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As vacation rental home owners, we all know first-hand that the travel landscape has undergone significant changes since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests now prioritise flexibility and reassurance when making travel plans.

This shift in consumer behaviour has led to an increased demand for vacation rentals with relaxed cancellation policies.

The three types of cancellation policy

Three types of cancellation policy are commonly used. These are:

Offers guests a full refund if the reservation is cancelled at least 14 days before check-in.

Provides a full refund if the reservation is cancelled at least 30 days before check-in.

Allows for a refund if the reservation is cancelled at least 60 days before check-in

To maintain competitiveness and enhance guest satisfaction, we strongly recommend selecting the “Relaxed” cancellation policy for your property. This policy offers guests the flexibility they desire while providing you with a competitive edge in the market.

Let’s consider why it’s a good idea to offer a relaxed cancellation policy for your vacation home bookings.

Meeting changing guest expectations

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in guest preferences towards flexibility when it comes to booking accommodations. With uncertainties such as travel restrictions, unforeseen emergencies, and changing personal circumstances, guests are increasingly seeking out properties with lenient cancellation policies. By offering a flexible cancellation policy, owners can cater to these changing expectations and attract more bookings from discerning guests.

Standing out in a crowded market

The vacation rental market is becoming increasingly saturated, with countless properties vying for the attention of potential guests. In such a competitive landscape, it’s essential for owners to differentiate their property from the rest. A flexible cancellation policy can be a powerful selling point that sets a property apart from competitors. Guests are more likely to choose a property that offers them peace of mind and flexibility in case their plans change, giving properties with flexible cancellation policies a distinct advantage.

Building trust and loyalty

A flexible cancellation policy not only attracts guests but also helps build trust and loyalty. Guests appreciate the transparency and reassurance that comes with knowing they can cancel or modify their reservation without penalty if needed. By prioritising guest satisfaction and demonstrating flexibility, owners can foster positive relationships with guests, leading to repeat bookings and positive reviews.

Ensure a consistent cancellation policy across platforms

We recommend that you offer a relaxed cancellation policy across all the platforms on which you market your vacation rental home.

This includes:

This way, you simplify policy enforcement, booking administration and the guest experience.

Why a flexible cancellation policy is important for vacation rental owners

Offering a flexible cancellation policy is essential for vacation rental owners looking to stay ahead of the competition.

You can:

Embracing flexibility is not just a competitive advantage—it’s a key ingredient for success in today’s dynamic marketplace.

What should owners do next?

To facilitate the process of selecting a cancellation policy, we will be emailing all owners a document to complete. This document will allow owners to choose their preferred cancellation policy from the options provided: relaxed, moderate, or strict. We believe that empowering owners to select their own cancellation policy ensures that it aligns with their preferences and business goals.

Questions? Get in touch

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

US: 407-605-5865

UK: 0333 332 1411

Our new coffee stations have proved a big hit with guests. We’ve added them to many of our homes over the last six months and have been monitoring the results. This is what we’ve discovered.

The coffee stations have been used in all properties by almost all of our guests. Some use more than others, of course, but overall the feedback has been very positive.

What is a coffee station?

The coffee stations include everything a guest might need to make their morning beverage.

This includes:

Why have we added the new coffee stations?

We’re always looking for ways in which we can enhance the guest experience.

We’d much rather that our homeowners can compete on experience and quality stay than to compete on price. We don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest to get into a race to the bottom. Not ours, not our homeowners and not the guests’.

No other property managers in the area offer this service right now. Stocked coffee stations are therefore a great way to set our properties apart.

How they are going to make a cup of coffee in the morning is a surprisingly important factor in guest choice. Our top three enquiries are: pool; distance from Disney, type of coffee maker!

As an aside: It’s worth noting that guests prefer a Keurig coffee maker, so if you don’t have one of these in your property already, please get in touch with our team. We can purchase and install a Keurig machine in the home on your behalf if you wish.

What do guests love about the coffee stations?

Guest feedback tells us that they love the coffee station concept. It is particularly appreciated when a welcome basket isn’t included with the booking.

The convenience of being able to make a coffee or herbal tea on arrival is really welcomed, especially after a long journey.

Guests also love the disposable coffee cups. This surprised us at first, since all the homes have fully equipped kitchens. However, it seems that many guests like to make a coffee and take it to the park in a disposable cup. This way, they don’t have to carry an empty refillable coffee cup around the park all day.

Overall, we’ve had a great response from guests. Now, we’d like to hear your thoughts!

What do you think about the new coffee stations?

We’d love to hear from owners who have had a coffee station installed in your home to hear your thoughts about how successful the new coffee stations have been.

Have guests responded to you about them? Has the feedback been positive or negative?

