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How does White Rose Villas use real-time booking insights to help our home owners to maximise returns from their vacation rental properties? Discover more here.

The White Rose Villas team is constantly reviewing how we work and how we can help you to maximise the return from your vacation rental property.

We’ve recently introduced a new Booking Insights tool which is helping us to optimise the rates and promotion of your properties.

What is Booking Insights?

Booking Insights is an online tool which provides real-time information about the performance and optimal booking rates for the homes we manage.

It gives information such as:

Example of a Booking Insights notification showing price comparison information about one of our homes

This information can be used in a variety of ways to optimise the performance of each home.

How are we using Booking Insights?

We use the information in the booking insights during our weekly dynamic pricing reviews.

This way, we can make sure that you are attaining market-optimised prices – maximising value during busy periods and maximising competitiveness during quieter periods to boost occupancy rates.

We will always action the dynamic pricing reviews within the parameters you have already agreed with us.

This way, we optimise returns and occupancy within the remit and conditions you have set.

How does Booking Insights benefit guests?

Using booking insights in this way helps us to ensure that it is always cheaper for guests when they book direct with us.

Using the comparison tool with Aibnb and VRBO, we can ensure that our prices are always cheaper.

This benefits the guests because they aren’t hit with unexpected or unwanted extra fees or charges that they often experience when booking with the third-party sites.

It also ensures a better guest experience because they come direct to us with problems and queries. This means that we can take action or provide answers sooner.

How does Booking Insights benefit homeowners?

Booking Insights helps our homeowners to maximise the returns from your vacation rental properties.

As we’ve already discussed, by keeping a close eye on prices, we can also boost direct bookings.

As well as preventing unwanted extra fees eating into your margins, this helps you as owners because when guests book direct we can establish a closer relationship with the guests.

And these relationships aren’t governed by the restrictive terms laid down by the listing sites. There’s more flexibility. You and your guests can reach agreements that suit you both better.

Got feedback?

If you have any comments or queries about booking insights, please reach out to our team.

Contact Us

White Rose Villas has introduced a new, better way for you to get in touch with our team. Discover the details here.

Calling all homeowners! We’ve installed a new phone system to make it easier for your calls to reach the right person.

How to choose the right contact option

When you call our main number (UK or USA) or admin phone number, you’ll be routed to a menu system.

We’ve purposefully kept the menu system simple, so it is easy to choose the right option to suit your enquiry.

Press:

1 = Reservations

Choose this to make a new booking.

2 = 24/7 customer services

This option is for guests while they are staying with us. They will be directed to the On Resort Breezeway Assist team in the first instance, giving responsive 24/7 coverage.

3 = Property management

As an owner, this is the option you should choose. You’ll be directed to the on-duty property management contact.

4 = Agent bookings

This is a dedicated option for travel agents and independent agents to assist with booking enquiries.

Please call the main number

We know that some homeowners already have the personal phone numbers or WhatsApp contact details for individual members of our staff.

Moving forward, we kindly ask that you refrain from using these personal contact details.

That’s because when you call the main number, your call is properly logged and answered.

If you call individual team members, the call won’t be logged and you might not receive a call back. To get the fastest possible response to your query it is, therefore, better to call the main number.

Please respect our staff

The other important reason to call the main office number rather than personal staff contact numbers is out of respect for our team. We’ve have some occasions recently when staff have received calls and even dealt with enquiries on their days off.

We really don’t want to put our team in this position. We want to honour their time off.

Please help us to do this by always calling the main office number (either UK or USA).

US: 407-605-5865

UK: 0333 332 1411

Which number to give your guests

Please give your guests the USA office number.

That’s: 407 605 5865

If your guests need assistance while on vacation, it’s best to call this number and choose option 2.

Got feedback about how it works?

We’re always keen to hear your feedback when we implement changes.

Please do share your thoughts with us about how the new system is working.

Contact Us

We all know the importance of guest reviews in increasing the occupancy of our homes.

With this in mind, we’d like to encourage all owners to share ALL of your guest reviews with us. Good and bad!

Fostering a Culture of Improvement and Recognition

Guest reviews in shape the reputation and success of our vacation rentals.

