Bill's Bountiful Blog

Oh No, Mount Rainier Has Disappeared

By William May
Published: 04/15/12 Topics: Mount Rainier WA, Vacation Comments: 0

It is always there on the horizon when I drive to work - jutting majestically into the air. It’s white year round, sometimes with a puff of clouds around the top, like a celestial halo.

But, this morning I looked and Mt. Rainier had simply disappeared. Gone.

Slamming on the brakes I pulled over and stared. How could our state’s defining symbol of white mountains, green forests and sparkling beauty just vanish?

Thirty years ago the same thing kind of happened. It was a glorious sunny Sunday. We had heard rumors that Mount Saint Helens was rumbling. Some scientists said an eruption was imminent, but many others thought it was just another false alarm because the current inhabitants of the Northwest hadn’t seen anything more than a puff of steam from any of our volcanos in living memory.

As I flicked on the radio in the car, the announcer said, "This is it, This is the big one. Mount Saint Helens is blowing its’ top." Even from 100 miles away, in downtown Seattle, a massive smoke plume was visible jutting a hundred thousand feet into the air.

A quick drive to the water tower on Seattle’s Capital Hill, allowed me to climb up a hundred steps to the highest point in the city, and peak out the slender windows. The view was even more impressive. It looked like a fast flow smoke stack and yet it was a monstrous mountain and, due to scale, it was far bigger than anything a factory could create.

We have since forgotten the ash that covered many states and even blanketed Seattle and Portland, Oregon. We have forgotten the television coverage of massive destruction and loss of life. The heroic stories of volcanologists and local residents have faded.

And now, this very morning, the same thing seemed to be happening with Mount Rainier. Except this time there was no smoke, no steam and no rumbling. As with that day Mount Saint Helens erupted, the weather was clear, the skies were blue and yet - Mount Rainier was simply gone.

I flipped on the car radio, but this time there was no excited announcer with no mention at all. On the television, there was no announcements. And, in the newspaper, there was no story. On the internet, there was nothing. It seems the city, the state and the entire world had forgotten that Mount Rainier was ever there.

Native Americans revered the "Mount Tahoma" as the mountain that was God. To the first white settler’s, the mountain was the beacon they first saw when traveling overland to the Northwest or when having arrived by ship. Its’ presence was difficult to ignore as it dominated the landscape. They knew there were arriving when they first glimpsed at the monstrous mountain and its’ glistening mantle of snow and ice.

So how, after all of these years, could Northwest occupants simply forget about Mount Rainier? Established as a national park in 1899, still 97% of the park remains in its natural state. For a century, traveling to the Mount Rainier area was the highlight of a summer vacation. Families came for extended stays and skiing its’ slopes was a highly desirable getaway.

Crowds traveled first by horse and buggy, and later by automobile to see the wonders of nature. They swamped the campgrounds, crowded the roads to Paradise on the mountain’s Southwest shoulder and to Sunrise on the Northeast. In early summer, massive fields of wildflowers took away the breath of visitors of all ages and all races. Some feel the hand of God here.

So, how had apathy caused Mount Rainier to disappear? Today, visitors flock to other Northwest destinations where they can run their ski boats, listen to loudly amplified music and stroll the streets of franchised stores. Professional advertising successfully entices families to visit freeway resorts complete with high priced meals, pricey gift shops and many man made waterfalls also known as water parks.

Visitors have somehow been convinced to find other places to have today’s version of fun where activity outweighs nature. Or have they?

Although, the number of visitors to Mount Rainier has shrunk over the years, t the count is not altogether insignificant. And, the grandeur of the mountain, forest and rivers remains. Visitors who remember to find Mount Rainier are rewarded with the view of wildlife, flora, glaciers and magnificent old growth forests. In the grove of the patriarchs, massive trees stand mute and unassuming. The silence is deafening and stunning.

Villages and towns like Ashford, Enumclaw, Greenwater, Morton and Packwood have charming accommodations. You may not think that the city air is bad, until you arise early one morning, throw open your door and are overcome with the fresh smell of flowers and evergreen trees.

Unlike man made resorts, Mount Rainier is a bargain. Staying at a hotel, cottage, cabin or bed and breakfast can be a special experience. Dining can be rustic and astoundingly affordable. Park fees are low and you can set your own schedule to visit for a day, a weekend, week or even longer.

