Barefoot Technologies Blog- Vacation Rental Industry News

We have heard the rumors circulating the industry for a while, but now it seems like it will actually happen, and no, we are not talking about HomeAway’s IPO this time. 

After months of speculation and rumors it seems like HomeAway has finally filed for an IPO. Barefoot has, as providers of property management software, been reporting on all the rumors and changes that have been going on in our industry for quite some time.

Since the beginning of 2011, we have informed you on surveys, reports, and other information all claiming 2011 to be a great year for the vacation rental industry. As a provider of property management software, we have been anticipating the industry to start growing, and increasing its 9% market share of the travel industry.

Barefoot Technologies’ Director of Business Development and Real Estate Agent with Jean Hooker & Associates Real Estate in Henniker, Edward Ulmer, has been asked by the Capitol Region Board of REALTORS to represent their interests as a director alternate on the Northern New England Real Estate Network (NNERN). NNERN is a for profit organization, and is in charge of the MLS listing system in the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts with an excess of 6000 REALTOR members.

Lately we have written many posts regarding what is going on in our industry, as well as posts regarding property management software and other things. Today, we figured we would give you some more information on bed bugs. Again, we have gotten the permission from Mr. Paul Belo to publish one of his articles.

Taos Ski Valley used to be all about several phone calls and emails before you found the right lodging. Now, northern New Mexico's largest ski and snowboard mountain has gotten into the reservation business, thanks  to Barefoot's property management software. The hope is to streamline the reservation process and reducing customer frustration. You can read more about it here.

It is becoming tougher for VRBO’s to keep up with all the changes and new legislations and rules that are coming into effect. Recently, we reported that all owners must now file Form 1099, and we also reported that the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) wants to crack down on vacation rental owners who aren’t paying lodging taxes or paying necessary business license fees.

About six days ago someone posted a question in PayPal’s online Community Help Forum. The Question was:

Craigslist is not the only place vacation rental fraud occurs. Scam artists are getting more daring.  Recently we picked up an article from the Daily Times about an incident with a portal.

Hotel operator Marriott International, Inc said on Monday it plans on splitting into two publicly traded companies by spinning off its timeshare operations into a separate company. Under the spin off plan, the new company will focus on the timeshare business under the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brands, while Marriott International will concentrate on the lodging management and franchise business.