Reviews provide valuable feedback that helps us enhance the guest experience and maintain high standards of service. However, to truly leverage the power of reviews for continuous improvement, we need the support of our property owners.

Why Sharing All Guest Reviews Matters

Comprehensive Feedback for Improvement:

By receiving all guest reviews, our team gains insights into areas where we excel and areas that require attention. Positive reviews highlight what guests love about the property and our service, while constructive criticism in less-than-perfect reviews helps us identify areas for improvement.

Training and Development Opportunities:

Sharing all reviews allows us to use them as teaching tools for training our team members. Whether it’s recognizing exemplary service or addressing areas of concern, every review contributes to the ongoing development of our staff.

Recognition and Motivation:

Our team works hard to deliver exceptional service, and positive reviews serve as a testament to their efforts. Recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance boosts morale and motivates team members to continue delivering top-notch service.

Incentivizing 5-Star Service:

Many vacation rental platforms prioritize properties with high ratings, making positive reviews crucial for maintaining visibility and attracting future guests. By sharing all reviews, owners contribute to our efforts to secure 5-star ratings and enhance the property’s reputation.

The Role of YourWelcome Digital Welcome Book

In addition to guest reviews, our YourWelcome digital welcome book includes a feature that allows guests to rank the home upon check-in. If a guest provides anything less than a 5-star rating, we take immediate action to address any concerns. Our goal is to ensure that every guest has a 5-star experience, and we proactively reach out to guests to resolve any issues.

How Owners Can Help

Share All Reviews:

We encourage owners to forward all guest reviews, both positive and critical, to our property management team. This ensures that we have a comprehensive understanding of the guest experience and can take appropriate action to address any issues.

Timely Submission:

Promptly forwarding guest reviews allows us to respond promptly to feedback, whether it requires immediate action or serves as a source of motivation for our team. Owners are encouraged to share reviews as soon as they are received.

Support and Collaboration:

By working together to collect and analyse guest feedback, owners and property managers can create a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Assisting Our Team:

Your reviews help our dedicated cleaning and inspection teams understand guest expectations and improve the quality of their work.

We also encourage you to share positive reviews with your cleaners. While it’s common to address negative feedback, acknowledging their hard work and dedication when things go well is equally important.

Team Meetings and Training:

Our Housekeeping Manager, Jessica, works tirelessly to train and lead our cleaning teams. Your reviews provide essential insights that enable us to continually improve, especially in these demanding times.

Your feedback is instrumental in our monthly team meetings, where we recognize outstanding cleaners and develop training materials to continuously enhance our services. This is particularly important in the current challenging market.

Bonus Rewards:

In a gesture of our gratitude, White Rose Villas has instituted a bonus program. Housekeepers who are recipients of 5-star reviews will have the opportunity to receive special bonuses. We deeply respect the demanding nature of their work and believe in recognizing and rewarding our dedicated team.

Where to Send Reviews

Please forward guest reviews to admin@whiterosevillas.com. Your prompt sharing of these reviews will contribute to our collective effort to maintain and elevate our standards. 

We acknowledge that not all owners may directly manage bookings, but we genuinely appreciate your feedback following your visits. Your input is invaluable in our quest to consistently meet and surpass expectations. Rest assured, we will continue to share guest reviews we receive with property owners.

Conclusion

At White Rose Villas, we believe that transparent communication and collaboration between owners and property managers are essential for achieving mutual success. By sharing all guest reviews, owners play a vital role in supporting our efforts to deliver outstanding service and maintain the property’s reputation. Together, we can create memorable experiences for guests and drive positive outcomes for our vacation rental business.

Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing partnership. We look forward to receiving your valuable guest reviews and working together to maintain our reputation for excellence.

Need more information?

Please get in touch. We’re always happy to help and answer your questions.

Visit our contact page.

Find out more about how White Rose Villas is using YourWelcome, a digital welcome book service, to offer a five-star service to guests.

Most of you are already using YourWelcome.

If you aren’t, let me explain: YourWelcome is the leading digital guidebook platform offering a premium solution across entire guest journeys.

Getting important feedback at check-in

One of the most useful features from a property management point of view is the feature that allows guests to rank the home upon check-in.

