HomeAway, the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace, has announced that Luxury Rentals from HomeAway now hosts the largest collection of high-end vacation rentals available in one place. The site, which offers travellers the ultimate in luxury accommodations, achieves this milestone one year after its initial launch.

Curated by the international luxury travel experts at Andrew Harper – best known for their luxury travel publication, Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report – Luxury Rentals from HomeAway now boasts more than 4,500 luxury rentals globally, with properties in more than 40 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. It offers access to the best in accommodations – ranging from villas to estates – with standout amenities such as gourmet kitchens, cinemas, wine cellars and helicopter landing pads, as well as access to private yachts and equestrian centers.

The growth of the HomeAway luxury site comes at a time where the demand for luxury travel continues to rise. A new report from MMGY Global reveals twenty percent of affluent travellers – identified as those with an annual household income of $125,000 or more – plan to take more vacations in the year ahead.

Listings on Luxury Rentals from HomeAway are carefully cultivated to give travelers an easy way to discover exceptional properties. Each property undergoes a comprehensive evaluation by Andrew Harper using a proprietary rating system before being approved for the site. This 75-point luxury screening process evaluates attributes such as price, services, location, amenities and more to ensure the resulting inventory are the ultimate accommodations.

Less than one percent of HomeAway’s one million live listings are on its luxury site. For comparison, nearly half of the listings on Luxury Rentals from HomeAway have five or more bedrooms, whereas on HomeAway.com the houses have three bedrooms on average. Daily rates also vary significantly on each site; the luxury site’s daily rates average $1,800 while on HomeAway.com the average rates are $228 per night.

“The quick growth in listings and traveler demand for Luxury Rentals from HomeAway shows the strength of the luxury market and the need for an ultimate resource in truly exceptional vacation accommodations,” says Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway. “As the vacation rental industry continues to grow, we are dedicated to creating curated collections to make it even easier for travelers to find exactly what they are looking for anywhere in the world.”

Luxury Rentals from HomeAway also provides an additional marketing channel for owners and property managers with high-end vacation rental properties looking to access HomeAway’s audience of highly targeted, experience-focused travellers.

Source: Press Release

Sunwing Vacations has been awarded ‘Tour Operator of the Year’ by the AAVQ (the Association of Quebec Travel Agencies) for the first time. The award was presented at the 2nd annual Trophées Uni-vers, held in collaboration with the specialized magazine Tourisme Plus, on October 25th in Montreal.

Accepting the award were Marie-Josée Carrière, Marketing Manager, and Sophie Lessard, Regional Sales Manager for the Sunwing Travel Group in Quebec.

Sunwing Airlines also received a nomination within the ‘Best Airline’ category and in addition two of Sunwing Vacations’ business development managers, Marie-Eve Dupuis and Roxanne Hamelin-Anger were both runners up in the ‘Best Sales Representative’ category.

Sam Char, Executive Director for Sunwing Travel Group in Quebec commented, “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award for the first time. We feel it reflects our ongoing commitment to offer a broad choice of vacation options at the right price, specifically tailored to the needs of the Quebec market. Along with new resorts in popular vacation hot spots such as Cancun and Punta Cana for this winter, our Quebec flight schedule has also increased. This winter we will be offering 43 routes from five gateways. In addition to flights to popular southern destinations several times a week from Montreal and Quebec City, we also connect travellers from regional centres, such as Bagotville, Val-d’Or and Sept-Îles with direct flights to their favourite vacation destinations.”

Luxury health resorts are the latest craze in holiday homes. Now you can buy a retreat with vitamin showers and macrobiotic meals on site!

Warm Welcome

Try and be there to welcome your guests upon arrival. Ask them about their journey and whether they could locate the rental easily. Create a rapport with the guests by making arrangements for drinks and some snacks. After driving down, this kind action will be highly appreciated by the guests. If you can’t be there personally, you can at least leave a warm welcome note for your guests, along with some eatables and drinks. Do call up the following day to find out whether your guests are comfortable or if they need anything to make their stay more comfortable.

Welcome Family Pets

Allow guests to bring in their pets and make an effort to make your vacation rental pet-friendly. Dedicate a corner of the rental for the pet and equip it with a basket, clean blanket, treats and squeaky toy. You will be amazed at how appreciative your guests will be over this thoughtful gesture. Also, provide them the number of a local vet just in case of an emergency.

Cleanliness

Renters love neat and tidy vacation rentals and a small stain can turn off a guest. So ensure that the property is clean and the interiors are spotless. A neatly maintained and clean property will attract more guests and you can be certain of repeat bookings and great reviews.

Provide a Local Map and Tips for Entertainment

Do not let your guests fend for themselves when it comes to leisure activities. Equip them with a local map and suggest activities in the vicinity that they can enjoy. Things, like hiking routes, attractions in the area, places to enjoy local cuisine and activities for kids and adults, will be appreciated by your guests, as it will save them time.

Shopping for Groceries

Inform the guests where the nearest place for grocery shopping is located and how they can reach it. This will be extremely helpful for guests who are arriving late and are worried about where they can buy provisions for making dinner for the family.

