ALTADENA - A local company unveiled a method of finding potential timeshare customers at a trade show this week in Las Vegas.

Altadena-based LeisureLink Inc. introduced the Mini Vacation Tracker, or MiniVac, a Web-based leads and tracking system, at the American Resort Developers Association trade show, which concludes today.

"The reception we're getting is extremely good," said Kelly Tompkins, founder and president of LeisureLink. "People are really very interested in our distribution of vacation rentals for the timeshare industry."

The LeisureLink reservation platform connects property management companies through the Internet with travel agents and Web sites such as orbitz.com and travelocity.com.

MiniVac gives online travelers the tools to book their own vacation rentals, then provides the option of getting a discounted rental if they agree to listen to a formal timeshare presentation.

This provides a cost-effective lead generator for property management companies, said Tompkins.

"We're on track to sign up most of the timeshare industry," he said. "We've either signed up or are in final negotiations with all the leading property managers."

Online travelers take a survey that evaluates their potential as a timeshare owner. If they don't qualify, they can still book their vacation at the regular price.

MiniVac will provide companies with vacationers who come pre-qualified as potential timeshare owners, said Tuzy Snyder-Wall, general manager of RMC Resort Management, which has used LeisureLink
for more than a year.

LeisureLink's methods are preferable to costly mailers, she said.

"You're ending up with a lot of expense a lot of times for a shot in the dark," Snyder-Wall said. "A lot of people throw it away."

Also, LeisureLink helps travel agents understand and book vacation rentals, which have different parameters than hotels, she said.

"Everybody is looking to have as many distribution channels as possible to get their product out to the marketplace," Snyder-Wall said.

LeisureLink brings qualified leads into resorts who have a higher probability to convert to timeshare ownership, said Tompkins, who founded the company in May 2002.

LeisureLink is completing the acquisition of $5 million in venture capital funding to expand and grow, he said, and the launch of MiniVac has accelerated the sales cycle in signing up many big property managers.

By Gerri Willis, CNNMoney.com contributing columnist
March 16, 2006: 4:56 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - We may still be bundled under our winter coats in some parts of the country, but now is the time to start locking in your summer vacation rental. Early birds have already started to book the hottest summer rentals across the country.

In today's 5 tips we're going to tell you what you'll want to know when jockeying for your summer dream house.
1. Start now

January and February are the busiest months and already, ideal vacation spots are getting snapped up. You will want to book early if you want a rental that's on the water, available on a holiday weekend and notorious as a hot-spot during the summer months. And this means if you are set on going to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Hilton Head or the Hamptons, you better start your planning now.

In fact many families book their summer rentals at places like Martha's Vineyard a year in advance. If you're a bit more flexible with your destination and you're counting on finding a deal, look to the mountains. Places like Vermont, Colorado or Washington have their peak seasons during the winter, so you'll likely get better summer pricing at a mountain get-away, according to Anne Banas of SmarterTravel.com.
2. Consider your timing

The most popular vacation months -- July and August -- are going to cost more. You can save a ton of dough if you skip the high season. You could save at least 30% to 50% if you book your rental in late May and early June.

And if you wait until after Labor day, you could cut your bill in half, according to Banas. If you're looking at beach front property, your best bet may be to go in September when the water is still on the warm side.
3. Go it alone

Avoid rental agents. There is plenty of exploring on the Internet you can do on your own. You'll be able to skip out on fees which can be up to 10%. Rental owners generally include a few pictures of the property, a description of the house and what's in the local area.

And since it's likely you'll be able to correspond with the vacation rental owner through e-mail, you won't even have to pay for the phone calls. This can be especially important if you are booking a rental property overseas.

If you want to start your journey, check out the follow Web sites for your next vacation rental: www.vamoose.com, vacation rental by owner at www.vrbo.com and www.cyberrentals.com.
4. Get down to the nitty-gritty

Many people think about their vacation rentals as a home away from home. So before you invest, make sure that all the amenities you're used to at home will be available.

Generally your kitchenware and your utensils are provided. But you may want to ask if there is Internet access or a highchair that's available. See if a washer and dryer or a dishwasher is available.

Find out if the rental is pet-friendly and if pool areas are gated if you have children.
5. Protect your investment

Just in case your vacation dream home turns out to resemble something more like out of the Addams Family mansion, you'll want to make sure you have recourse. Always pay by credit card. It will be harder to get your money back if you pay in cash or by check. Plus you may be protected by the fair credit billing act.

