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SoWalSally

Beach Fanatic
Feb 19, 2005
649
49
By Rachel Kyler

People are changing the way they vacation and it?s evident in Walton County?s summer reservations.
According to the Walton County Tourist Development Council, bookings are down for the 2006 summer season.
This not necessarily due to lack of interest in South Walton beaches; April?s bed taxes were up more than 15 percent for this year. However, people are approaching vacation planning differently, said TDC Executive Director Kriss Titus.
?So much has changed,? she said.
As the XY generation and ?echo boomers? are entering the rental market, there are more people registering for vacations ?on the spot,? Titus said.
Busier schedules, uncertainty of vacation time and the advent of the Internet are causing people to schedule their vacations later.
?In today?s society, we?re more, ?What are we going to do tomorrow??? Titus said. ?It?s a lot more difficult for some people to schedule a year out.?
In addition, Titus said increased availability of rental properties allow people to wait longer because they are not as concerned with securing a place. Cost is no longer the predominate factor. Renters have become increasingly concerned with ?added value,? like bike rentals, fitness centers, etc., Titus said.
?It?s a very competitive market,? Titus said. ?It?s a lot easier (for consumers) to make decisions.?
Reports are also indicating that visitors are concerned about the shape of the beaches and the upcoming hurricane season.
In an effort to encourage earlier bookings, the TDC moved $500,000 in contingence funds for a summer ad campaign to improve collections in the upcoming season.
The new summer ad campaign, ?Our beaches are beautiful with great summer rates,? will focus on value and the beaches desirability.
Regional ads will be placed in the Wall Street Journal targeting the South Atlanta District, which includes a large portion of the South East, and the Texas District, which covers Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma Kansas and part of New Mexico.
A strategic online campaign will target ?female family travel planners,? 35 to 54, with a household income in excess of $75,000 within South Walton?s top ten markets ? Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Mobile, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, Huntsville, Montgomery and Tallahassee.
 

GVM

Beach Lover
Dec 25, 2004
109
0
Reports are also indicating that visitors are concerned about the shape of the beaches and the upcoming hurricane season.


Yah think?
 
GVM said:
Reports are also indicating that visitors are concerned about the shape of the beaches and the upcoming hurricane season.


Yah think?
Not really because:
(a) they can look at the photos and see that the beach is beautiful (yes, the beachfront owners have erosion problems, but that doesn't affect the renters' experience)
(b) if there's a mandatory evacuation, they get their money back, and things don't have to be bad for a mandatory evacuation from a renter's point of view. Every time we've boarded up and left (prior to a mandatory evacuation), the weather was beautiful, and the guests were enjoying themselves.
(c) we're as booked up as we want to be, yet keep getting more requests.
 

SHELLY

SoWal Insider
Jun 13, 2005
5,770
802
SoWalSally said:
By Rachel Kyler

In addition, Titus said increased availability of rental properties allow people to wait longer because they are not as concerned with securing a place. Cost is no longer the predominate factor. Renters have become increasingly concerned with ?added value,? like bike rentals, fitness centers, etc., Titus said.

Cost is no longer an object??? (Inflation, the economy, gas prices, tapped out equity....HELLO??)

TDC: Keep thinking that money isn't an object when folks plan their vacation and you're missing a massive target audience.
_______________________________

Frazzled Wife w/3 Kids: Honey, look there are two places for rent in SoWal. One is $1200 per week and the other is $1500 per week

Husband (looking up from the bill pay screen): Is one closer to the beach?

FW w/3 Kids: No, actually they are in the same condo on the same floor, but the one for $1500 has bike rental!!

Husband: Hot Damn! Bike Rental! Grab it for next year's vacation before someone snaps it up first! :roll:
 

spinDrAtl

Beach Fanatic
Jul 11, 2005
367
2
SHELLY said:
Cost is no longer an object??? (Inflation, the economy, gas prices, tapped out equity....HELLO??)

TDC: Keep thinking that money isn't an object when folks plan their vacation and you're missing a massive target audience.
_______________________________

Frazzled Wife w/3 Kids: Honey, look there are two places for rent in SoWal. One is $1200 per week and the other is $1500 per week

Husband (looking up from the bill pay screen): Is one closer to the beach?

FW w/3 Kids: No, actually they are in the same condo on the same floor, but the one for $1500 has bike rental!!

Husband: Hot Damn! Bike Rental! Grab it for next year's vacation before someone snaps it up first! :roll:

Once again, Cynical Shelly misses the point while blasting 'The Sky is Falling' headlines. The article did not say cost was no object. The key word was predominate. Renters are comparing properties and those that are relatively close in price are being differentiated with added features. The vacationers that are spending 1500 per week, plus added expense of driving/flying, meals for a week, and any other attraction are going to choose properties based on those that most closely meet their lifestyle and needs, not whether one is 100 less per week.
 

spinDrAtl

Beach Fanatic
Jul 11, 2005
367
2
We normally require only a $200 deposit but do require full payment around 30 days in advance. The reason is that people think nothing of trying to cancel at the last minute when we have taken our unit off the market for them and possibly turned away other renters. Of course this policy does not apply to hurricane damage or evacuations. We strictly follow along with the area - in the event of mandatory evacuation, we fully refund the renter's money. If a hurricane comes prior to someone's rental period, then everything is a little subjective and must be assessed. If there is no beach access, such as last year when all beach walkovers were destroyed, then of course refunds are allowed. If there is access and the condition of the beach is in the eye of the beholder, we are always willing to negotiate a fair arrangement. Renters also need to protect themselves with trip insurance, if so desired.
 

yippie

Beach Fanatic
Oct 28, 2005
946
42
A local
Beach Runner said:
Not really because:
(a) they can look at the photos and see that the beach is beautiful (yes, the beachfront owners have erosion problems, but that doesn't affect the renters' experience)
(b) if there's a mandatory evacuation, they get their money back, and things don't have to be bad for a mandatory evacuation from a renter's point of view. Every time we've boarded up and left (prior to a mandatory evacuation), the weather was beautiful, and the guests were enjoying themselves.
(c) we're as booked up as we want to be, yet keep getting more requests.

One of the major things that I have been told are the new rental policies of some of the larger rental agencies.

For example, most are requiring people to take out trip insurance equal to 10% of the cost of the stay in case a hurricane or other problems exists. There are many agencies that no longer have hurricane policies. You must take out the rental insurance to get a refund.

Secondly, many agencies have changed the way they charge credit cards. For example, ResortQuest charges 100% of the cost at the time of reservation. Others are charging 50% and the other 50% 3 week prior to arrival.

And, of course, requiring the trip insurance for refunds of any kind.

Now people are looking at a total of 20% over the weekly rates including the tourists tax and insurance.

I think people are waiting longer to make the reservations for the above reasons.

What do you think? If you were in that situation???
 

spinDrAtl

Beach Fanatic
Jul 11, 2005
367
2
I knew that Resort Quest had changed their policy and was told that this was affecting bookings for the summer (obviously). However, the old policy was totally ridiculous for owners. Guests were allowed to cancel as late as the arrival date with no penalty. Owners would be left holding a prime summer week with no way to rent it. IMO, Resort Quest has gone too far the other direction at this point.
 
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