The children in your family will giggle in laughter visiting the snowy fields, romping in the meadows and wading in the streams. Everyone will enjoy re-discovering that Mount Rainier is still there, still pristine and still beckoning with beauty, enjoyment and relaxation. You can bring Mount Rainier back to life.

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To rediscover Mount Rainier visit www.VisitRainier.com and finding handy lodging at www.MountRainierVacationRentals.com sponsored by the Vacation Rental Association.

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Author: William May, Plumbob Publishing
Blog #: 0209 – 04/15/12

Sponsor: MountRainier.com – Every shop, restaurant, lodge and vacation rental around the entire mountain. Ashford, Packwood, Greenwater, Morton, Eatonville, Carbonado & Enumclaw. Book a stay instantly online.

The Love of Work Well Done

By Wm. May
Published: 05/24/11 Topics: Comments: 0

Dad was a very quiet soft spoken guy who ran a truck dealership (kinda of like a car dealership). His customers loved him, his employees loved him, and no one ever quit. He grew up on a wind-swept ranch in North Dakota, went off to war and took care of his family every day thereafter.

Exactly fifty years ago, at the age of fifteen, a buddy and I helped him move to a new building and set up all of the shelving and equipment. He was so proud. That time frame seems impossible, except Dad departed this earth over 20 years ago.

After all those years, and on a whim, I recently stopped into the truck shop, and it was as if he had never left.

As I walked in, I must not have looked like the usual trucker because several parts men gave me the long look. One came out and said, "May I help you?"

I said, "Oh no, I was just looking around at the shop that I helped my Dad set up 50 years ago. And with that, he literally jumped up and down and said, "You must be Dick May's son. Hey everybody, Dick's son is here."

Although Dad retired from that store over 40 years ago, people came running and soon all work had stopped while the entire crew told me stories I had not heard. About his always positive attitude, his constant smile and his encyclopedic knowledge of everything truck. Some had never met me, but all knew the stories as if they knew him.

In return, I told them of how all those years ago when I was helping my Dad set up the store--worried about its future--that I had asked him, "Dad, how are you ever going to compete with Eckerts." Eckerts Truck Shop was the big dog competitor in town.

As usual, Dad just smiled slightly, looked around to make sure no one else could hear, kind of held his breath, looked both ways again, bent over slightly and then whispered,

"Well Billy boy, here is how it is. Here is how I see it."

"Number one, I am fairly sure I can out think them."

"But number two, I am 100% absolutely sure I can out work them."

The love of work, the love of work well done, was my Dad's secret weapon.

It was only a few years after he uttered those words (that I have now repeated hundreds of times,) that the Eckerts closed shop.

Dad's business became every trucker's favorite place to buy parts, get their rigs serviced or just stop in for coffee and see that smile, a smile that is still remembered 40 years later.

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Author: Wm. May – Truck Lover, MayPartners
Blog #: 0522 – 05/24/11

Eight Days A Week - Lodging Newsletter August 31st, 2010

By William May
Published: 09/02/10 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

With summer on the way out, its time to drop a line with updates. We hope everyone had a great summer. Overall it has taken extra effort, longer hours and I thank all our great staff and contractors for pushing so hard. We are already working on Autumn, Winter and beyond.

Eight Days a Week - We can’t match that famous Beatles song where the “mop tops” worked eight days a week but when the recession started we expanded reservation phones to 8am-8pm seven days a week, and we’re still at it. We also have a 24 hour a day emergency operator service for those pesky, can’t wait until tomorrow, issues. There is a charge for non-essential calls but no charge for essential needs. (Sorry, we gotta sleep sometime!)

Marketing & Advertising - - Over the past few years we have tripled our advertising and it seems to have helped. Most money goes to lodging and vacation rental websites. We also spend heavily on search engine ads like Google and Bing. And some travel publications, Chambers and Tourism Groups.

Guest Inquiries - - Our phones are pretty active most days, with the 8am-10am and 5pm to 8pm hours being the busiest. We can detect specific increases when ads run and we distribute spending proportionately between the geographic areas.