Towels and Bed Linen

Supply good quality towels and bed linen to your guests. Make arrangements for large and fluffy bath towels and soft bed sheets that guests can use during their stay. Many reviews of vacation rentals show that guests want good quality bath towels and bed linen and this can make or break their opinion about the vacation rental.

Entertainment when Weather Plays Spoil Sport

When guests come on vacations, they hope that the weather will be perfect throughout their stay. However, this may not always be possible. If the weather turns for the worse, your guests will be home bound and this can be frustrating. Ensure that you have board games, books and DVDs in the rental for your guests to use if the weather is not favourable for venturing outdoors.

Provide Equipment Guests May Not Bring

If your vacation rental is a winter destination, have snow shoes of different sizes for your guests to use. You can even throw in a toboggan and a few pairs of ice skates that your guests can use. If your property is located near the water and is a popular fishing area, ensure that there are fishing rods and tackle boxes for your guests. These are small gestures that your guests will appreciate.

Keeping in Touch

Keep in touch with your guests even after they depart. Call them up to let them know of the changes to your property to make their future stays more comfortable and memorable. If you are unable to call, send a personalized email to them thanking them for their patronage.

These tips will help you make your guests happy during their stay. Also, take their feedback and use it to make the necessary changes to your vacation rental, so that you will have repeat bookings and a high occupancy rate.

American Express today announces availability in Apple Pay™, the easy, safe and private way to pay with iPhone® 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad® Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Apple Pay will be available for eligible U.S. Consumer and OPEN American Express® Card Members(i).

Apple Pay allows American Express Card Members to seamlessly add their eligible Card and pay with their mobile device at contactless merchants in stores or directly within participating apps that accept American Express. When paying with Apple Pay, Card Members will continue to receive all of the protection, service and benefits offered by American Express.

In addition, Card Members who use an eligible American Express Card in Apple Pay get these features:

• Real-time notifications and details for all purchases
• Seamless connection to the Amex® Mobile app for enhanced account monitoring, servicing and access to rewards and offers

How to Add an American Express Card to Apple Pay
After downloading iOS 8.1, Card Members can go to the Apple® Passbook app to get started. If a Card Member already has an eligible American Express Card on file with iTunes, they only need to type in the Security Code – or they can simply choose to add a new American Express Card.

Availability
Apple Pay will begin rollout in the U.S. starting Monday, October 20, 2014, with iOS 8.1. Apple Pay works in stores with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple Pay is also available to pay for physical goods and services in participating apps with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

Trusted Safety & Security
Whether a Card Member swipes, clicks or taps to pay, American Express has their back. With fraud and online protection, American Express is working to safeguard Card Members:

According to a report by Su Zhou and Zheng Xin a growing number of countries are modifying their visa-application procedures in order to attract more Chinese tourists.
Many Beijing residents have just been given a surprising six-day holiday to coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit being held in the Chinese capital in November. The unexpected break has resulted in a boost for tourist agencies, and domestic tourism spots and countries that have relaxed their visa-application procedures will be the big winners.
Dai Yu, marketing director of the Tourism Department of Ctrip, an online travel service provider stated that the number of trips booked to countries with easier visa-application processes has risen sharply in the past few days. He said, “When we introduce our travel products, we recommend those countries because of the limited time on offer. ”Now Chinese tourists have a wider range of choices than before, so if they can have a great vacation in a country that doesn’t require a visa at all, they won’t bother to choose one where it takes days to obtain a permit,” said Dai, who added that 49 countries and regions
have visa-free or “visa-on-arrival policies” for Chinese citizens.
The World Tourism Cities Federation and Ipsos reported in August, the top three visa-related problems Chinese outbound tourists experience are time-consuming application procedures, the strict requirements for obtaining visas, and very expensive fees.
In recent months, many countries have introduced easier ways of obtaining visas, by speeding up the process, reducing the documentation required, opening more application centers, and providing longer term multi-entry visas for regular visitors, despite concerns about issues such as overstays, terrorism, and illegal immigration.
During Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Germany on Oct 10, Berlin announced that it would shorten the visa-application process to 48 hours – at present, it takes at least three to five working days – and, to cater to people from inland China, more visa application centers will be opened in those areas.
The Canada Tourism Bureau said it upgraded single-entry visas to multi-entry ones earlier this year, hoping to attract more Chinese visitors by making it easier for them to travel to the country. Minister-counselor for consular affairs at the United States embassy in Beijing, Charles Bennett, said that in the last three years the embassy has taken steps to make visa applications simpler, more efficient, and less expensive. As a result, most applications have been processed within an average of five working days.
Thailand waived visa fees for tourists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan from August to October. The United Kingdom has introduced a ”super priority” visa service in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou under which Chinese citizens can obtain a visa within 24 hours of applying. Meanwhile, Italy has shortened its application process to 36 hours, and France has adopted a 48-hour service for Chinese tourists.
In 2012, China became the world’s largest tourism source market – the World Tourism Organization calculates that Chinese expenditure on foreign travel hit $129 billion in 2013 – and is expected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest travel and tourism economy in 2027. Encouraged by the drift, Chinese travel agencies are planning to expand their overseas travel operations.

