Vacation Rental Brands Consult the Hotel Playbook Ahead of Summer Surge
Photo Credit: Vacation rental brands are pushing standardization across listings to win over more customers. Flickr / Thank You (21 Millions+)views
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Vacation rental companies want to mimic hotel companies with brand standards around cleaning and other operations, but they're also facing similar problems as hotels when it comes to labor.
The vacation home rental business was more resilient than expected during the pandemic, and operators of all sizes are looking to hotel-style operations to capitalize on further growth opportunities.
Summer travel demand is expected to heat up quickly across all markets, especially in regions like the northeast where most business restrictions are easing by the end of this month. Short-term rental occupancies averaged 34 percent in the Mid-Atlantic states and 30 percent in New England in March and April, according to Key Data. But that is expected to jump to 56 percent and 51 percent, respectively, this summer based off forward bookings.
National operators like Homes & Villas by Marriott International as well as more regional brands like Southern Vacation Rentals see the summer surge and look to standardize their operations in the same vein as a hotel to appeal to more customers.
“You really are looking at what can only be desc