Keep in mind that unlike hotels, payment options and cancellation policies vary widely with vacation home owners. Some rentals may have generous policies in the off-season, but in the peak season they may be come quite limited. You should know the details before you sign on the dotted line. You may also try to work out a payment schedule so you don't have to pay all the money upfront. And of course, you should only pay the landlord who is named in the rental contract.

WAILUKU – A bill regulating transient vacation rentals took a big step toward becoming long-term reality Monday when the County Council’s Planning Committee voted to send a draft of the measure to the planning commissions for review over the next few months when lawmakers are tied up in budget hearings.

"I think it’s wonderful," David Dantes, president of the Maui Vacation Rental Association, said after the meeting. "The thing I’m elated about is now that they’ve done this, there’s a good chance we won’t have to wait and straddle an election year. We should be able to get a good, enforceable law adopted by the end of this term and put the issue to rest."

Acknowledging the wishes of the members, Chairwoman Charmaine Tavares said she would send not only a draft of a bill introduced by Council Member Bob Carroll, but another one introduced by Council Member Jo Anne Johnson and other supporting materials so the planning commissions of Maui, Molokai and Lanai would have a good idea of what had been discussed. As usual, the Hana Advisory Committee also will be included in the review process.

Carroll’s bill, crafted with input from Dantes’ organization, essentially would broaden legislation that governs bed-and-breakfasts to allow two separate structures per lot for short-term rentals. Bed-and-breakfast rules say the proprietor must live in the same dwelling that houses the vacation units, but the new bill includes free-standing structures.

It appears that the two structures would be permitted in addition to a main house. The bill also would green light resident managers instead of the owner to maintain the business.

The introduction to the bill said that the two individual structures and resident managers would be allowed "in limited instances."

The idea to get comments from the planning commissions during the time frame when the council has no option but to deliberate the budget sounded like a perfect scenario. In an ideal world, the comments from all commissions would be awaiting lawmakers when budget wraps up by the end of May, making for an easy transition to get back into the thick of things. However, county government is anything but an ideal world. The Planning Department’s Joe Alueta reminded council members that the Maui panel usually was booked two or three months in advance, so it could be a while before the reviews take place.

For nearly 90 minutes, lawmakers debated whether they should send the draft now, in their last committee meeting before budget, or hold off until a more refined version was available, probably not until June, at the earliest. Even by routing the draft to the commissions, the committee will have to send a final bill back to the commissions for another review.

Carroll urged his colleagues to take immediate action, especially so the differing thoughts of residents of the different islands could be considered.

"I don’t think we have an ordinance that’s a one size fits all," he said.

He found quick support from Council Member Mike Molina.

"We have a problem here and we can’t wait," said Molina. "The longer we wait, the more we spin our wheels. . . . The level of concern continues to rise on this issue."

Council Member Joe Pontanilla asked that the commissions also be forwarded information gathered by a task force appointed a few years ago to discuss transient vacation rentals. Tavares noted that the task force was disbanded before it completed its work, but said she would find out what had been prepared. In addition, commissions will get a report from the Kula Community Association; anticipated comments from community associations in Makawao, Paia and Haiku; and other pertinent information.

Although it appeared that vacation rentals would be allowed on agricultural land, Johnson did not seem to be willing to support that.

The bill also would simplify application procedures and expand eligibility for bed-and-breakfast home permits while strengthening the prohibition against illegal transient vacation rentals.

February 10, 2006

ENCINITAS – A controversial proposal to ban short-term vacation rentals has been shelved because of objections from the state Coastal Commission's staff, but it is not dead and the battle over it continues to simmer.

Yesterday, City Manager Kerry Miller said he intends to revive the ban in a form that is more acceptable to the Coastal Commission and reapply for approval, which is necessary to enact new laws on vacation rentals in coastal cities.

Vacation homes are considered an alternative accommodation for people who want to go to the beaches, and commission's mission is to protect public access to the coast.

“We have not given up on the ban,” Miller said. “That is still the direction of the City Council.”

Mayor Christy Guerin said the council will discuss the issue but has not decided on a date.

The City Council voted for the ban in May after hearing complaints about excessive noise, traffic and trash from vacationers.

The issue was scheduled for commission consideration yesterday at its meeting in Chula Vista, but city officials withdrew their application before the commission met.

Miller said the city was worried that the commission would not approve the ban because commission planners opposed it. Those planners had said it would deprive beach-going vacationers of accommodations because Encinitas does not have enough hotels and motels around its beaches, a claim that the city has disputed.

Miller said the city dropped its application so as not to shut the door on future applications for a ban.

