining power.

Community Involvement:  As in all areas, movements can be started by a few, even a single, unhappy persons.  We need to ensure our involvement in the community to we have the relationships, and our ‘ear to the ground’ on what is happening in our destination.  Not just from tourist travel, but within the community.

Being part of a friendly community is a big part of what we offer in vacation rentals.

Aloha.

Ralf

During this tax season, here are some tips for maximizing vacation rental income and profit (summarized nicely in a recent press release from an online listing service) :

• Reach renters online without up-front fees: In the past, vacation rental property managers and homeowners had to pay a flat fee of several hundred dollars just to list a single property, without any guarantee of getting even one rental. A growing number of sites allow managers and owners to advertise their properties for free. Some websites now offer performance-based advertising programs that only charge for qualified inquiries or bookings that are delivered.

• Attract weekend travelers using free regional boards: Getaway travelers first consider locations within driving distance. Property managers and homeowners that regularly post to free regional boards, such as Craigslist.org, can quickly and cost-effectively reach renters planning last-minute trips. For example, Craigslist San Francisco Bay Area attracts those considering Napa Valley, Carmel and Lake Tahoe getaways. To maximize posts’ effectiveness, include links to descriptive property listings on vacation rental sites, such as Choice1.com, where property managers and owners can maintain updated photos, availability, rate and location details for free. This saves time and helps keep Craigslist.org posts short.

• Offer online booking: Today’s travelers shop online 24 hours a day, so it isn’t surprising that vacation homes that can be booked directly online enjoy higher occupancy rates and often command premium rents.

• Consider allowing minimum stays of less than a week: In popular destinations, vacation rental property managers and homeowners can appeal to a larger base of renters if they are willing to accept stays of three or four nights. By charging a slightly higher nightly rate incorporating the cleaning and maintenance fees, managers and homeowners can fill their calendars more quickly, especially during slow rental seasons, and reduce the worry about whether a property will generate sufficient income for the year.

• Target shoulder season and off-season travelers: Many travelers prefer to vacation during shoulder- and off-season periods with lower travel costs and thinner crowds. Utilize unique online advertising programs that tailor advertising to the travel seasons of interest.