Orbitz Vacation Rentals – Are They Going To Work?
Published by Kenny Doucette September 2nd, 2008 in Kenny's Corner, Vacation Rental NewsVacation rentals are gaining popularity very quickly and the best testimony to that is when a major site such as Orbitz shows interest in them. Orbitz, traditionally a flights search engine, added hotels, rental cars, etc. over time. But in August 2008, they started vacation rentals too. However, the chances that their initiative will succeed is limited. The big problem? – they are trying to be everything to everyone. When customers look for a vacation rental, they don’t think Orbitz. They only think ‘vacation ‘. They think about the specific place that they are going to stay at and want rentals and information that are relevant to that area.
With flights, it’s alright because flights take you places so you can’t really be specialized. Rentals cars are fine too, afterall a rental car in Las Vegas is the same as a rental car in the Florida Keys. However, not everything works that way. Vacation rentals are a very specific thing to the locale. A vacation rental in Florida looks nothing like one on Phoenix, Arizona. Specialized sites such as http://vacationrentalhotspots.com focus on Florida and thereby provide information that is specific to these locales. From watching out for weather-specific information to information about rentals that only locals could know, these specialist sites make your life easier and your vacation all the more enjoyable. If you are trying to sell a vacation rental, the same argument applies. Generalist sites impose huge fees and involve too much competition. You are just a commodity. Do you really care whether you stayed at the Marriott or the Hilton. Unless you are worried about points, there really is not much of a difference. That’s not true with vacation rentals though. Your rental has a personality and you know it. The best way to bring that out is to diversify your marketing efforts but remember to focus on local area-speciific marketing.
However, vacation rentals are becoming a big thing in the US slowly and steadily. People are tired of renting hotels that all look the same and are impersonal and expensive. Good news for owners and vacationers alike!
- Kenny Doucette
It may be difficult for Orbitz to create a foothold in the vacation rentals industry, but it is great to see such a larger travel related company adding validity to the growing vacation rental industry. As you mentioned, it is a perfect time for time for locally owned and operated vacation rental companies to solidify their base of customers and show the true value of local knowledge and personality. We look forward to the steady growth in the industry.