In the meantime, to deal with noise complaints, the city may consider requiring vacation-rental homeowners to obtain permits and be subjected to noise, traffic and trash-control regulations, which do not need Coastal Commission approval, Miller said.

Currently, homeowners do not need permits to rent out their units.

Homeowners who violate permit conditions could face revocation, Miller said.

Yesterday, supporters and opponents reiterated their stands on vacation rentals and vowed to renew the battle when another ban is proposed.

“We are opposed to short-term rentals,” said Franz Birkner, a member of Encinitas Citizens for Residential Stability, a group of coastal homeowners who supported the proposed ban.

“They all should be shut down,” Birkner said.

Dietmar Rothe, an activist who is opposed to the ban, said it would not solve the noise and traffic problems.

“The ones that are really the problem are grandfathered in,” he said.

Lake Tahoe, CA / NV (PRWEB) January 6, 2005 -- Lake Tahoe Lodging, Inc. offers 40 percent off on mid-week Lake Tahoe vacation rentals with a 2 night minimum stay.

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Lake Tahoe Lodging, Inc. (LTL) – A provider of Luxury Lake Tahoe accommodations announces their “Get into winter” special offering 40% off on mid-week vacation rentals.

Known for its vacation rental bonuses and immaculately kept quality properties, LTL is providing this special mid-week savings to guests who book a minimum two-night stay at any of LTL’s properties.

“This is a great opportunity for guests to visit us for a mid-week stay or quick, last minute vacation get-away and really save money while enjoying a south Lake Tahoe vacation rental. ” says Chad Smittkamp, CEO of Lake Tahoe Lodging.

VacationsAtTahoe.com and LakeTahoeLodging.com are vacation rental and lodging sites created by Lake Tahoe Lodging, Inc. providing hassle-free year-round Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals packed with amenities for less than the cost of many hotels. Visitors to the Lake Tahoe Area can get a fully equipped vacation-ready “home-away-from-home” and enjoy luxury accommodations, a romantic getaway or just bring their entire family to enjoy this world famous area.

Lake Tahoe Lodging has vacation rental properties located on both the Nevada and California sides of Lake Tahoe's South and East Shores. Visitors enjoy concierge services including: Personal Shopping, Babysitting, Dog Sitting and Walking, Hot Tubs, Wood for Fireplaces, Personal Massages & Facials, Children's Activities, Boat Cruises, Boat Rentals, Boat Buoy Rentals, Guided Hiking, Biking, Horse Back Riding Tours, Event Tickets and more.

Terms: Subject to availability with a two-night minimum stay. No holiday periods. Good for any reservation arriving on a Monday thru Wednesday and departing Wednesday thru Friday. Offer expires March 15, 2006.

For more information, reservations and last minute specials call toll free 1-800-654-5253 or visit on the web:

http://www.VacationsAtTahoe.com
http://www.LakeTahoeLodging.com

Forever Resorts (www.ForeverHouseboats.com), the respected leader in houseboat vacation rentals, has modernized the houseboat of today to include many comforts you’d expect to find in a vacation home; TV, stereo, gas grill, full kitchen, queen bedrooms, bathrooms, linens, towels and central air conditioning and heat. Plus, one feature not usually found in vacation homes – a waterslide off the upper deck!

The experience of houseboating goes beyond just the boat. It has become a tradition with many, which weaves the commonplace vacation into vivid memories. From exploring the serenity of the lake to the excitement of playing captain of your own boat, a houseboat vacation provides an outdoor adventure that allows you to reconnect, relax and spend quality time with each other.

When Forever Resorts asked recent vacationers their favorite part about houseboating, the company received many answers. But one commonality rang true; families revealed houseboating is truly a magical experience and they plan on returning to have that vacation experience again and again.

Houseboat rentals can be found in many waterways of the United States. Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Don Pedro Lake in California are two popular destinations for houseboating.

About Forever Resorts
The Forever Resorts family of companies has been based in Arizona since its inception in 1981 and owns and operates properties in national parks, recreation areas and national forests, and choice destinations of North America, Hungary and South Africa. The firm is a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in lodging, marinas and related services, food service and retail operations and is a respected industry leader in houseboat manufacturing and luxury houseboat vacation rentals. “Soaring to be the Best” each Forever Resorts’ location is ISO 14001 certified and is committed to protecting human health and the environment, and many properties have received other awards and third-party certification for its environmental practices. For more information visit the company website at www.ForeverResorts.com.

In response to complaints and inquiries regarding vacation rentals in the community, the Dunsmuir Planning Commission is in the process of developing policy that will regulate the operation of these rentals.