If a guest provides anything less than a 5-star rating, we take immediate action to address any concerns. The digital notification we receive enables us to ensure that our guests are happy on arrival.

If the review highlights any issues, we can act fact to take remedial action.

Early reviews ensure fast action

Our goal is to ensure that every guest has a 5-star experience, and we proactively reach out to guests to resolve any issues.

Our fast response doesn’t only benefit the guest. It also helps you because it protects the ratings and reviews the guest is likely to give your home at checkout. If a customer complaint is handled well, it will earn you trust and a better overall review.

Guest management made easy

YourWelcome offers a number of brilliant features for you and your guests:

It also helps you collect guest reviews and will be an important part of our ratings and reviews analysis moving forward.

Why choose YourWelcome? 

YourWelcome is more than a digital guide. It’s your secret weapon for creating unforgettable guest experiences while boosting your property’s revenue potential.

Here’s how:

  1. Seamless Guest Engagement: Provide guests with instant access to everything they need, from property details to local hotspots. Say goodbye to unnecessary enquiries with all-encompassing information at their fingertips.

Why we’re introducing YourWelcome

Since the onset of COVID-19, guests have moved to preferring digital formats. This is great for homeowners because it saves you the cost and hassle of printing, updating and replacing physcial welcome books.

YourWelcome Digital Handbooks are insured and will be replaced free of charge in case of any mishap. This not only ensures cost-effectiveness but also provides peace of mind.

To bring YourWelcome to your vacation rental, we’re offering an exclusive annual subscription for $195 (normally $250). This investment covers ongoing support, updates, and the potential for remarkable increases in guest satisfaction and revenue. 

During our trial period, we witnessed first hand how costs associated with the YourWelcome subscription were not just covered but exceeded by guests adding extra services.

The improved ease of management for you, the better experience for your guests, and the boost to revenue to your home all add up to a great solution which will positively impact on your property’s profitability.

Contact our team for more information

If you aren’t already using and benefiting from YourWelcome and you would like to give it a try, please get in touch and our team will be happy to assist.

Return to our contact page.

We’ve had great success with our marketing for Book Direct Day. Thank you to all our homeowners for your support.

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you regarding our recent book direct marketing campaign. We’re pleased to report that the campaign has garnered a highly positive response, resulting in increased bookings and heightened engagement from our valued guests.

Book Direct with White Rose Villas

Through targeted efforts to encourage guests to book directly through our platform, we’ve seen a significant uptick in reservations, showcasing the effectiveness of our strategy. By emphasizing the benefits of booking directly with White Rose Villas, such as exclusive offers, personalized service, and streamlined booking processes, we’ve successfully captured the attention and trust of our guests.

We’re proud to announce that our campaign has propelled us 47% ahead of our target, surpassing our initial expectations and demonstrating the immense potential of our direct booking initiatives.

Bypass third-party booking platforms

The success of this campaign not only reflects our commitment to providing exceptional service but also underscores the importance of our direct relationship with guests. By bypassing third-party booking platforms, we’re able to offer a more personalized experience and build stronger connections with our guests, fostering loyalty and satisfaction.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated team for their hard work and dedication in executing this campaign. Their efforts have truly made a difference in driving our success and reinforcing White Rose Villas as the preferred choice for discerning travellers.

Thank you

I’d like to extend huge thanks also to our wonderful homeowners. You have been so receptive to our marketing campaigns. Thank you for being so open and flexible while working with us.

As we continue to capitalize on this momentum, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences and exceeding the expectations of our guests.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Imagine our surprise when the White Rose Villas team stumbled into Florida’s premier snowing event in downtown Celebration. Our tips on enjoying the holiday festivities!

As we sat down for breakfast at the cozy Downtown Diner in Celebration, the air filled with the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. Little did we know that our ordinary breakfast outing would soon transform into a magical experience, complete with unexpected surprises and the enchantment of a winter wonderland.

Amidst the chatter of fellow diners and the clinking of cutlery, we noticed an unusual commotion outside. TV cameras were capturing the excitement and a buzz of anticipation hung in the air. Intrigued, we couldn’t resist the urge to investigate, stepping out into the crisp Florida morning sunshine.

