Barefoot Technologies Blog- Vacation Rental Industry News

In parts of the country considered vacation hot spots, the amount of short-term vacation rental properties are on the rise.  It is a natural and obvious evolution as they have become more and more popular as vacation accommodations not to mention people looking towards vacation rentals as investments or ways to add to their income.  The problem with the increase, however, is that many properties are offered as vacation rental properties by owners without following the proper channels. 

In Boulder, CO, city officials in the zoning office took control of the situation and issued cease-and-desist orders to property owners who rent space in their homes via VRBO and Airbnb.  A Boulder Daily Camera News article from last week noted that “The city of Boulder recently sent cease-and-desist notices to 20 property owners who are renting out space in their homes through Airbnb or Vacation Rentals by Owner after complaints were received against them.”  Specifically, the article stated that the cease and desist letters came from the city’s zoning enforcement office and stated that the areas in which the rentals were located do not allow for hotels or bed and breakfasts or any lodging for less than a month. 

Vantage Resort Realty of Ocean City, MD launched their new website yesterday (http://www.vantageoceancity.com) .  The website was developed by InterCoastal Net Design. (ICND), a Barefoot Technologies preferred web company.  ICND and Vantage collaborated on the new website and utilized the API integration provided by Barefoot’s vacation rental software.

“This is one of the advantages of working with Barefoot,” notes Ed Ulmer, CEO. “We have fifteen years of development with a comprehensive set of API’s that allow our web partners to get the data that they need to create compelling websites. We are excited to see how Vantage’s new site will bring increased bookings and revenue. Great job ICND team!”

A spectacular family vacation depends on three things – the time of year you go, where you go and where you stay.  During the winter months, there is nothing like taking the family on a ski trip where an immense amount of fun is packed into ordinarily no more than a week. Ski resorts are abundant in North America and many of them have atmospheres and activities that cater to families. 

At most ski resorts, there are also the standard ski resort hotels that offer very nice accommodations along with very nice prices to accompany said accommodations.  However, as an alternative to cramming the entire family into a small hotel room, many families seek out vacation rentals in and around the resorts so that they can spread out and truly enjoy the week.

Ranked the #1 vacation rental app in the world, Dwellable has taken vacation rental booking to a new level. Not only does it offer users access to some of the coolest vacation rentals via its main website, it allows easy access from their mobile devices where they can look through vacation rentals and even book their trip accommodations from there. 

With over twenty years in the vacation rental management industry, Ed Ulmer has a breadth of knowledge and expertise that keep him not only manning the helm at Barefoot Technologies, but often providing thought leadership in the industry.

Have you ever thought about taking the family away for the holidays rather than have a family gathering at your house?  There is no better way to enjoy time with family especially when you book accommodations through vacation rental management companies that have a lot of options to accommodate every size party. 

To help you decide if you should think about this, here are the top 10 reasons to spend the holidays in a vacation rental:

Online Travel Agents are an increasing presence in the Vacation Rental Management industry. During the most recent Vacation Rental Management Association conference there was a significant focus on OTAs who were attending as vendors and as a topic of discussion.

The vacation rental industry is growing by leaps and bounds.  More and more people have begun to look to vacation rentals instead of hotels for accommodations simply because everyone involved is more comfortable and the cost is comparable and even less expensive. 

One of our newer customers is really taking a hard look at Airbnd as a marketing portal for his vacation rental management company. He has been nice enough to share some articles that have impacted his research. I thought I might summarize these articles and provide you with links to them so you can continue your research as well.