The planning commission held a public hearing at its November meeting to discuss amending the zoning code to regulate the operation of vacation rentals within the city limits.

The issue of vacation homes was brought to the attention of the Dunsmuir City Council in August by city administrator Pat Hall. She reported that staff received inquiries and concerns regarding the allowance of vacation rentals in residential areas.

“The city has received several complaints from residents on Grover Street in regard to a residence that is being turned into a vacation rental,” Hall said.

She reported that the owner had not obtained a building license for the work, which Hall said now has three apartment units downstairs with a home upstairs. Hall said it has also resulted in parking problems since parking on Grover Street is limited to the north side of the street. She said the “vacation rental” has a single driveway that can accommodate two vehicles with no other off-street parking being available for the property.

“This has brought staff's attention to the problem of homes being purchased and used for vacation rentals in our residential areas,” Hall said. “Various problems are being created including parking. Although we have ordinances regulating hotels (overnight rentals) and zoning regulations stating what parking requirements must be met, staff is requesting clarification from the council as to regulating and cross-referencing these requirements in the municipal code book.”

At its August 19th meeting, the council directed staff to take the issue of vacation rental zoning rules and regulations to the planning commission for review and recommendation.

At the November planning commission meeting, city contract planner Keith McKinley reported that the problem with vacation rentals is they were not in existence when the Dunsmuir zoning code was written.

While commissioner Denise Fairhurst said she was concerned about parking issues associated with vacation rentals, she said she didn't feel the city should discourage them. McKinley suggested an administrative conditional use permit be incorporated with a checklist to regulate vacation rentals.

“There needs to be a process to ensure the health and safety of users of the lodging and residents who may be impacted by the location and operation of a commercial use in otherwise residential neighborhoods,” McKinley said.

While he said there needs to be a way to regulate their operation, McKinley noted that vacation rentals do provide a community benefit. This includes “expanding the number and type of lodging facilities available and assist landowners of vacation home rentals by providing revenue which may be used for maintenance upgrades and differed costs.”

“In essence, they are a vital component to a tourist economy,” he stated.

While Hall agreed, she said not all vacation rental owners register with the city, which has resulted in some problems.

“There have been complaints from neighbors about parking,” she said. “Vacation rentals must come into compliance with safety issues.”

McKinley stated that it might be within the best interest of the city to develop clear and reasonable policy regarding vacation rentals.

“Vacation rentals and their operation can be regulated by requiring owners or operators to obtain a vacation rental use permit to operate within all residential districts,” McKinley stated in a memorandum to the planning commission. “The use permit can be a discretionary permit issued by the commission or it may be a permit issued either by discretion or administratively, but based on a set of pre-determined performance criteria or conditions.”

He stated that staff has researched regulations used by various jurisdictions, including Siskiyou and Douglas counties, two beach communities and a jurisdiction in Florida. McKinley stated that all of them require permits to operate a vacation rental.

“The purposes of the regulations consistently revolved around fundamentally allowing the use, while ensuring the welfare of the community by providing rules to protect the surrounding neighborhood and to provide enforcement processes and to ensure health and safety issues are addressed, both for the consumer and the community,” he stated. “All of the stated purposes of the ordinances are consistent with each other, namely to protect the neighbors from a commercial use in a residential area.”

McKinley said specific issues involved in these ordinances revolve around parking, overcrowding, noise, disturbing the neighbors and an enforcement process.

“In Dunsmuir there is no difference, nor does Dunsmuir have any unique quality that would distinguish our concerns from those of other jurisdictions,” he stated. “Recent increase (in) citizen complaints at certain sites have fueled an interest in providing guidelines for vacation rental operations.

“In addition, a careful review of the current zoning code has revealed the possibility that while the use of property as a vacation rental has been allowed without review, the zoning code, as written, may not allow them in residential zones at all,” he stated. “The point is, by allowing them (to be) unregulated, we may have been acting in ways that are inconsistent with what the law currently allows.”

McKinley made the recommendation that the zoning code be reviewed to provide clear regulations, consistency and enforcement. He said staff did not expect to pass a new ordinance at this time, but rather to begin serious discussions about the proliferation or potential proliferation of vacation rentals and the potential impact on affordable housing for moderate and below moderate income residents. He said the idea of the discussion is “hopefully to strike a balance between the positive aspects of this lodging option and the potentially degrading aspects of the public health and welfare of the community as a whole.”

