Convert Inquiries into Bookings

One of the most exciting aspects of vacation rental homeownership is checking your mailbox for inquiries. Once you've received an inquiry from a potential renter the ball is in your court to convince them that your vacation home is the perfect base for their stay. The absolute most important tip from all the experts in the vacation rental field is to respond quickly and accurately to your inquiries. Timeliness matters. The more responsive you are to your potential guests sends them the message that you are a professional who is attentive to the needs of your guests.

You should also be sure to highlight some of the key features and amenities of your home based on the information they have given you, for instance, they list their group as 4 adults and 4 children. This sounds like 2 families in which case try to mention the kid friendly aspects of your home as well as the benefits for the parents to enjoy some adult time. This sound be done in a well thought out concise form, one or two paragraphs at most.

Your e-mail reply should include confirmation of the dates they requested and the number in their party and price for rental period inclusive of all taxes, cleaning fees and other potential charges. It should also discuss your rental agreement,deposit requirements and your payment methods.

Lastly, try to convey to your potential guests how much you appreciate their consideration and time. Today, renters have many choices for their accommodations and your success in great part depends upon the how well you are at selling your place in this intial correspondence.

"User-Friendly" Vacation Rentals

The phrase user-friendly can and should be a consideration for vacation rental homes. When your guests arrive at your rental, many for the first time, they are unfamiliar with something as basic as light switch controls. A label on light switches and fan controls is a much appreciated convenience and one other little extra that shows that you, the owner, truly are working to make their stay carefree and pleasant.

Other ways to make your home user-friendly are to provide an Owners Guidebook to your home which includes manuals for electronic devices and appliances. Posting the house address and telephone numbers along with emergency numbers near the telephone are essential. A clear step by step list for operating spas and pool equipment is also very important.

Take a walk room by room through your house and look critically at anything that may be confusing for a renter to operate or locate. It may seem like a small thing but in the end its all the small things that add up to making your home the first choice for their next vacation.

In the end, your guests will remember how easy your home was to settle into without fussing with searching for switches, finding the TV Channel lineup, and looking for directions operate the washing machine.

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 Rental Homeowners' Gift Service

Vacation rental homeowners from Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas to Colorado, Pennsylvania and Texas are facing more intense competition these days. Regardless of whether your own a beachfront or ski resort home, attracting and keeping loyal renters to a vacation property is becoming increasingly more challenging.

The stakes are high. Few can afford a decrease in annual bookings for their vacation properties -- not with expenses soaring for services such as painters, plumbers, property taxes, property management, and landscaping for investment properties. The point is, vacation rental homeowners must work smarter, but not necessarily harder, to maintain and hopefully increase their property bookings.

That's where Welcome Your Guests Gifts comes in...

With your unique challenges in mind, our hospitality service provides vacation homeowners an easy-to-use welcome gift solution. Imagine how special your renters will feel when greeted by high quality "goodwill gifts" such as our Tea Time and Nature's Good Stuff gift bags (pictured in side bar).

• Our elegantly packaged gift bags feature two very exciting product lines -- the Naked Bee and the Portsmouth Tea Company. Suitable for gift-giving in warm and cold climates, either gift helps distinguish your home as a place of distinction and launches a high-value stay.

• Homeowners who live out-of-state, or even out of the country, particularly find our service easy-to-use and extremely convenient. We deliver on the personal touch they know is important, but simply falls through the cracks due to distance and other life priorities.

• Our gift bags are clear-wrapped and finished with a sheer organza bow. We also can include on the gift tag a personalized greeting message bearing your name.



• Our gift bags come elegantly packaged and are shipped to your property manager, who can store them in your owner's closet and easily set one out prior to the arrival of each vacationing guest.


• Wonderfully priced under $25, our quality gift bags also are tax deductible for most vacation homeowners. What's more, purchase 22 or more items and you'll receive our Deluxe Homeowners Set of the same fine products, valued at $50!

For more product information, an FAQ, or to order gift bags to start impressing your guests, visit us at WelcomeYourGuests.com.