Owner Website - - A reminder that we have an extensive online service for Property Owners and Wholesalers including calendars, private newsletters and documents. When you call or book online, you should receive an email notice. So, if you don’t get a confirmation within a few hours, please call right away to double check..

New Members - - As new members join the Sunspots Network it allows us to advertise wider and offer more services. Here are some of our new destinations and partners.

- Tamara Hall - - MountRainierSunspots.com including the Crystal Mountain Ski Area.

- Roni Garten - - (ChateauTimberline.com)ChateauTimberline.com on the south side of Mount Rainier Washington.

- Thomas Wolter - - (SnoqulamiePassSunspots.com)SnoqulamiePassSunspots.com and (HoodCanalSunspots.com)HoodCanalSunspots.com. Both in Washington State.

- Lloyd Linton - - (PuertoRicoSunspots.com)PuertoRicoSunspots.com. Our first office in the Caribbean.

Existing Locations - - We continue to put lots of effort into the existing locations. In Washington more guests are booking last minute. Bookings in Hawaii seem to be directly related to the up and down of airfare. Several new airlines and flights have been added directly to Kauai and we hope that brings lower rates.

Internet - Some years ago we started the not-for-profit Vacation Rental Association (Vrai.org). A year ago we finished the world’s first multiple listing service for Vacation Rentals at( VRMLS.org) VRMLS.org for VRA, that allows us to create ad websites in geographic locations such as (WashingtonStateVacationRentals.com)WashingtonStateVacationRentals.com. Plus sites like (MountRainierVacationRentals.com)MountRainierVacationRentals.com and (PuertoRicanVacationRentals.com)PuertoRicanVacationRentals.com. There is a long complete list at (SunspotPlaces.com)SunspotPlaces.com.

Personnel News - - Joseph Romain, our crack HDR photographer has also taken on the role of Website creator. He works with Salman Arshad and Ozair Khalid who have built all our software and websites. Collin May has relocated back to Seattle, works in Reservations and is coordinating new inventory setups.

Central Office Move - - We sold our office building sometime ago and will be relocating shortly, you’ll get an announcement later. The PO Box mailing address, phones, email addresses and websites will stay the same.

Sincerely, William May & Penny Taylor

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0165 – 09/02/10

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

The News Raise Hell - Lodging Newsletter November 1st, 2009

By William May
Published: 11/01/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

Sometimes it is nice to see your name in the media and sometimes it is not.

As the volunteer Director of the Vacation Rental Association (VRA) I receive calls from media all over the country. Speaking with most reporters reminds me of sitting in Journalism class while pursuing my college degree in Communications from Washington State University all those years ago.

The Communications Department is now named after Edward R. Murrow the CBS television journalist made famous for his broadcasts from London during the Blitzkriegs of World War II. Murrow is idolized by virtually every professional well meaning journalism student for his strength in exposing the McCarthy era Communist witch hunts of the 1950's.

Murrow didn't go after destroying every small business person or government bureaucrat he could intimidate. In fact, I'm pretty sure he would be embarrassed by the state of some current news organizations who have nothing better to do than harass small businesses and well meaning companies.

Instead, Murrow focused on those very few evil and bad will people who seem intent to do harm to others. His ethics were sound unlike those of many reports in conventional media today.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying, 'Freedom of the press is reserved for those who own one." That powerful statement warns citizens about the power of the press. And it encourages them to resist over zealous journalism by fighting fire with fire.

Franklin's thought was the rule from the American Revolution until very recently. Today every person on the planet with a computer with an internet connection has the opportunity print their thoughts and stories on line.

While much of that information is flawed, biased and selfish, there is hope this new age of unlimited visibility may level the playing field between laymen and reporters.

For too long reporters with little proper training, no adherence to ethical principals, insufficient time to examine both sides of a story and, frankly, a dangerous casual disregard for the position of others have begun to pop up in main stream newspaper and broadcast organizations and not just in odd-ball print publications.

It is really too bad. Bad for everyone. For those who slander others. And for those who believe such lies without questioning the integrity of the writer.

But the internet is good because now those conventional media reporters themselves can become targets of probes from anyone with a computer, video camera and website. They find out what he feels to be parenthetically stripped searched and exposed to the world for any failing real or imagined.