The recommendation was approved by the planning commission by a 6-0-1 vote. Commissioner Rita Hilsenbeck abstained, stating she was owner of a vacation rental, Cedar Lodge Motel.

The vacation rentals review and public hearing is scheduled to be continued at the planning commission's January 9th meeting. It had been scheduled for discussion on December 13th. However, lack of a quorum postponed the meeting to January.

If you own a vacation home that you rent out, you must register with the Oregon Department of Revenue. Registration forms are available online at www.oregon.gov/DOR/BUS. You also must collect the lodging tax from your customers when they pay you the vacation rental fee. You must pay the tax quarterly to the Oregon Department of Revenue. The tax is 1 percent of gross lodging sales.

There are several exemptions to this tax, including dwelling units that provide lodging for less than 30 days in a calendar year. For example: A hunting lodge that is open only for a season that is less than 30 days. Also, nonprofit youth or church camps, nonprofit conference centers, certain qualifying nonprofit facilities, and lodgers who spend at least 30 consecutive days at the same facility also are exempt.

"A portion of this lodging tax goes back to the area it was collected from," said Doneva Miletta, state lodging tax program coordinator. "The statewide lodging tax is different from city and county lodging taxes because those fund a variety of local programs. This tax promotes tourism throughout Oregon."

According to the company, vacation rental management companies can now connect with travel global distribution channels via ISILink. An official release states: ISILink acts as a database linking property information and rental availability to various sales distribution channels. With ISILink, the door is open for small vacation rental operators to reach travel agents and travel agencies efficiently and effectively.

''The entire line of Instant Software Group's products, including First Resort Software, Entech and Property Plus, will now have a method to reach the GDS. ISILink can also provide vacation rental properties easy access to other key distribution systems such as web based agencies and portals,'' states the company.

"Smaller vacation rental property companies have always been at a decided disadvantage when it came to the travel distribution channels not only because of their size, but the type of accommodations offered made it difficult to provide the critical mass needed to pave the way for access to the GDS system," said Dave Hopcroft, founder and President of Instant Software. "ISILink gives us critical mass and gives our partners the flexibility to compete anywhere they want."

"Vacation home managers want to use multiple distribution channels at the same time and ISILink makes this easy and most importantly, allows independent owners to reach a wider audience through distribution channels," said Hopcroft.

My husband and I want to rent a private cabin in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina for a week next spring, and would love to take our two dogs. Can you recommend how to go about this?

-- G.B., Union

The mountainsides of western North Carolina are full of cabins, and enough of them are pet-friendly that you should be able to find a suitable one for you and your furry companions without much trouble. But plan on checking with individual properties about dog policies; few of the many guidebooks to pet-friendly lodging offer much help with cabins.

Among cabin properties that do accept pets, some are easy-going, all-hounds-welcome places; others want a deposit, often of $10 to $25; others simply want to be advised in advance so they know what to expect. For properties with Web sites, you sometimes can find their pet policies on the site, but it is best to confirm the policy in a phone call or by e-mail before booking.

Rustic-cabin operators tend to be most accepting of pets; fancy cabins with Jacuzzis and Oriental rugs will have more restrictive pets policies.

A good source for finding North Carolina cabins is the state's official tourism site, www.visitnc.com. From the home page, click on Where to Stay, which takes you to a search page. Type "cabin" in the search field, then below that click on Accommodation, then select Vacation Rentals in the "for" column. (When I tried it, the "for" column didn't fill with choices; if that happens, go back to the "look in" column and click on "attractions," then click again on "accommodation.") On the far right, deselect all but the Mountains region. When you click search, you'll get scores of possibilities. They can be narrowed further by sorting by city.

A company called Western North Carolina Lodging in Fletcher, N.C., offers a free booking service, with some cabins among the properties it represents in more than a dozen areas. Its site is at www.mtnlodgingreservations.com.

Another good site for locating cabins is Virtual Blue Ridge, www.virtualblueridge.com, where the Trip Planner section lets you select specific stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia and view cabin rentals.

The Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Mountains, by Sara Pacher and Constance Richards (Insiders' Guide, 7th edition, 2004), is packed with details about the region. A book for planning outdoor activities is the Adventure Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains, by Blair Howard (Hunter Travel, 2nd edition, 2001). It notes that in all three Smoky Mountain states it is illegal to leave pets in your vehicle.

A Virginia site for searching for cabin lodging is at www.virginia.org. Click on Accommodations, then Cottages & Cabins on the drop-down menu. You'll also be able to sort by regions such as the Blue Ridge Highlands.

