Guest Myths - Lodging Newsletter April 30th, 2017

By Wm. May
Published: 04/30/17 Topics: Lodging Newsletter Comments: 0

Every industry has its quirky parts.

Not necessarily laugh out loud but you know, those goofy, silly, make you grin, make you wonder, perplex you and end with a smirk kind of things.

So this month we intend to take a look at lodging myths, misconceptions, maybe shoulda, woulda, kind of things.

The list is surprising long and we can only cover a few. The answers are sometimes just plain unexpected.

We can't cover them all, but we'll get started with some things you may already know, but maybe not.

Send your questions our way and we'll try to bust those myths too.

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This month let us burst some bubbles, dispel some myths and have some fun.

MYTH: Guests always want the lowest price? Luckily, there are many types of specialty lodging properties making an apples to apples comparison difficult. Our S2D2 manual algorithm sets the right price and our creative advertising makes it all work.

MYTH: Guests are difficult to deal with? The vast majority of guests who stay in vacation rentals, small inns and resorts are respectful. Gotta be 99%. But careful managers make lots of contingencies just in case they have to deal people who don't behave property.

MYTH: Expensive websites like VRBO, Expedia, AirBnB can be avoided? Yes and no. We publish dozens of websites and combine them with email blasts, classified websites, search engines, and more for excellent results. But nah, it is essential to be on every lodging websites like all those big ones, and hundreds of others. Other managers do far less and lose out.

MYTH: Big is beautiful in lodging? Starting with vacation rentals, and then with specialty room rentals, the industry has been turned on its head. Admit it, you too want something unique. We were in early with technology, knowledge and staff so we move faster and more assuredly than anyone else. Even those big buggers.

MYTH: Big national brands will dominate? Guests want local connections, unusual properties and the same hosts to agree them for years. All locations in our network, are individually operated. We call them locally branded which builds business long term for property owners. Guests keep coming back.

MYTH: Housekeeping is difficult? OK, that one is correct for our competitors. But we pay people well, train them repeatedly and treat them like the royalty they are. Our people work incessantly and stay with us for the long haul. That is how we succeed while others fail.

MYTH: There are many experts in lodging? Pundits are everywhere, but this is a business of lists. Manager who know all the steps and work incessantly to execute precisely get the best results. Oh, that's us.

MYTH: Rent-by-Owners save money? Research shows that the average home owner spends 8-10 hours per week trying to compete. All get bookings but most work twice as hard for half as much. Why?

MYTH: Lodging Management is easy? Most would say no. We can't say its always smooth sailing, but that's the goal. Hire great people, train them, collaborate, pay well, study, organize, and work diligently and we find its easier and more productive than the competitors.

Funny how hard work always wins out.

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PROFILE: Tonya Reynolds proves that those who serve us in the military have hidden skills and a get-it-done attitude that few can match. She helps with housekeeping, is 100% reliable and has taken on everything else we could throw at her. We are lucky to have her.

Author: Wm. May, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0545 – 04/30/17

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com