THINKING OUT LOUD
During a self-imposed (read: money-making)“sabbatical” that has extended to several months, I’ve been watching and listening rather than posting. With a little distance, I find I’m more than a little confounded by how the vacation rental market is growing. Is it just me?
The consolidation—what I call the Hotels.com-izing—of the vacation rental industry lumbers awkwardly along. The monster site seems to get more ungainly with every smaller site it gobbles up, which strikes me as kind of sad. Because the defining feature of a vacation rental vs. a hotel or B&B is its uniqueness. No two vacation homes are alike! That’s a beautiful thing in this world of chain retailers and copycat brands. One uber-site may be more efficient, but is it the most effective way to promote the singular charm of your vacation home?
And why has the media stuck on the same old two-note praise of vacation homes for trips to Europe and for families? Can’t we all tell them new stories—direct from your own guest books—about vacation homes as perfect places to celebrate romantic milestones or quiet babymoons, to reconnect with old friends or even work through grief?
And why are we trampling on our brilliant prospects with negative sites like Vacation Rentals Watchdog.com without launching an equal number of positive sites? Certainly, bad experiences happen! But do they truly exceed the norm across all types of accommodations—or outweigh the good experiences?
I guess my point is, we’ve got something truly exceptional in this young industry. Let’s not let the dog (whether it be the big site or the media) wag us by just going along with the prescribed program. Let’s look for ways to celebrate the personal style—the heart—that distinguishes us from any of our competitors.
One very cool site called Slow Travel has gotten fabulous press for the way it embraces that lifestyle concept of “slow travel”.
I launched my series of e-guidebooks called Renting Paradise to review vacation rentals I hand-picked for their unique charm. I separated these homes from the pack, not they are the best. But because each is exceptional on its own merits.
More owners are blogging. Bravo!
Let’s not be afraid to be individuals. Then maybe we can all figure out the best way to shine together.