Would you like to see the coffee stations continue? Do you think they add useful value to the guest experience?

How would you like to see this amenity develop in the future?

Share your thoughts

Please get in touch with our team to let us know your thoughts.

Email us: admin@whiterosevillas.com

Call in the UK: 0333 332 1411

Exceptional guest stays are created through unique and exciting experiences layered on top of getting all the essentials right.

One of the additional services many guests request is for outside catering services. We’re really delighted to recommend Spice House Catering for this type of guest request.

We are delighted to recommend Spice House

Why do we recommend Spice House? Because of the quality of the food and the exceptional service, of course.

We can testify to the great-tasting food and exceptional service because our team recently enjoyed Spice House Catering’s services for themselves. We hosted a staff event at one of the properties we manage. And, because we’re big believers in practicing what we preach, it was a no brainer to use Spice House to cater for the event.

About Spice House Catering

Born in Montego Bay Jamaica, Spice House chef Dameon grew up in a culture where foods are grown naturally and harvested nearby. Organic has always been a way of life, not a grocery store label. With an extensive background working in some of the finest luxury hotels and cruise ships for over 20 years, chef Dameon has developed a diverse culinary background.

He strives to bring that same level of attention to detail, culinary creativity and high-class service to every catering client. If our team’s reviews are anything to go by, he certainly succeeds!

Spice House cuisine

Spice House specialities include: Jamaican jerk chicken; escovitch snapper filet; rice and peas and pineapple upside-down cake.

The menu is diverse, with plenty of cuisines and influences evident in the catering menu. Choose from Italian favourites such as caprese salad and chocolate cannoli. Or opt for a Southern Menu featuring hickory smoke BBQ chicken, honey BBQ pork ribs, grilled salmon with a dill beurre blanc, sauteed collard greens and a red velvet cake for dessert.

There are traditional Mexican options from which to choose as well as all American favourites like cobb salad and key lime pie. Or you can opt to build your own buffet. This way, you can pick all your favourites from the wide range of delicious options.

We opted to build our own buffet and the team loved the results.

You can review the menu in full here: https://spicehousecatering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Spice-House-Catering-Menu.pdf

Would you like to book Spice House to cater for you or your guests?

If you or any of your guests would like to book catering or private chef services, please get in touch with our team.

We are always happy to help put itineraries and extra services packages together for you and your guests to make sure you get the most from your stay.

Call our team on: 407 605 5865.

Vacation Rentals are under attack in Florida from Senate Bill 280 (SB280) that recently passed the Florida state legislature. We have only days remaining to make an impact!

Your voice is needed.

What is SB280?

The Florida Senate and House of Representatives recently passed Senate Bill 280, which, if signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will significantly impact vacation rentals, tourism, and property rights across the state. Let’s work together to stop this overreach.

This bill opens PMCs, property managers and guests to increased restrictions, such as:

Key Data estimates this could impact upwards of 40% of vacation rentals in the state of Florida and reduce associated revenue in communities by 30% or more.

We need your help to stop the overreach.

We believe in fair thoughtful regulation but Florida SB280 is a jobs killer and will impact the rights of businesses, property owners and guests alike.

How Can We Stop This?

We need Gov. DeSantis to Veto SB280. All voices are important but especially those of you based in Florida.

Take action yourself. Reach out by email and by phone:

  1. Email the Governor directly: GovernorRon.DeSantis2023@eog.myflorida.com
  2. Click Here to Sign
  3. Click Here for Information on How to Contact the Governor’s Office and see Our Call and Email Scripts

We’re doing our best to share the news and urge our homeowners to take action. Please share this blog with other Florida vacation rental homeowners you know. This will impact them directly.

Please also share with your employees, partners and vendors in the Florida market. These changes will have a negative impact on them and their businesses as well.

You can find more details about SB280 and efforts to stop it here: https://www.streamlinevrs.com/sb280/

If you have additional requests or need more information, please reach out to Scott Leggat, Inhabit’s Director of Government Affairs at: scott.leggat@inhabit.com.

Comments?

As always, we are on hand to answer your questions. If you have any comments or queries, please reach out to our team.

US – 407-605-58650

UK – 0333 332 1411

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

Universal is set to open a new park in Orlando in 2025. Interest in Epic Universe should boost tourism and benefit vacation-home owners.

Universal is delivering its most Epic park yet in 2025. And it has kicked off 2024 by releasing exciting new glimpses of what we can expect from the forthcoming Universal Epic Universe.

What can homeowners expect from Epic Universe?

A new park opening is great news for vacation homeowners in Florida, especially an epic park of this scale and ambition.

