Prepare Your Vacation Rental for the Gen-Xers

As a vacation rental owner one very important aspect of setting your home apart from the crowd is providing amenities travelers expect. This year (2007) the Baby Boomers have been replaced by the Gen Xers as the largest group of both business and leisure travelers. Gen Xers are fond of leisure travel and spend more per trip than their Boomer counterparts and have higher expectations for the level of service, amenities and quality in their accommodations.

Gen Xers although individuals, have a number of common characteristics they look for when choosing their accommodations. Here is a list of preferences as they relate to travel decisions:

1. They love electronics and gadgets and they expect freebies such as internet access. Is your rental set up for wireless access? Most Gen Xers travel with laptops.

2. Gen Xers respond to promotional offers as they make vacation plans. They are always looking for discounts. Do you offer specials to fill you calendar? They often make plans last minute taking advantage of airline specials.


3. Gen Xers are more oriented toward family life and more leisure trips. Expect 3-4 day getaways to become more prevelant. Do you have a minimum stay of 7 nights? If so, reducing the required number of nights can help to increase your bookings.

4. They consistantly value three things: service, security, and a comfortable bed. Are you receiving good feedback from previous guests in this area?

6. Common with other groups, the Gen Xers appreciate the "personal touch" what better way to show your guests you appreciate them than by greeting them with a welcome gift upon their arrival from Welcome Your Guests Gifts.

In summary, like most vacationers the Gen Xers are looking for luxury, value, and relaxation. Take a look at your vacation rental from the Gen Xers point of view and see if you can improve in any areas. The benefits to you in the end will be a full calendar of happy travelers.

Vacation Homes More Fun With a Themed DVD Collection

In addition to offering vacation rental homeowners our popular gift bags at Welcome Your Guests Gifts, we blog about other fine touches you might apply to personalize your holiday home toward increasing renter loyalty.

For example, our Squidoo lens site showcases several fun DVDs you might choose to stock in your vacation home. You could theme your DVD selections based on the climate in your vacation town and the lifestyle interests typically associated with people who travel there.

Specifically, homeowners running vacation rentals in the Aspen or Vail areas, for instance, might stock up on DVDs offering ski instructions. And those of us who house travellers in Florida or the Caribbean might make available a few hit movies that were filmed in our vacation "backyard." Which means that a James Bond classic would qualify as a great DVD to keep in your vacation home in...

Well, let's just see how well you know your 007 trivia!