TODAY'S WRITERS

It is good news to know that there still exists today a legion of journalists who hold true to the principals of Ed Murrow, Walter Cronkite and other greats. But sadly, the quest for ratings, notoriety and ever declining newspaper readership and broadcast audience has forced conventional media managers to hire folks simply not equipped to cautiously handle the immense public-opinion power they are given.

In 1861, Wilbur F. Story, Editor of the Chicago Times said, "It is a newspaper's duty to print the news, and raise hell." This quote, or something pretty darn close, has also been frequently attributed to Mark Twain.

In that regard we could consider unethical reporters a success.

Unfortunately they have focused on the raising hell part because it’s a lot easier than digging for information, being factual and attempting to report accurately.

They seek out stories to bolster their resume and inflate their own egos. Unfortunately that is done by spewing innuendo, falsifying the facts and not even pretending to pursue a neutral reporting stance.

The difference between Mark Twain and so many current writers is that Twain knew the difference between when he was reporting the news and when he was writing fiction. (Pretty good darn fiction too, most folks say.)

That is not true of the vast majority of folks, with little training or great thinking, who can blog away at all hours of the day and for page after page about every conceivable subject from the lurid to the boring.

Citizen journalists however can be forgiven because they haven't studied the craft nor been entrusted with the

public airwaves or widely read print media. They are kind of like people with gun's who have only seen them on TV.

What may seem glamorous in a scripted made-for-TV war movie is, as any soldier will tell you, a pretty great place to have a gun turn you into blood and guts and death. So these writers know little of the damage they can cause.

Educated journalists on the other hand know better.

A look at online bio's for reporters shows that most have some form of degree in journalism, broadcast or some similar line of study. Unless colleges have changed radically in recent years I know there are well-meaning, well-trained and ethical professors who care deeply about teaching students to research facts, evaluate testimony, and attempt to provide a seemingly unbiased version of the news.

These colleges turn out a great many skilled and well meaning reporters. Like any industry where participants willingly agree to pursue big money, big fame and fan worship (think of sports here) journalists can fall victim to the lure of the game.

You only have to travel from town to town watching sportscasts to admit that all home-town sports reporters are sporting the home-town at the expense of pretty much every other town. Perhaps with sports that should not be concern - after all no one gets killed in sports and even drug-taking athletes can get back in the good graces of fans if they repent.

PROCLAIMING THEIR BIAS:

Consumer advocate journalists are the next category of reporters to fall under the spell of self-aggrandizement. They openly admit they are here to "fight for consumers". No where in their diatribes do they promise to care if the consumer is correct or accurate. Never do they check out the reputation of the consumer.

Instead, they start with the bias the "consumer is always right."

That is tantamount to saying that in a divorce, the "Husband is always right." Society has learned there are seldom absolutes like that and anyone with sufficient education or self-thought knows better.

A good reporter’s job is not to become the story. But to report it fairly. Those who take delight in chasing people down the street, jumping on employees, demanding meetings with people they have never met or and making life hell for other people so he can print a dishonest and disreputable story have sunk to the lowest level.

If a reporter has to big, ugly, ineloquent, rude and obnoxious to get a story, then he is making the story instead of finding one. There will always be consumers who fall for everything, but to fool them into believing a story because of such tactics should be objectionable to all involved.

Naturally creating a story is a lot easier than investing the time necessary to locate a story, determine if it is legitimate and gathering sufficient fact to determine if the story is true and worth of the reader or viewers time. But being lazy should not be a substitute for destroying the honor that Murrow and prior practitioners brought to the craft of news.

Oh and about our own self-aggrandizement here are a couple of stories you might like. Unlike those reporters who need a story before 5pm everyday, we didn't solicit the inclusions or intimidate anyone to get included.

Go to www.WashingtonPost.com and search for "Andrea Sachs" Reporter and "Vacation Rental".

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0114 – 11/01/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Everyting In Kindergarten - Lodging Newsletter October 1st, 2009

By William May
Published: 10/01/09 Topics: Education, Kindness, Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter, Reputation Comments: 0

I stumbled onto an Internet posting the other day that told me it has been twenty years since Robert Fulgham wrote "Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned in kindergarten."

