We Predict - Lodging Newsletter August 31, 2022

By Wm, May
Published: 08/31/22 Topics: Comments: 0

Can you believe it has been 1,000 days since Covid-19 erupted? And every vacation rental owner continues to ask, "What is the future?"

Our first office opened in 1964 and many staffers have been in the industry for decades. Well before Covid, we remember the 2008 real estate depression, the 9-11 tragedy, periodic bouts of inflation, and the effect of outrageously high interest rates. Dare I say, some of us even remember how the 1980 Mount Saint Helens eruption shut down the Northwest United States.

But we have always lived by the old slogan, "Be Prepared." And that allowed us to walk through the Covid shutdown, and then to sprint as guests came rushing back, when they realized they could still "get away" by renting a private home.

Since then, there have been fits and starts, with quarantines, vaccines helping, and variants intervening. Then, travelers realizing they could work from home or a rental home! But now, employers are demanding employees return to the office.

Twenty years ago, only 10% of the public had ever stayed in a vacation rental home. Over two decades, by 2019, the market share grew to 40% percent. But since Covid, the share has jumped up to 60% percent. An astounding growth of 50% in just two years.

But the number of homes available to rent has also exploded as interest rates plunged. The desire to own a second home has always been strong and the lure of having guests pay for it draws in an ever-increasing number of property buyers.

A thousand days ago, everyone in the world had to learn that the future is "Unpredictable." So what can be predicted? In this month's newsletter we brag about just a few of them:

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Eat desert future, the future is unpredictable. The economy, inflation, gas prices, more rental homes, and employees returning to the office, are impacting vacation rentals. And yet we can predict these things for sure:

At 2am a guest will call demanding help operating the TV remote control.

When guests get locked up, we'll drive out to help them get in.

When VRBO, AirBnB or the others change the rules yet again, we'll adapt.

When Visa tries to grant an unearned credit, we'll get it reversed.

When snowstorms block roads, we'll listen to guests cuss us out for it.

We will answer hundreds of phone calls about where the nearest bar is.

Garbage will be toted away. How can they eat AND drink so much?

Hundreds of booking websites will be built for every vacation home.

Thousands of miles will be driven to HDR photograph homes year round.

Drones will fly, 3D Cameras will turn, and Floor Plans will be designed.

Staff will climb on roofs to sweep away limbs from storms.

Massive sums will be collected in taxes and carefully sent to the Giovanna.

Experts will evaluate the 100,000 fresh competitive rates we import each morning.

Our S2D2 algorithm will parse rates to get maximum occupancy and income for owners.

Staff training and collaboration will continue. Which is why they earn nice tips.

When electricity goes out in the area, we will politely explain there is nothing we can do.

Guests will sob on the phone when warned to evacuate due to a forest fire.

We will wash thousands of towels, sheets and pillow cases.

Bookings will be audited, accounted for and statements issued accurately.

Phones will get answered every day of the year. The help desk will help.

Staff members will work every weekend and every holiday.

Our proprietary software will generate millions for property owners.

Our Esignature system will remind guests that there are rules.

Maintenance staff will get dispatched for instant service.

Staff will bustle to clean when guests depart late and arrive early.

A few guests will try to extort discounts when it rains.

And forgive me for saying - - -

Yards will be patrolled to pickup dodo from guests' best friends.

Floors, covered with sand and xbdwx! will be mopped.

We will scrape poop off of hundreds of toilets.

And sometimes off linens when youngsters have an accident.

And sometimes from places you don't want to know.

But luckily - - -

Owners will compliment field staff. And thank the help desk.

Owners will bank the extra money we send them.

And we will continue to love being hospitable.

Author: Wm, May, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0921 – 08/31/22

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com