My 18-year-old daughter and I will be visiting family in Fife, Scotland, next year. I have heard there is a tour boat that sails out of Dundee for the Norwegian fjords. Do you have any information about such a tour?

-- C.L, Manville

There are indeed fjord tours departing from Dundee, Scotland, although the timing may not fit a summer travel schedule. Six-day cruises to the Norwegian fjords during the apple blossom season are scheduled to depart from Dundee on April 26 and May 1, 2006, aboard the MV Funchal. The ship leaves Dundee at 5 p.m., spends the next day at sea, arriving the following day at Flam at 7 a.m. and at Gudvangen at 3:30 p.m. The fourth day there is a port call in Bergen, and on the fifth day in Lerwick, Shetland Islands. The ship returns to Dundee at 8 a.m. on the sixth day.

The price from Dundee starts at about $875 per person, based on double occupancy. Other tours of the fjords aboard the Funchal depart from Newcastle and Hull, south along the English coast.

You can find out more about the cruises through www.holidays.scotsman.com; search for "Dundee" to locate the tours.

The Funchal is a 222-cabin, 524-passenger ship that, according to Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships, "was built as a dual-purpose mail and passenger ship, but was rebuilt as a one-class cruise ship in 1972-73 and has since undergone regular refurbishments. Its interior has lots of fine woodwork and heavy-duty fittings." The ships guide says the "Funchal is best suited to couples and single travelers seeking a first cruise aboard a small ship of vintage character and charm, with few facilities, but at a low price."

The survey reported only 816 properties with a total of 1,095 rooms – about a third of the highest earlier estimates. Judging from the listing supplied by the Kauaian Institute, which was commissioned by the Maui Realtors Association to conduct the count, major portions of Central Maui and Upcountry were ignored.

Of course, illegal vacation rentals operating on word-of-mouth advertising went uncounted. The actual inventory of vacation rentals – individual homes, “ohana” units and bed and breakfast operations – will be impossible to determine until county government knows exactly who is operating what and where.

The Maui VacationRental Association has been pushing the county to streamline the permit process, which now often takes years and a discouraging amount of expense to navigate. The association argues an easier process would result in fewer illegal operations. County action is long overdue, although nothing it does will completely eliminate illegal operations since they are likely to be taxed at the highest rate now reserved for hotels and resorts.

President David Dantes of the MVRA says the survey should allay fears vacation rentals are sapping the inventory of needed, residential long-term rentals. He pointed out that if all the vacation rentals were turned into long-term rental properties if would add “about 1 percent to the availability of affordable housing.”

Vacation rentals are increasingly popular with repeat visitors looking for a more “local” experience. Well-managed operations generally do not create neighborhood problems, but their very existence is one more factor in running up the cost of real estate on Maui even when they may allow residents to accommodate sky-high mortgage payments.

We have made good progress in both the leisure and commercial markets. In addition we have expanded our premium product line, the Hertz Prestige Collection in response to continuing growth in demand.

What new trends have you witnessed in the US?

Travelers continue to move to the web to book and over half of all RAC reservations are now made that way. We are below that because of our commercial business, as they have been slower to adopt the web. In addition, luxury travel is expanding and customers are increasingly interested in add-ons like NeverLost GPS and Sirius Satellite radio.

What do you think is driving these changes?

With regard to the web, the growth of broadband, increasing comfort shopping on the web and general maturing of the market. With regard to luxury travel and assorted add-ons, just a general search for a better experience and the feeling that a vacation is important in today's world.

How do you think consumer preferences are changing towards car rental services?

Consumers are starting to see RAC (rent a car) as a part of the vacation experience. They see things that can enhance the total vacation like Prestige vehicles, GPS, and satellite radio and they want them.

How do you think your company differs in its offerings?

Hertz was the first to introduce GPS and still has the only proprietary in-car installed system. We are one of two that offer satellite radio. And Hertz is still the only company that lets its customers reserve a specific make and model of vehicle in a broad variety of categories.

How do you think you have made your operations user friendly?

We have long had #1 Club Gold service allowing customers to bypass lines and go directly to their cars. In the past few years we have enhanced the services available in the basic #1 Club program (not Gold) as well. These now include a separate expedited line for check-in, e-mailed special offers for customers who request them, and access to copies of bills on our website.

What new trends have you witnessed as far as usage of online medium is concerned for customer service in terms of saving his/her time and offering convenience?

Not much new this year, but in the past few years, an increasing desire to use the Web to shop and book travel 24 hours a day, at home or at work. We have two peaks on our Website: lunch time (from work) and in the late evening (from home.) So clearly these customers are comfortable shopping and booking on the web.