To our great surprise, we weren’t imagining things! Snowflakes gently drifted from the sky, creating a surreal scene in the heart of sunny Celebration. It turns out, our visit coincided with an extraordinary holiday tradition — the town’s nightly snowfall extravaganza which starts on the 25th of November.

We were lucky enough to get a preview – along with the film cameras – because the town was testing its snow-making equipment.

As we strolled through the charming streets adorned with festive decorations, the town revealed its winter makeover. Celebration, known for its picturesque setting, had transformed into a snow-kissed paradise, the snowfall adding a touch of magic to the already enchanting atmosphere.

But the surprises didn’t end there. In the heart of Celebration, where ice is a rarity, an ice-skating rink had been set up. Families and friends twirled and glided, laughter echoing through the air as they embraced the joy of ice skating in the heart of Florida. It was a testament to Celebration’s commitment to creating a holiday experience like no other.

You too can delve into the delightful winter festivities that unfold in Celebration during the Christmas season! From the nightly snowfall that captivates visitors to the whimsical ice-skating rink that brings a touch of northern charm to this southern town, Celebration proves that, even in Florida dreams of a white Christmas can come true!

Explore the unique and magical Christmas celebrations that make Celebration a destination unlike any other during the most wonderful time of the year.

Calendar of Events: Christmas in Kissimmee 2023

As you plan your visit to Kissimmee this Christmas season, it’s essential to mark your calendar for the exciting events happening around the city.

Here’s some useful information about the festive calendar to help you make the most of your holiday experience:

EVENT DETAILS

Join Celebration Town Center for their 25th Anniversary of Now Snowing Nightly, November 25th through December 31st.

Now Snowing, Central Florida’s original and premier “Snowing” event, offers one of the area’s only synthetic ice rinks, special community performances by some of the area’s top young talent, and special concert events throughout the season.

Now Snowing is a month-long Winter Wonderland Spectacular featuring strolling Charles Dickens-style Carolers, photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, ice skating, a snow village, and nightly snowfall at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 PM.

It’s a true throwback to the traditional family-style holiday.

In addition to the everyday fun at Now Snowing Nightly, the event will feature a special holiday-themed Art Festival (Celebration Art Walk) on December 16th.

The event is brought to you by Lexin Capital, and sponsored in part by the Celebration Town Tavern, and Experience Kissimmee. Now Snowing Nightly parking and admission are free.

Celebration is conveniently located between Highway 192 and Interstate 4 near Walt Disney World. For more information on Celebration Town Center and Special Events visit us on the web at www.celebrationtowncenter.com or call (407) 566-4007.

Enjoy breakfast and holiday fun in Celebration 2023

We loved our breakfast at Downtown Diner in Celebration. The Downtown Diner is bringing back a place in the wonderful town of Celebration where sitting at the counter or meeting family and friends for breakfast and lunch becomes part of a daily routine.

This being Florida, even at Christmas you can sit inside or out. The service is fantastic. John, our waiter, was amazing.

The menu includes all our breakfast favourites – French toast, waffles, pancakes, muffins, omelettes and skillets of traditional breakfast fare: eggs, bacon, fries, sausage patties, corned beef hash, peppers, onions, etc. There are also healthier options, like oatmeal and avocado toast, and sharables, such as sliders and loaded fries.

Amongst our delicious breakfast choices, we tried – and loved – the “Dutch Baby”.  For the Brits amongst you, it looks like a big Yorkshire pudding, but it’s sweet. And oh-so-delicious!

After breakfast, we went for a stroll around the lake. 

It’s gorgeous, with views across to the lakeshore hotels and the pretty streets of Celebration.

Kids will love spotting wildlife, we saw a whole variety of different water birds and even an alligator! It’s a beautiful place to take a gentle stroll in the Florida sunshine.

We enjoyed a really special, fantastic day.

Embrace the Kissimmee magic!

Kissimmee at Christmas is a truly magical experience, blending the charm of the season with the city’s unique flair. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor planning a holiday getaway, the festive atmosphere, dazzling decorations, and a plethora of activities make Kissimmee a top destination for creating cherished holiday memories.

