NEW EU GDPR REGULATIONS COME INTO FORCE LATER THIS MONTH, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE WAY THAT AGENTS AND OWNERS STORE AND PROCESS THE PERSONAL DATA OF EU CITIZENS. IS THE DATA IN YOUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GDPR COMPLIANT? AT 365VILLAS WE WANT TO ENSURE OUR CLIENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE NEW LEGISLATION AND HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES TO CHECK THAT YOUR DATA IS COMPLIANT. Before we start, let’s just remind ourselves what GDPR is all about… The EU’s General Data Protection...
Wix vs. WordPress. If you’ve heard of Wix, it’s probably through their massive advertising campaigns. You will have an idea of their platform as fast, fun, and flashy. In a way, they’re quite like the Apple of web builders. Today, we’ll look at which platform is best—the Wix vs. WordPress comparison that’s been a long time coming. By the end of this article, we’ll have answered a key question: After knowing the special needs of this industry, which one is better for your vacation rental...
As an agent managing several vacation properties or other short-term rentals, you have to choose which tools and work practices are best for your business. All agents have the option of selecting a Property Management Software (PMS) solution, working with separate manual tools, or using a combination of both. Agents have a lot on their plate: dealing directly with prospects and guests, marketing their owner rentals, managing bookings and payments, overseeing cleaning and check-in processes,...
Digital Nomads. Remote work is a big emerging trend. A few years ago, the words “work at home” made it sound like you were one step away from being let go. Now, it’s what all the cool kids do. However, home is no longer a specific place. Today, “home is where the heart is” has a whole new meaning. Digital Nomads combine a career with the freedom of traveling on their own schedule and they want to make the most out of it. They are abandoning boring office cubicles and looking to buy...
By now, everyone should be aware of significant changes afoot with some of the bigger channels; changes that have been trending for some time and are continually encroaching on property manager profitability. The most notable example is a recent announcement from HomeAway stating that they plan to proceed with: A 25% increase in the cost of listing subscriptions A New fee applies to users that work with integrated softwares A 10% fee for bookings made through different channels, but that HA...
Finding it difficult to encourage guests to book after they’ve sent you an inquiry? The race to get bookings starts the moment you get an inquiry and doesn’t end until you’ve received a deposit and confirmed the dates on your booking calendar. The good news is that if you get off the block first with the right reply, you’ll stand a far better chance of winning the race. After you reply to the potential guest’s first inquiry, you’ll have to wait for that person to reply, hopefully confirming...
Most vacation rental businesses work with channels that generate bookings for them. This is definitely important, but let’s give it a second thought. Travelers usually compare many properties across several channels and websites before making a decision. What about the payment gateway? When you give your users the option to book directly at your site, you are differentiating yourself from those who do not, thereby increasing your chances of conversion. You are also avoiding channel...