Universal is set to open its doors to Epic Universe in 2025. Owners should expect to see an uptick in bookings during 2025 and beyond. The excitement generated about Epic Universe is already reaching epic proportions – so we are confident that, even allowing for the extra hotel rooms Universal is building in the park, we’re going to see a surge in bookings from guests visiting Epic in 2025.

What can park visitors expect from Epic Universe?

Epic Universe is Universal’s most ambitious park yet. It nearly doubles the size of the Universal resort in Florida with five Epic worlds and more than 50 fabulous attractions.

Visitors can look forward to five different amazing and immersive worlds. They include:

With incredible rides and some of the most immersive experiences Universal Orlando has created, we cannot wait for the doors to open to Epic Universe.

What details has Universal released about Epic Universe?

Universal is building excitement by feeding information out slowly to its excited guests and fans. The trailer on the Universal website is a great introduction to what we can expect.

Universal says that when creating Epic Universe, it asked its audiences what they wanted. Guests told them that they want to see more of what Universal already does well.

It’s not a surprise, then, that one of Epic Universe’s new worlds is a new horror-themed world. Dark Universe will bring together characters from Universal’s classic horror films. It builds on the success of one of Universal’s most eagerly awaited annual events, its Halloween Horror Nights.

The new Wizarding World of Harry Potter world is themed on the Ministry of Magic and will bring together elements and characters from both the original Harry Potter stories and the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

We can’t wait to see more of the new world based on the How to Train Your Dragon films. Together with the Nintendo world, it is going to be a big draw for kids of all ages. 

Looking forward to an Epic 2025

This news is great for the local economy in Florida and especially for vacation homeowners. The increased capacity at the parks and the interest this exciting new launch will generate will help to boost bookings through 2025 and 2026.

We cannot wait to find out more about what we can expect from the park. If you are eagerly awaiting news, you can sign up for updates direct from Universal here: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/gb/things-to-do/whats-new

We are certain it is going to be an Epic adventure!

Ready to book for 2025?

Browse our homes here.

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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.

Today is Book Direct Day!

In a world dominated by online travel businesses like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, it’s easy for vacationers to believe that the best deals and experiences are to be found on the websites of these big platforms.

However, the truth is that often the best deals and the most treasured experiences are to be found by booking direct.

Here’s just a few reasons why the next time you book a vacation, you should book directly with the vacation rental company managing the property.

1.  Price Transparency

When you book directly, there are no hidden service fees or surprise charges. What you see is what you get, allowing for better budgeting and planning.

2. Best Price Guarantee

Vacation rental companies offer the lowest price when you book direct because they won’t be subject to third party charges levied by the big booking platforms. They can pass these savings on to you, so you get the most competitive rates available.

3. Exclusive Deals and Discounts

Vacation rental companies – like White Rose Villas – have special promotions and loyalty programs for direct bookers, offering exclusive discounts or added perks. Get in touch with us to find out more!

4. Personalized Customer Service

Direct communication with a rental company means a more personalized service. You’re dealing with a small business that cares about your experience – not a megalithic booking platform on which it’s hard to get in touch with to a real person. This means that when you book direct you benefit from personalized assistance, from pre-booking inquiries to on-site support during your stay.

5. Local Expertise

Vacation rental companies are often local experts, providing insider tips and recommendations for an authentic and immersive experience. For example, you can read through our blogs to discover many tips and recommendations about making the most of your stay in Central Florida. Or ask about local events and activities directly – we’re always happy to share our experience and advice.

6. Access to Additional Amenities

Some vacation rental companies offer extra amenities or services – such as a welcome basket on arrival or concierge services – exclusively to direct bookers. This enhances your overall vacation experience.

7. Faster Issue Resolution

In case of any problems, direct communication with your vacation rental company means faster issue resolution. That’s because there are no third parties or unnecessarily rigid processes slowing down response times or resolution.

8. Repeat Booking Rewards

Loyalty pays off! Vacation rental companies, like White Rose Villas, often offer rewards programs that are only available on direct bookings.

9. Enhanced Privacy

Booking directly keeps your data with a single provider. Your personal data and web browsing behaviors won’t be shared across multiple platforms.

10. Direct Feedback Loop

Your feedback directly influences the vacation rental company’s operations. In this way, you can contribute directly to the continuous improvement of guest experiences.

11. Support Local and Small Businesses

By booking directly, you support the local economy. You can contribute directly to a more sustainable and community-centric approach to travel. Many vacation rental companies are small businesses. Booking directly with them helps us to thrive in a competitive market.

12. Feel Like a VIP

Direct bookers are often treated like VIPs, enjoying a more personalized and memorable stay compared to the standardized experience offered by the big online platforms.

Next time: Book Direct!

Next time you plan your vacation, consider booking direct to benefit from all of these fantastic advantages and more. It’s time to rediscover the joy of travel, one direct booking at a time!

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.

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.

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