Bill's Bountiful Blog

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

VacationRentals.ws - Lodging Newsletter May 20th, 2009

By William May
Published: 05/20/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter Comments: 0

If banks can pass the stress test, maybe you can too ! Had a little fender bender the other day. Guy jumped out of his car and ran up screaming, "I'm not happy." So I said, "OK, which one are you?"

Wm. May & Penny Taylor
Sunspot Inns, Resorts & Vacation Rentals

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

ONLINE BLOCKING:
If you haven't already, remember you can now go to Sunspots.info and Block out your own dates, or un-block them. Just login using your user name and password and go to the Owner Calendar. Remember that the Owner calendar shows far more detail than the calendar guests are allowed to see. For example, you can tell the difference between a guest booking and your own bookings. If you don't remember you login just give us a call.

VRMLS & VACATIONRENTALS.WS
These websites went live last 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 www.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:
First Videos are up and ready to view. The format is going to evolve but for now more people can see more about each property.
www.ViaKachess.com
www.MaxGetaway.com
www.Central-Chalet.com

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0110 – 05/20/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

ResortQuest.com - Lodging Newsletter April 18th, 2009

By William May
Published: 04/18/09 Topics: Lodging Newsletter, Newsletter, Vacation Rental Management Comments: 0

ECONOMY UPDATE:
Yes the economy is affecting luxury travel like Vacation Rentals. Some markets are getting hit harder than others. From our perspective the biggest challenge in predictability. Guests seem to be booking more last-minute but the inquiries keep coming. With a bit of luck, more 12 hour days and our continued marketing expansion we hope to get every owner the maximum bookings possible. Only time will tell.

RESORTQUEST:
We continue to take new marketing steps. With enough inquiries we'll get enough bookings. Attached is a Press Release. We have entered into a marketing agreement with Resort Quest and this will mean exposure on their website www.ResortQuest.com. This is a nice honor. We are the only firm in the State of Washington to be invited.

Attached - - ResortQuest Press Release.

PACIFIC GUEST SUITES:
This company has been doing medium to longer term rentals for corporate stays and now we have partnered up with them to do short-term stays in their facilities. And they have first class condos in downtown Seattle and elsewhere around Puget Sound. This is a growing area.

VRMLS & VACATIONRENTALS.WS
Work continues on our project for the first Multiple-Listing-Service (MLS) for vacation rentals. Its an bland websites with a big purpose - a central place where all vacation rentals can be listed for easy distribution to advertising websites. You can see it at www.VRMLS.org.

The first trial website is in Beta testing at www.VacationRentals.ws (The WS is for Washington State !). Yes you'll find typos and the data is for test purpose, but all Sunspot owners and properties are listed for free. Once launched we are aiming for 1,000 rentals around the state. And then our other national sites will start coming on line.

TRADEWIND REALTY
On Kauai, we have partnered up with Teresa Daher and Tradewind Realty. She has been a leading agent on Kauai for years handling sales and property management. Now she is taking over our portfolio and adding her own.

SECRET NEWS
And we have some other major announcements coming. Thanks to Penny, Lynnette, Joseph, Collin, Dan, Tyrone and Amber in the main office for all the fast and furious work they are doing. And to the local staffs for pushing through the winter. Summer is rushing up on us.

Wm. May
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 #: 0108 – 04/18/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Lodging Newsletter February 20, 2009

By William May
Published: 04/18/09 Topics: Newsletter Comments: 0

ECONOMY UPDATE:

Yes the economy is affecting luxury travel like Vacation Rentals. Some markets are getting hit harder than others. From our perspective the biggest challenge in predictability. Guests seem to be booking more last-minute but the inquiries keep coming. With a bit of luck, more 12 hour days and our continued marketing expansion we hope to get every owner the maximum bookings possible. Only time will tell.

RESORTQUEST:

We continue to take new marketing steps. With enough inquiries we’ll get enough bookings. Attached is a Press Release. We have entered into a marketing agreement with Resort Quest and this will mean exposure on their website www.ResortQuest.com. This is a nice honor. We are the only firm in the State of Washington to be invited.

Attached - - ResortQuest Press Release.

PACIFIC GUEST SUITES:

This company has been doing medium to longer term rentals for corporate stays and now we have partnered up with them to do short-term stays in their facilities. And they have first class condos in downtown Seattle and elsewhere around Puget Sound. This is a growing area.

VRMLS & VACATIONRENTALS.WS

Work continues on our project for the first Multiple-Listing-Service (MLS) for vacation rentals. Its an bland websites with a big purpose - a central place where all vacation rentals can be listed for easy distribution to advertising websites. You can see it at www.VRMLS.org.

The first trial website is in Beta testing at www.VacationRentals.ws (The WS is for Washington State !). Yes you’ll find typos and the data is for test purpose, but all Sunspot owners and properties are listed for free. Once launched we are aiming for 1,000 rentals around the state. And then our other national sites will start coming on line.

TRADEWIND REALTY

On Kauai, we have partnered up with Teresa Daher and Tradewind Realty. She has been a leading agent on Kauai for years handling sales and property management. Now she is taking over our portfolio and adding her own.

SECRET NEWS

And we have some other major announcements coming. Thanks to Penny, Lynnette, Joseph, Collin, Dan, Tyrone and Amber in the main office for all the fast and furious work they are doing. And to the local staffs for pushing through the winter. Summer is rushing up on us.

Wm. May
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 #: 0861 – 04/18/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Hello Blog. Goodbye Newsletters.- Lodging Newsletter January 10, 2009

By William May
Published: 01/10/09 Topics: Newsletter Comments: 0

After years of writing newsletters I've succumbed to writing a blog. Not sure what the difference is - we've been posting newsletters online years ago- as well as emailing them and, in fact, snail mailing them years ago.

What better way to keep in touch with all those people I should keep in touch with. So that is my promise to tell you things you'll want to know about Sunspot Inns, Resorts and Vacation Rentals in specific and about Vacation Rentals and even Lodging in particular.

I'll announce our cool new rentals as they come in. And our new offices and network members as our company continues to grow. Like Poipu Beach and Princeville Kauai in Hawaii. Plus Lake Chelan, Crescent Bar, Sunbanks Resorts, Gig Harbor, Whidbey Island and the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth in Washington State.

I would be remiss if I didn't mentioned we are recruiting agents, professionals and property managers in multiple markets right now. If you want to own your own business, live in a desirable recreation market and grow in our dynamic industry, please give us a call. We are recruiting and training new network members particularly in the Northwest States and Hawaii too.,

And I suppose I should tip you off to the specials, discounts and promotions we offer. In fact right now we're having our annual pre-season sale. You can get two weeks for the price of two in many homes. A big discount in Hawaii. And right now always best pick of dates before the spring rush.

In fact, I guess I better be going. If I don't book my own place before you do I wont have first pick will I? Oh, and by the way, happy new years from all your friends at Sunspot Inns, Resorts and Vacations rentals. You can preview homes and book online at (sunspotresorts.com)sunspotresorts.com. Or give us a call at any time to book 888-628-8989.

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Author: William May, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0093 – 01/10/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com