How do you think online as a distribution medium has evolved as far as car rental service in concerned?

In the beginning we had simple supplier sites that allowed a reservation to be made, some information to be obtained, and pictures of cars to be displayed. Over time that has expanded to allow complete account management, copies of bills, changes to personal profiles and preferences, maps and weather information for the destination, and statements of past rentals and points earned for renting.

The third party sites have also improved, from offering simple reservation capability to enhanced shopping and search capability, and even the ability to reserve more types of vehicles than before.

What do you think are the challenges going forward?

As the market continues to mature, they tend to demand more information, better response time and simpler interfaces. Some of these (simple and more for example) are counter to each other and require better technology. The growing use of PDA's and cell phones that are more like browsers means that the concept of design for a Website will have to be broadened also.

By Todd Thatcher , Staff Writer

Residents of Hershey's Cedar Avenue, along with Derry Township officials, are concerned that local owners renting out their houses to visitors may be a growing trend - and it's one they want to nip in the bud.
Diane Leonard, who lives on Cedar Avenue, is worried that if such renting is allowed, the trend will only grow, and ultimately change the character of the village of Hershey.
"I speak for most of the neighborhood in that we're concerned this is going to be an up-and-coming trend, and the neighborhoods we're used to where you know your neighbors and look out for each other might change," she said.
The properties in questions are located at 310 Cocoa Ave. and 164 Cedar Ave.
After purchasing the 310 Cocoa property last spring, new owners - and realtors - Chris and Joy Daniels - quickly began renovations, turning it into a 2,500-square-foot vacation home that, according its listing at www.vacationhomerentals.com, offers four bedrooms, a backyard deck, a fireplace, and a game room.
The owners argue that they are not violating any zoning regulations by renting their property.
"We believe we are using the property in accordance with the applicable zoning regulations," the Daniels said in a statement. "We will be promptly seeking clarification and confirmation of the use from the Derry Township Zoning Hearing Board."
According to a listing at www.heartofhershey.com, the 126 Cedar house includes three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, a kitchen, dining room, and living room, and rents for $175 a night during the "on" season and $140 a night during the off-season.
"We purchased it last fall - September or October," Francine Walker, the owner of the Cedar Avenue property, said. "We actually had our first renters in over Thanksgiving."
According to Walker, the home has been rented by everyone from tourists to people with family in town - as well as visiting members of her own family.
"It's been sporadic, especially during the fall or winter - [then it's mostly] local townspeople who had relatives to visit over the holiday," she explained. "At least half of it has been local people. Our friends and family use it too, so to make it a bit cost-effective, we rent it too."
Walker said she has never heard any complaints from neighbors about the rental activity - quite the contrary, in fact.
"An immediate neighbor said he has been very happy with it actually - much more so than the previous owner," she said. "We live in town ourselves, so we meant in no way for this to be bothersome to people."
But following complaints from neighbors of the 310 Cocoa Ave. property, Jeff Keiser, the township's director of community development, stepped in, making the rental issue a priority for his department.
"We heard the allegations here in the department for a number of weeks," Keiser said. "We were periodically looking at the property, and about two weeks ago, we were able to find people that were staying at each of the dwellings and talk to them. They both indicated they were there for about week."
Keiser then looked into the township's related zoning ordinances to find out what provisions about length or type of rental - if any - were being violated.
"The use of that or any other property is governed by the zoning ordinances," he said. "We don't come out and say, 'You can't do that.' The way most zoning ordinances are written is to spell out what you're allowed to do, not what you're not.
"It was my determination that that use was not permitted in a village residential district, which these properties are both in. I sent a cease-and-desist order to the owners of both properties. "
Walker said that she was told the opposite by a township zoning officers when she first looked at the 126 Cedar house.
"Prior to purchasing the property, we spoke to a zoning officer who said there's nothing in the regulations that say we can't do what we're doing," she said. "What I was told was 'That's an interesting question, but there's nothing that says how long a property can be rented.'"
Both property owners have appealed Keiser's order to the [Derry Township] Zoning Hearing Board.
"What will happen now is that will be discussed at the zoning hearing board's meeting on Sept. 21," he explained. "The board has 45 days then to render a decision. The board could uphold my position or overrule it."
According to Keiser, his cease-and-desist order will be staid until the hearing board has made a decision, meaning the owners will be able to rent their property's at least until that time.
In the meantime, residents of Cedar Avenue are working to make sure their opposition continues to be heard by township officials.
"We spoke early on with some of the township staff, and later in the process we've spoken with some of the township supervisors about it," Leonard said. "There's a petition that's going to be circulated and that's going to be presented at the September supervisors meeting, and I know there's lots of signatures on that."