Embrace the magic of Christmas in Kissimmee and let the enchantment of the season fill your heart with joy and wonder.

New for 2022: we’ve recently completed a kitchen renovation and we’re excited to share the results with you. It’s a different, cheaper and greener way to keep your home at Grade A status.

We have recently worked with one of our homeowners to update and modernise the kitchen in their home. To save time and money, they chose to trial a new finish for the kitchen worktops called Miracle Method.

If you’re not familiar with Miracle Method, it is a special surface refinishing treatment for kitchen worktops and bathroom countertops, splashbacks, tiles and floors.

Why we like the Miracle Method approach

Instead of ripping out the old counters and worktops, Miracle Method simply resurfaces the existing counters so they look (at least) as good as new. We really like this idea and our first trial with the system has gone really well. The home looks great!

Before (left) and after (right). The new worktops look beautiful, especially the new bullnose curved edges.

The homeowner here opted to paint the cupboards prior to refinishing the worktops, so the whole kitchen has enjoyed a modernising make-over. Instead of costing more than $10,000 for a new kitchen, the whole renovation cost less than $3,000. It’s a really affordable way to maintain your home’s Grade A status and keep amenities looking fresh and new.

For homeowners the advantage is obvious: the work is much less disruptive – so you won’t have as many days when your home is unrentable due to the refurbishment. You save money twice: first, because the overall refurbishment costs less and, second, because of the reduction in disruption means fewer unrentable nights.

We also love the concept because it’s greener. It means a lot less waste is going to landfill, so you can keep your home looking great without adding to problematic supply chains or excess wastage.

About Miracle Method

Miracle Method highlights the following benefits to its solutions:

It’s important that only approved cleaning products are used with the finished surfaces. Bleach-based and/or abrasive products should not be used.

We’re currently updating our guidance for housekeeping staff and guests for all homes that have Miracle Method resurfacing on their countertops.

Are you interested in refinishing your countertops?

Are you thinking about updating your kitchen or bathrooms?

If you’d like to know more about Miracle Method, please get in touch with our team. We’re very happy to share information and results with all homeowners who are interested.

The vacation rental market in the USA is looking far more positive, according to a new report. It shows that, despite a difficult 18 months, Florida continues to lead the rest of the country in terms of this year’s bookings.

A new report into the state of the vacation rental market in the USA has revealed some surprising changes to patterns of booking. It says “the off-season is looking a bit different this year”.

Let’s have a look at what it found.

Florida remains top destination

While the whole of the travel and tourism sector has taken a huge hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey shows that there are some really positive advantages to owning a vacation rental property in Florida.

Compared against the national average, vacation homes in Florida typically have:

In fact, Florida’s performance has helped to boost vacation rental performance in neighbouring states like Georgia and South Carolina.

The longer the booking window, the longer the stay

The report authors found that last-minute bookings tend to have a shorter duration that bookings made far in advance; they have a 25 percent shorter duration on average.

Typically:

COVID-19 has obviously impacted everyone’s ability to plan in advance. However, there is a clear link between advance booking and duration of stay, so this is one area where we will be focusing our marketing planning over the next few weeks and through 2022.

Weekend Warriors still dominate

As in most years, the majority of bookings have come from short stays. Over the year, short stays of between one and three days account for 70 percent of bookings.

However, the data also shows that there has been a small increase in the number of mid-length bookings, especially in July and September. In July 2021, stays of between four and seven days rose to account for 30 percent of bookings. While this dropped off during August, the proportion of mid-length stays picked up again, so it is a trend we’ll need to keep an eye on. If it persists, this is good news for vacation home owners.

The report does point to some changes in the short-stay market. Although short stays continue to dominate, they are reporting a greater number of mid-week short stays.

We think this is positive news. If the trend to mid-week bookings continues, it will help us to maximise occupancy rates during the off season when short stays dominate.

What’s changed?

One of the significant changes, according to the data in the report, is the shift in focus from urban to rural bookings. It has found that rural bookings typically had a 12 percent longer booking duration than urban stays. The authors say that this is because the success of rural bookings is less dependent on COVID-19 restrictions.