Andrew Harper, who loves luxury travels, has developed a travel community offering personalized services and exclusive benefits to travelers seeking luxury accommodation and travel.

In Harper’s “Best Recognition Awards” for 2014, the hotel Amanzo’e in Peloponnese, Greece, was awarded for its impressive pool. It is the first resort of the famous hotel chain Aman Resorts in Greece.

The impressive Beach Club of the hotel not only offers an enchanting atmosphere in a peaceful Aegean bay near Porto Heli, but also impresses with impeccable customer service. Guests also have the opportunity to swim in one of the two freshwater pools located parallel to the sea. A separate children’s pool ensures the tranquility of customers while sunbeds provide privacy and relaxation

Source : greece.greekreporter.com

Apartment Rental Scams – How to Recognize and Avoid Them

Hello,

34% of Chinese high net worth individuals have invested overseas in 2013. 70% of Chinese buyers pay cash.

China’s leading luxury property show, LPS Shanghai 2014 will once again welcome over 5,000 elite property buyers and investors in the heart of downtown Shanghai.

The world’s most prestigious property firms will once again advertise their properties at LPS Shanghai 2014: Sotheby’s International Realty, Knight Frank, Savills, Christie’s International Real Estate, Douglas Elliman, Keller Williams, Alain Pinel, Keppel Land, Raimon Land, Cushman, Re/Max, and many more.

To be held on December 12-14 at the glamorous 5-star Marriott Shanghai City Centre, LPS Shanghai will present luxury properties from over 30 countries to Chinese elites: USA, Canada, China, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia… and many more.

To stay in a vacation home it is imperative to pay a security deposit. This is an amount that most vacation home owners charge from the occupants as a compensation for any damages that may occur during their stay. The security deposits are not cheap. This is because when somebody is entrusting you with their major financial asset to which they are emotionally attached and financially dependent there has to be a cost for it.

So, you may be asked to deposit about $200 to $500 depending on the type of vacation home you choose. And, unfortunately, most of the time, it is not an easy task to retrieve the security deposit from the owners. This is because there are certain laws that the occupants must follow and sometimes in the urge to enjoy vacations these rules are ignored. But if you by abide the rules, getting the security deposit back should not be such a big challenge.

To help you safeguard the security deposit, mentioned below are some vital tips that you must keep in mind when renting a vacation home.

1. Know everything about the rental’s fees and deposits

It is good idea to understand the deposit and rental fee in detail before hiring a rental. Bringing clarity in the deal can help you in avoiding unexpected expenses and save you from paying more money than you expected. Most of the owners of the vacation rentals charge a non-refundable fee for pets and cleaning, etc. So, it is good to know about the guidelines and structure of the fee from the vacation rental owner before moving into it.

1. Check for any issues in the property on arrival

   Instead of directly unpacking the suitcase upon arrival to the vacation home, you should take a few moments to inspect the property. Make notes and take pictures about any issues or complaints regarding the property. Let the owner know of it immediately by making a call so that you are not held responsible for the damages. It is also a good idea to email the owner so that you have a documented proof of the situation.

2. Familiarize yourself about your rights regarding rental security deposits

   It is good to know about few laws about rental security deposits and rights of the occupants. It can help you stay guarded in case the owner tries to play some tricks. In general, the property owners must not hold the security deposit more than the given time period, which can range from 14 to 30 days. If they hold the amount in case of any alleged damages, they must give a detailed list of it and the amount they wish to withhold for its repair. In some countries the owner may have to submit the receipts of the spending, which were used from the security deposit for covering the damages. For usual wear and tear or already existing damages, the owners do not have any rights to charge the fee from the occupants.

3. Keep any breakable things in a safe place

   At vacation homes if you find any decorative pieces or items which are delicate and potentially damageable, store them in a safe place. By doing so you can protect yourself from unnecessary damages and the fees associated with it. This step is especially applicable in case you are with vacationing with children and pets as the chances of destruction are more.

4. Abide with the rules stated in the contract

   It is important to follow the rules stated in the contract to ensure you get back the security deposit without any issues. It means when the agreement specifies any specific number for guest or doesn’t allow pets then it is good to follow it. Because some rental contracts allow owners to hold the deposit if the occupant violates rules, even when there aren’t any damages on the property.

5. Disclose any damages done

   Damages are normal, so if they occur be bold enough to accept them. Show willingness to replace or resolve them by contacting the property owner or company. It is not a big deal to manage small replacements and by doing so you can ensure getting back your security deposit.

6. Keep the property tidy while checking out

   Though most of the vacation homes have housekeepers, and they state that housekeeping will be done after your check out, it is good to tidy up things in the property before leaving. This helps you to avoid facing problems like extra cleaning fees. Besides, it prevents owners from looking for reasons to deduct your security deposit.

7. Opt for insurance policies

   It is good to go for travel insurances that consists of Security Deposit Protection and Accidental Rental Damage. This can help in managing the damages with a small fixed fee rather than huge repair bills.