That is stunning really because it does, as they say, seem like yesterday. Of course I've read some of his other books and now that I've visited his website (RobertFulgrham.com)RobertFulgrham.com I see there are others I will have to savor. So should you.

After 22 years as a Unitarian Minister in the Pacific Northwest, Fulgham publisher that first book and has never looked back. His view of the world is pretty simple or so it seems. As the world accelerates and technology dominates Fulgham would remind us of the basic, appropriate and mature.

Although his mature might strike some as youngish or maybe even immature, the stories and ideas he illustrates so well are the basic foundation on which we as humans should strive.

So what would all of this have to do with the somewhat non-universal industry of vacation rentals? Well plenty as it seems. Or maybe I should say it has to do with every business, every career and certainly every calling.

The kindergarten book reminds us all the foster those concepts which are universal in every culture. Things like:

- Don't lie. Always tell the truth.
- Don't hit.
- Treat your parents well
- Pick up after yourself.
- Say Please and Thank You.

To me it seems like Fulgham’s message might be summed up in the phrase "treat everyone well" or at least try.

I am not sure I have always accomplished that goal but I know I ham always aware of it and have always tried. I also know that isn't easy when conflict exists in the world, as it inevitably does. Nor is it easy when others might try to bring you down to their level. An acquaintance who becomes distraught, a customer who is unreasonable or even governmental bureaucrats who steal more and more freedom from Americans.

It would be easy to despise such people but in the end, we have to remember to treat them well also. If even that respect will not be reciprocal.

VACATION RENTALS & LODGING

So is there anything practical in this blog? Yes I assure you there is. Here are a set of rules for how we conduct our business in hopes that guests, owners and vendors will treat us likewise.

- Be Clear. In advertising, contracts, phone calls, emails.

- Be fair. It can be difficult to understand unreasonable request, but we gotta keep trying.

- Be Quick. Get back to people. Take care of problems as fast as possible.

- Be Happy. No job is easy and half the job is simply deciding to go about it with joy.

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0116 – 10/01/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Mandatory Advertising - Lodging Newsletter July 23rd, 2009

By William May
Published: 07/24/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

We can not believe July is almost over. And the good news is that the number of email, website and telephone inquiries seems back to normal. Maybe people are loosening up or maybe its all the advertising we're doing.

Sorry this blog is a little long. It is our goal to write you more often but shorter, to make them easy to read.

 

William May & Penny Taylor

Sunspot Inns, Resorts & Vacation Rentals

=========================

ADVERTISING:

We have finished some updates to our automated/mandatory advertising system that allows us to post more ads faster and on a property by property basis. We have a full time person doing nothing but that. Some ads are even free but they all take 10 to 60 minutes post so this is an ongoing job. In today's economy there is no limit to the amount of advertising that is needed.

EXTENDED HOURS:

Did you know, that Reservations phones are now open 9am to 9pm everyday. (OK, we'll probably take Christmas off). The business office is still 9am to 5pm. But we do have an 24-7 after hours operator for emergencies.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION:

Do you use Expedia.com, Travelocity.com or similar website to book hotels and airfare? Those are referred to as Online Travel Agencies (OTA) and getting private homes listed on them is problematic. But we have been pushing through the hurdles and have getting them up one by one. The first are now appearing as:

In Leavenworth, WA

- Amadeus Inn

- Alpine Village

- Vagnerhaus

Next up will be - In Ocean Shores, WA

- Pacific Surf Condos

- Ocean Surf Condos

And we are working on all multi-unit units and then individual homes. the GDS is just another channel but we are already receiving orders that would not have come in previously. Let's home this is another increment in building revenue.

OCEAN SHORES:

We have partnered with folks at Ocean Shores, Washington to offer rentals in that area and north. The Press Release is attached. And remember Owners get a discount on rentals in other locations. Is it time to visit the beach? Take a look at www.OceanShoresSunspots.com.

WESTPORT:

And we are officially opening in Westport Today. Collin May, esteemed nephew and veteran of the Central Reservations Department, will be heading up the charge. (He has also taking a basketball coaching position at Grays Harbor College for his spare time!) We are now adding properties and you will be able to see the first ones at www.WestportSunspots.com.