While we can’t claim to have rural properties, our homes do have a fantastic opportunity here. With private pools, plenty of space and year-round sunshine, your guests can enjoy a vacation whatever the COVID rules outside.

While changes to Florida’s COVID-19 rules will affect restaurants and theme park admissions, we think that by focusing on the other benefits our homes deliver we can capitalise on the “safe space” trend.

Actions for the future

Although the report was published before the discovery of the Omicron variant, of which we’re yet to understand the effect, there are some actionable insights here. For example, it found that Florida is averaging a 44.7 day booking window, which gives us important guidance about the optimum time to begin marketing stays and short breaks.

Things remain positive for the moment. We’ve recently been very busy taking bookings for Thanksgiving, the Christmas holiday period and New Year.

Although we started from behind where we would normally be for these busy periods, bookings have been very healthy. We’re already seeing high occupancy rates for the holiday and New Year weeks.

We will, of course, continue to work with you to run proactive marketing campaigns and promotions to try to continue these positive booking numbers into the traditionally quieter winter sun season.

Get in touch

If you would like to talk through any of these ideas, please reach out to our team.

What are we doing to navigate through this new uncertainty? And how can we protect the improvement in bookings we’ve seen lately? Here’s an update from our team.

With the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the uncertainty that had been waning over recent months has returned to the travel industry. Travel operators are waiting to see what the effect will be on bookings.

Booking rates around the world

Travel to South Africa feel dramatically – 750 percent – almost overnight. But with many European countries and the USA imposing travel bans on up to eight South African countries, including South Africa, this was inevitable.

Meanwhile, bookings to the rest of the world have remained surprisingly strong. The swift action of the South African authorities to share what they know has enabled many countries to take pre-emptive actions and identify the few instances of the variant within their borders. This has helped to maintain travel confidence.

Furthermore, so far, countries haven’t reimposed wider travel bans. Travellers are expected to take pre-departure tests in many cases, but this is a manageable inconvenience for most.

As a result, while there has been a small drop off in bookings to Europe and the United States, the fall has not been as dramatic as seen previously.

Latest news on flights into the USA

So far, President Biden has implemented stricter travel rules but not made major changes to who can travel. This is great news for European visitors who have only recently had travel open back up to them.

The new rules mean that, from next week, all international travellers to the USA – including American citizens – must take a COVID-19 test one day before travel. This must be completed regardless of your vaccination status.

Furthermore, mask requirements on planes, buses and trains will be extended until mid-March.

We will keep an eye out on updates to the situation. At the moment, experts are still working to understand what the variations in Omicron will mean in terms of transmissibility and the seriousness of the effects. Until we know more, it is hard to predict what will happen in the short term, either in terms of travel restrictions being ramped up or relaxed or in terms of any effect on bookings.

We will keep you posted!

Strategies to boost booking

In the meantime, we will continue to be flexible in our approach to booking, so that we can maximise occupancy rates and revenues for you.

#1. Communicating clearly about the cleaning procedures we have in place

We’ve always been known for our immaculate cleaning procedures and we continue to emphasise this to guests, including detailing the enhanced cleaning procedures we’ve implemented during the pandemic.

#2. Contactless check-in

As well as enhanced cleaning regimes, we’re doing a few other things differently at the moment to shore up guest confidence. We continue to highlight these standards to ensure guest confidence when they stay at your property.

#3. Marketing to customers within driving distance

Local bookings have been really important throughout the last two years and we are continuing to look at new ways to reach this market. These bookings held strong even when flight restrictions were imposed, so they are an important part of building resilience in your rental income.

#4. Discounts for longer stays

With the increase in remote work holding strong for many people, this is opening the door for travellers to stay for longer. And who wouldn’t want to work poolside? Travellers can take their families away without needing to book extra vacation, so offering discounts for longer stays can be a good way to serve this market and boost occupancy.

#5. Lowering minimum night stays

We know this isn’t for everyone but lowering the minimum night requirement can help to boost bookings. For one, you’ll show up in a greater number of searches in the listing sites.

