The 25th Annual Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) Conference is later this week at the OmniShoreham Hotel in Washington D.C.  For those of you attending as either exhibitors or non-exibitors, we look forward to seeing you.  Visit The Society’s booth to get up to speed on the initiatives we’ve put forth for vacation rental managers looking to increase exposure, inquiries and bookings from a qualified, luxury clientele.

It is not too late to register.  Online registration is available until tomorrow, 10/21/09.

The conference runs from 10/24 - 10/28.

Visit VRMA’s event page for more details and to sign up.

See you in D.C.!

As vacation home rental managers, we all face a unique set of challenges on a daily basis from the individuality of our inventory to competition from VRBOs to the unprecedented increase in supply and decrease in demand concerning vacation home rentals.

TheSociety.com is proud to be affiliated with VRMA which represents over 600 property management and associate members in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, representing approximately 150,000 vacation rental homes, condos and villas. VRMA members represent the leading vacation rental management firms in North America.

The 25th Annual Conference is scheduled for later this month in Washington D.C. The annual meeting is one of the most important and educational opportunities you can partake as a property/estate vacation rental manager.

Of particular interest this year are the following seminars most appropriate for today’s challenging marketplace:

• Emerging Lifestyle and Travel Trends: Implications for Marketing Vacation Home Rentals in the Year Ahead.
• Industry Trends for Executives
• Yield/Revenue Management; Enter the Mainstream of Travel
• E-Mail Marketing; From Lead Capture to Conversion
• How to Maximize the Impact and Attractiveness of your Property Listing

The above are just a sampling of the many programs and seminars available to participants.

To Register:

http://www.vrma.com/resource/resmgr/Annual_Conference/WashingtonVRMRegForm3LateReg.pdf

If you are not a member of VRMA, please consider joining by contacting:

Rick Fisher
Membership & Strategic Development
1-800-557-0135 or (203) 461-9176
Rick.Fisher@DiscoverVacationHomes.com

PRESS RELEASE

March 20, 2009

Just-announced news from the vacation rental category today is a breakthrough for our industry – one that’s remained a sleeping giant and ‘best kept secret’ in lodging for decades and is now stirring, able to begin showing the world what it’s truly made of.

Effective immediately, I’m pleased to share with you that the voice for our professionally managed vacation rental industry, the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA), launches a much-anticipated awareness campaign for the traveling public: Discover Vacation Homes.

The only collaborative effort of its kind within the industry, VRMA’s Discover Vacation Homes initiative will work to promote professionally managed vacation rentals as one of North America’s fastest-growing lodging categories through public relations – including earned publicity, social networking and emerging new media strategies.

Why, you ask? Today’s economic conditions and “togethering” travel trends indicate a huge need for value, space and privacy – needs which vacation rentals address better than any other lodging option. In short, there’s never been a better time to share our story than right now.

United toward this momentous goal, the VRMA with its DVH promotions arm will be able to more effectively elevate the perception of the entire category, enlightening those who are currently unaware of what we offer, as well as the many benefits associated with it. What’s more, with the strength of more than 600 members and approximately 150,000 trusted rental homes, condos and villas, the VRMA’s collective voices can be heard with authority – proudly shouted from the rooftops of vacation rentals worldwide!

In support of the new public relations initiative, the VRMA has retained renowned vacation rental industry supporter Rick Fisher as a Chief Strategist, and utilizes the services of top international advertising, marketing research, and public relations firm, Ypartnership, for dedicated representation in 2009 (www.ypartnership.com).

Companies will have the opportunity to learn more about the Discover Vacation Homes program, and meet the team behind the campaign, during VRMA’s three conferences this year (Eastern, Western and National).

For more information about VRMA and its new campaign, including member benefits and answers to frequently asked questions, check out the newly redesigned VRMA website at www.VRMA.com or the evolving www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com.