ONLINE BOOKINGS:

Our ace programmer Salman Arshad just completed installation of our Payment Plan system into our online booking. This system is built into the proprietary back-office phone reservation system and allows guests to pay part now and the rest later if they are booking months in advance. This has become necessary in the business and now it displays automatically online.

This is very sophisticated programming and will increase online bookings. This is functional on SunspotResorts.com and all State, Destination, Location, Resort and Building websites. Here are a few to see:

www.SeattleSunspots.com

www.ChelanSunspots.com

www.PoipuKai.com

Oh and we're even using them for very specific venues such as www.GorgeVacationRentals.com

DETAILS: If you know of property owners who would like to receive the Sunspots owner Blog, please let us know. If you would like to cease getting them, just reply to this email.

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0112 – 07/24/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

LuxuryRealEstate.com - Lodging Newsletter May 12th, 2009

By William May
Published: 07/04/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

SUMMER IS COMING:
Finally we are seeing nice increases in inquiries for the summer. This is later than usual but most in our industry thing the latent demand will result in decent summer occupancy anyway. We continue to post additional ads for all destinations and units.

LUXURYREALESTATE.COM:
We had an opportunity to meet with the members of LuxuryRealEstate.com which is most visited website for Luxury Vacation Rentals in the world. They also publish Who's who in Luxury Real Estate and numerous magazines. The organization has 1,000 of the top luxury residential real estate brokers in the world. This was their annual US conference and I'm hoping they'll invite us for their European conference in Autumn!
A copy of our little Press Release is attached.

VRMA - Washington State:
We attended the bi-annual meeting of the Washington State Vacation Rental Managers Association here in Seattle. Always great to share ideas with other managers. Plus we presented the VacationRentals.ws website mentioned below.

VRMLS & VACATIONRENTALS.WS
These websites went live this week and were presented again to the Washington State Vacation Rental Managers Association. VRMLS is a separate project from Sunspots and operated under our Plumbob Publishing banner. All Sunspot Owners are listed on the ()VacationRentals.ws website and we'll be producing similar sites in other markets across the US. Plus we'll have international sites such as www.VacationRentalCentral.com (not open yet)

VIDEOS:
We got in the latest version of our three test Vacation Rental Videos this week and the final version will be done along with some improvements in a week or so. Once perfected, we'll be out shooting all the homes and doing travel logs of every destination.

Wm. May & Penny Taylor
Sunspot Inns, Resorts & Vacation Rentals
Voice: 888-628-8989 x902
Email: William@Sunspots.info

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0111 – 07/04/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Online Bookings - Lodging Newsletter July 2nd, 2009

By William May
Published: 07/01/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

We can't believe the 4th of July is upon us. And the good news the number of email, website and telephone inquiries seems back to normal. Maybe people are loosening up or maybe its all the advertising we're doing.

William May & Penny Taylor
Sunspot Inns, Resorts & Vacation Rentals

ADVERTISING:
We have finished some updates to our automated/mandatory advertising system that allows us to post more ads faster and on a property by property basis. We have a full time person doing nothing but that. Some ads are even free but they all take 10 to 60 minutes post so this is an ongoing job. In today's economy there is no limit to the amount of advertising that is needed.

OCEAN SHORES:
We have partnered with folks at Ocean Shores, Washington to offer rentals in that area and north. The Press Release is attached. And remember Owners get a discount on rentals in other locations. Is it time to visit the beach? Take a look at www.OceanShoresSunspots.com.

WESTPORT:
And we are officially opening in Westport Today. Collin May, esteemed nephew and veteran of the Central Reservations Department, will be heading up the charge. (He has also taking a basketball coaching position at Grays Harbor College for his spare time!) We are now adding properties and offering the first ones at www.WestportSunspots.com.

ONLINE BOOKINGS:
Our ace programmer Salman Arshad just completed installation of our Payment Plan system into our online booking. This system is built into the proprietary back-office phone reservation system and allows guests to pay part now and the rest later if they are booking months in advance. This has become necessary in the business and now it displays automatically online.
This is very sophisticated programming and will increase online bookings. Sunspots.info is working and all destination websites and individual property websites will have it online by next week. No one else has anything like it. Let's cross our fingers.

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0107 – 07/01/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com