Ozzy Osbourne Vacation Rentals - Lodging Newsletter July 31, 2025

By Wm. May
Published: 08/26/25 Topics: Lodging Newsletter Comments: 0

You don’t have to be a John Michael Osbourne fan to know who the name Ozzy refers to.

Never far from the headlines, even those who feel symphonic music is far superior, must admit they know of him and his music. After a life filled with countless substances and shenanigans, he later intrigued viewers who watched him, his wife Sharon and two of their children frolic around their mansion acting like (somewhat) like normal people.

There have been many bands in Ozzy’s genre, but everyone agrees he was first. In every generation there have been musicians who grab the attention of young listeners. But as Ozzy’s original fans aged, new groups of adolescents (In particular males) found him, embraced his music and found an emotional attachment that may be hard for us older folks to appreciate.

Sadly, Ozzy passed away on July 22nd, 2025 at the age of 66. A legion of fans mourned.

So why would a newsletter like this one lead with a story about the Prince of Darkness? Simply because he was, by intention or not, a master marketer. He had many different stage personas including:

The Madman
The Great Ozz
The Prince of Darkness
The Godfather of Heavy Metal
The Wizard of Ozz

It is unlikely that Ozzy owned a vacation rental home. But if he did, it surely would have been in his unique "Prince of Darkness" motif. Oddly enough, this points out an idea that some vacation rental home owners have latched on to.

No not heavy metal - but heavily memorable concepts. There are rentals with cowboy themes, others with boat themes, 101 Dalmatians rooms, Disney characters, jungle wall paper and much, much more.

Ever since people started traveling for leisure and becoming "Tourists" they have longed for something new, unique and unusual to separate them from the mold. Concept homes offer that to a growing audience. They generate fawning reviews and great content for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other channels where standing apart from the crowd is the challenge. But it is also the opportunity to generate more customers.

Although I am not a heavy metal devotee myself, it hurts me to say that those of us who are (shall we say) follically challenged, damn the guy who had better hair on the day he died than most other men have on their 16th birthday.

Rest in peace, Ozzy. I would have liked the chance to know you.

Lodging Newsletter by William May

June 31, 2025 - Ozzy’s Vacation Rental

Last month’s newsletter listed ways other managers lose bookings (and we don’t). This month is a list of how property owners lose bookings.

Hand Me Downs - Using cast offs (even good ones) from your primary home is a way to alert guests that you don’t care enough to keep furniture, fixtures, or equipment up to date. Doing so is cheaper than buying new, but you lose bookings and far more income.

Upgrades - Successful homes get more use and more use means more upgrades over time. Last year’s amenities may work, but keeping up appliances, table wares, TV’s and all other aspects of the home is required. Penny pinching costs more than it saves.

Ring Cameras - For primary residences, security cameras may be fine. But the advance of cams that confront arriving guests in the face make them feel spied upon and impersonal. Using the alert to speak to guests will scare the buggers out of them. They may speak nicely to you, but will savage the property in reviews that scare off future bookings.

Criminal - Lodging property guests have "an expectation of privacy" and it has been in the news where property owners find themselves in court defending their peeping tom equipment. There have been stories of property owners being thrown in jail when a guest reports (and probably exaggerates) how they were surveilled. Door bell cameras are not worth the risk.

Exterminators - Even in popular markets, second homes are not occupied every day of the year. That is a perfect opportunity for mice, bugs, and even bats to invade. Owners who avoid the cost of regular inspections lose out when just a single tiny ant appears. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. Paying for regular inspections is being prepared.

Improper Rates - Even taught in high school math classes, pricing is primarily based on supply and demand. For decades, there were more guests than rentals. Today, especially since the post-Covid surge, as vacation homes proliferate, the market defines what guests will pay. Dictating rates to the manager will dictate lower income for the property.

Risky Amenities - Offerings like bikes, kayaks, or other seemingly attractive amenities sounds good. Such things are attractive in photos, but they require constant care and maintenance. And cost more to maintain than the few extra bookings.

Hot Tub - There is an exception. Modern hot tubs, carefully maintained by professional managers do attract guests. Hot tubs are said to be the most requested amenity worldwide, including in the tropics (go figure) and should increase rental income each year, up to double the installation cost. That means a 200% return on hot tub investment, for years.

Required - Skip these amenities, if you dare. Vacation homes must have internet, of course, but they still need basic cable TV, and in areas where mobile service is funky, a telephone. These ingredients, if missing, can "wreck" the stay for guests. Having a streaming TV service is fine, but it does not yet replace cable, if, of course, you want great reviews.

Landlord - Not every homeowner can or should be a vacation rental landlord. The experience is not what most owners imagine. This may not happen, but be prepared - someday a guest will criticize the home you love, the area where it’s located, the weather, the neighbors, the manager, the cleaner or your personal taste.

Author: Wm. May
Blog #: 1038 – 08/26/25

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – We have one mission - to train and support the top lodging managers offering a variety of Resorts & Vacation Rental homes. Our support services provide world-class marketing, advertising, reservations, administration, accounting and training. All combined along with onsite local managers and staff. – VortexVIP.com

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