Liverpool, North West England (PRWEB) August 3, 2005 -- TipTopVillas has announced an extension of its free advertising offer, allowing holiday home owners around the world to advertise free of charge until 2006.

When browsing through vacation rental websites, holiday home owners are faced with a number of questions: How many visitors does the site get; how many enquiries can I expect from this site; what percentage of enquiries will be translated into bookings? These types of questions make it very difficult for villa owners to part with their advertising budget.

When creating TipTopVillas.com, founder Andy Heaps posed these questions. “TipTopVillas has been allowing villa owners to advertise free of charge for nearly 12 months now and we have recently extended this offer until 2006. We have cut out the uncertainty of whether advertising your villa online will be cost effective. Free is always cost effective and I am yet to find another vacation rentals site that can compete in terms of property detail along with the extensive period of free advertising.”

In less than 12 months TipTopVillas has accumulated a solid base of properties and has seen many satisfied customers.

TipTopVillas allows holidaymakers to arrange bookings directly with the owner of their chosen villa, cutting out the costs of the travel agent. As the service offered is free, TipTopVillas can offer a vast and diverse range of properties and locations, translating into a greater choice of accommodation for the holidaymaker.

Now almost a year old, TipTopVillas is beginning to establish itself as an authority amongst vacation rental websites. With the forecasted growth of the large international client database, TipTopVillas will continue to offer high quality, good value villa rentals direct from the owner.

TONY MECIA

Fly enough on an airline and get a free ticket. Charge enough on a credit card and get points redeemable for magazines and other gifts. Eat frequently at the same restaurant and get a free meal.

Rewarding repeat customers with freebies -- a concept known as "loyalty programs" -- is a marketing strategy now moving into unlikely terrain: vacation rentals.

Crafting a successful reward program for beach and mountain rentals has been a hot topic at recent industry gatherings, says Michael Sarka, executive director of the Vacation Rental Managers Association in Santa Cruz, Calif.

"When we have education sessions, those are the types of topics people want to find out more about," he said.

For vacation rental companies, the approach has the appeal of saving precious advertising money. Targeting and retaining proven customers, the thinking goes, is far cheaper than taking out ads in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet.

For people who rent vacation houses, of course, it means the increased potential for free gifts and discounts.

Starting this summer, vacationers who returned to Outer Beaches Realty on North Carolina's Outer Banks received a free beach tote bag. The company offers other benefits to members of its "Outer Beaches Beach Club," such as discounts at stores, free use of a swimming pool and early notice of rental specials.

In future years, repeat guest will get beach towels, beach chairs and coolers, says Scott Leggat, Outer Beaches' vice president of marketing and administration.

He says no vacationer will make a decision to stay at one of the company's rentals because they receive a bag. But the program is designed to cultivate and reward relationships between the company and its best guests.

"When you're advertising, you're basically casting a pretty broad net, hoping to find a few that are interested in coming to Hatteras Island," Leggat said. "Everyone who is a member of the Beach Club has made that decision once. They're a much more qualified lead."

Loyalty programs started in the airline industry in the early 1980s. It then spread into other fields such as hotels and credit cards, and more recently into retail.

The strategy is becoming more essential for other industries such as vacation rentals, because so much information is now available to consumers through the Internet, says Gail Sneed, director of professional services with Maritz Loyalty Marketing in St. Louis, which designs loyalty programs.

"There are so many more choices," she said. "It's a matter of what's going to grab that attention?"

The most successful programs are ones that are straightforward and do not take too long to earn rewards, she said.

In Calabash, just over the N.C. line from North Myrtle Beach, Bill Bernier has learned to value his repeat customers. At the Brunswick Plantation Golf Resort that he manages, 86 percent of vacationers last year had stayed there before.

He's started giving repeat customers special deals, such as having them pay last year's rates or offering a free room to the leader of a group of 12 or more golfers.

"We try to work the loyalty thing," he says.

Bring that food aboard!

Last week's column on changes to air travel in recent years brought a few letters, and a few questions.

One reader wanted to know if airlines frown on passengers who take food aboard, since airlines have started selling meals and snacks of their own. The answer is no -- take whatever you like.

In addition, a flight attendant from Matthews wanted to address a few other misperceptions some passengers have: Airlines stopped handing out playing cards about 10 years ago, and if there are empty seats in first class, you cannot simply move up there.