#6. Adaptive pricing

We’ve seen over the last year just how effective dynamic pricing can be in maximising bookings and revenue. Thank you for working with us on this over the last 12 months. Options include lowering your minimum price, increasing last-minute discounts and offering some special deals. We’ll continue to tweak our activities on this to ensure that we are maximising occupancy without jeopardising maximum rates.

Reach out to our team

If you have any concerns, or would like to talk through anything raised in this blog, please reach out to our team as normal.

We’re delighted that the USA has recently announced that travel will reopen for vaccinated travellers from November 8.

We’re already expected a surge in bookings and expect this to continue for the next few weeks. We know there is a lot of pent-up demand for Florida vacations in the European market.

Given this expected surge, we need your help!

Check your Ciirus calendars now!

As you know, it is your responsibility as a homeowner to keep your Ciirus calendars up to date.

Please log in now and check the bookings in Ciirus. Please check all of the bookings you have taken are updated in the calendar.

If you are already talking to guests about possible dates, please block out the relevant period in your calendar. This way, we can’t take bookings for dates for which a guest has already expressed an interest.

This is the best way to avoid guest disappointment.

Why is it so important?

We’re asking you to do this, not just for the benefit of your guests, but also for the benefit of your fellow homeowners.

The contracts we have with tour operators have numerous targets and standards we must meet. One important rule is around cancellations. If we have to cancel a guest booking due to double booking, we risk damaging the relationship with the tour operators and may lose their business.

Losing these contracts wouldn’t just affect your home – it would affect the bookings on every home we manage. That’s why it’s so important that you keep your calendar up to date and we avoid double bookings wherever possible.

As you know, it has been a difficult eighteen months for everyone. Please let’s show consideration as we emerge from the pandemic.

Best practice tips for calendar management

Here are some best practice tips to help you.

#1. We recommend that you log in to Ciirus every week and check your bookings. This is the best way to maintain an overview.

#2. Ciirus will send an automatic notification when a booking is made. However, sometimes these can end up in spam folders. Make sure you whitelist our email address to minimise the chance of this happening.

#3. Log in to Cirrus and check the dates are free before you confirm the booking. Please do this for EVERY booking you take.

#4. If a guest has contacted you about possible dates, log in to Ciirus and block off all the dates under consideration. This way, we can’t take a booking for those dates while the guest makes their considerations. This is the best way to avoid any disappointment with the guests you are speaking with – so please do block out potential dates as soon as you can. It’s easy to unblock or book them once the dates are confirmed.

#5. Don’t worry if you don’t feel confident using Ciirus. You can find lots of brilliant video tutorials and tips online. For a small investment in time, you can be really confident using the system. Find out more here: https://help.ciirus.com/m/21080/l/980716-home-owner-portal-2018

#6. Please do everything you can to avoid double bookings. Cancellations aren’t just bad for guests; they are bad for everyone. A double booking could cost us an important contract with a tour operator or reseller and this won’t just impact you – it will impact every homeowner we work with.

Important updates about Ciirus

Ciirus is our main calendar for bookings and, as a result, a variety of agents and tour operators have access to the system. It can sometimes take a little while for the activity of those agents to go live because they need to be processed by our team before they are confirmed.

When you do your weekly check of the system, if you notice a booking for which you haven’t received a notification, please reach out to our team and we can resend it to you.

It is possible to link your Ciirus calendars to the other calendars you might have. If you want to do this, please ask us for an iCal link. However, this isn’t completely foolproof. Instead, we recommend that you login and check the Ciirus calendar when you need to and at least once a week. This way, we don’t risk any problems arising from integration errors or dates not being carried over.

As you know, the system also sends out cancellation notices. There have been many cancellation and change-of-date requests over the past 18 months. During this time, we believe that some haven’t been delivered. We have reported this to Ciirus and they are looking into it. We will keep you informed of their advice.

In the meantime, this makes it more important than ever to regularly check your online Ciirus calendar. Please make sure you are doing so, especially before each booking you take.

What now?

Please contact our team if you have any questions or concerns.

Make sure you check and update your Ciirus calendar right away, so you are ready for the surge in bookings that will inevitably follow this announcement.

And let’s look forward to the more positive outlook before us! It’s great news for us all.

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