Availability Search...
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1. HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR WHISTLER RESERVATIONS -
3 EASY TIPS
The most frequent complaint we hear from potential renters who visit
our website is... "WHY DON'T OWNERS UPDATE THEIR LISTINGS?" Please help
me fix this problem today!
With predictions that 2008-09 winter business will be down, we need
to showcase your Whistler vacation rentals effectively. Updating your
listing is a great start.
My goal is to convert
interested website visitors into reservations for you,
but I need your help...
Follow these 3 easy tips
and get more Whistler reservations:
-
Your availability
calendar should be set to SHOW and be up-to-date.
-
Your listing
description and details must be current.
-
Your photos need to
be good.
To maximize reservations our website must offer EASY search options.
Finding a vacation rental needs to be easy.
Based on feedback from our website visitors we have
added these new features:
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Availability Search
- Without question, the most logical method for a potential
guest to search for Whistler accommodations. If you want your listing to
be included in the
ResortAc.com
date search results you must set your calendar to 'show'.
Building Complex - Helpful for renters and search engines,
the name of your building complex should be selected for your
listing. If your building is not in the list, please email or call
me with the name and I'll enter it in our system right away.
Memberships - Build credibility with guests by selecting from
Tourism Whistler, Whistler Chamber of Commerce and Better Business
Bureau .
Management
- Allow renters to easily search for By Owner and
/ or Property Managed vacation rentals.
Accepted Payment Methods - Another very important detail to
your potential guests. Select from Cash, Wire Transfer, Money Order,
Certified Cheque, Visa, MasterCard, etc. |
Please update your ResortAc.com listing today:
- Click
https://www.resortac.com/ownerlogin.asp
- Logon using your Username and Password. (If you have forgotten
your password, use the password recovery feature and your password
will be emailed to you instantly.)
- Click on Manage Your Properties.
- Click on the property you want to edit, make your changes, then
click the Submit button.
If you have any questions or would like me to walk you thru the
process over the phone, please call toll-free 1-888-205-0649 or direct
1-250-503-3863.
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Predictions for 2008-09...
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3. TOURISM WHISTLER SOUNDS WARNING
Economic downturn expected to impact Whistler, but there are bright
spots, by Andrew Mitchell...
Pique Newsmagazine
Tourism Whistler
president Barrett Fisher didn’t sugar coat the possible impacts of the
economic meltdown at Tourism Whistler’s all-members meeting on Oct. 9, but
called on the association’s partners in the resort to work together to meet
the challenge.
“We have some tough times ahead, it’s been doom and gloom on the market
side, but we have a choice,” she said. “We can either recognize that and
adapt our strategies, or we can do nothing and follow (the market).
“The U.S. market decline is nothing new,” she added, “it really started back
in 2007 (with the subprime mortgage issue).”
Tourism Whistler released several scenarios for the coming winter season.
The worst-case scenario, based on Tourism Whistler’s long-term forecast and
conversations with agents, is an overall 12 per cent drop in visitors this
season compared to last. Even the best-case scenario, with the resort taking
several steps recommended by Tourism Whistler, will result in a five per
cent drop. Given the scope of the financial crisis, Fisher said, Whistler is
in a better position than other resorts because of a superior product,
reputation, location, and the additional attention the resort community will
receive as a result of the Olympic Games, Olympic test events and
initiatives like the Peak 2 Peak gondola.
“If we do nothing, we’ll be down 12 per cent,” she said. “If we work at it,
maybe we’ll see a drop of nine per cent. If we really come together as a
resort, if we co-operate, think strategically and look at prices and… act on
the opportunities we could potentially be looking at a better case scenario
of five per cent.”
Arlene Schieven, vice president of marketing, said we can expect the coming
winter to be similar to the 2004-05 winter season, when the lack of snow in
January and February kept visitors away. As well, she noted that the decline
started last winter as the number of paid room nights dropped one per cent
in February and March after a strong start to the season in December and
early January.
While most markets appear to be trending downward, Schieven expects the
regional market to be down slightly this season but otherwise strong and
recommended a renewed focus on the Lower Mainland and Washington State.
Most foreign markets, including the U.S. and U.K. are expected to decline.
The exception is Germany, where an increase is expected, partially because
of the Olympics and the test events taking place at Olympic venues this
winter. Australia was also poised for growth, but Tourism Whistler is
cautious about their forecast given the recent drop in value of the
Australian dollar.
Tourism Whistler also did a survey of Washington and California visitors
last season, and found that roughly a third were planning to take fewer
trips, and a third were taking less expensive trips. “About 25 to 30 per
cent said (the economy) wouldn’t affect them, but we need more than that,”
she said.
Karen Goodwin, director of sales, also gave a presentation. Goodwin lamented
the fact that 25 airlines went under last year, including Zoom Airlines
which represents 15,000 seats to B.C. (far less than the 50,000 quoted in a
previous article). As well, she quoted a study that found that up to 30 more
airlines will go out of business this year.
“It may not affect us directly, but it affects confidence,” she said. “When
XL Airline went under three weeks ago, they stranded 60,000 people.”
In addition, fewer flights from the U.S., Toronto, and Japan will be landing
at Vancouver International Airport because of the costs involved.
Comparatively, Goodwin said it costs airlines about twice as much to fly
into to Vancouver as it does to fly to Colorado.
Diana Lyons, vice president of operations, also presented the results of her
telephone surveys with booking agents around the world. The results of those
surveys are confidential, but most agents expect drops in the double digits.
She also noted that there were a half million empty rooms in the first three
months of 2008, and that the drop predicted will add another 100,000 empty
rooms to the total. As well, Whistler’s average daily rate for rooms was
creeping up in the past year, and she said that accommodation providers were
pricing themselves out of the market.
“The average is over $300, which is a big concern for us… and we’re also
seeing the length of stay decline,” she said. She noted that many
accommodation providers in other resorts are providing discounts of 25 to 30
per cent to agents and package deals, while local accommodation partners are
offering a 10 to 15 per cent.
With the bad news out on the table, Tourism Whistler announced its
strategies for dealing with the economic downturn. For Schieven, that means
refocusing marketing spending on locations where there was a high rate of
return last year and on the regional market.
When asked how Whistler could compete with other B.C. resorts that are vying
for the same regional market, she said that because of its location Whistler
does a better job attracting two- to three-day visitors than other resorts
who typically do better attracting guests for five to seven days. She also
pointed to packages being offered to the local market, including a two
nights for under $200 program.
Tourism Whistler has booked a 30-second commercial that will be on Outdoor
Life Network and other channels, magazine ads in the mainstream publications
(partnering with Whistler-Blackcomb to promote Peak 2 Peak), and newspaper
ads in targeted cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Sydney,
Australia, as well as in Canada’s national newspapers.
Lyons talked about
Whistler’s promotions for the coming season, including the Book Early and
Save campaign that lets visitors save up to 35 per cent. The closing date
for the promotion is Nov. 15, but if bookings are slow the date may be
extended to Nov. 30.
Lyons also recommended that local accommodation providers form partnerships
with groups offering last minute deals and promotions, which present an
opportunity for high-end hotels to offer lower rates while protecting their
brands.
As well, she said that agents should focus on value, as well as the big
mountain experience, the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola, the favourable exchange
rates for American visitors, lower gas prices, and the family holiday
experience.
She also identified some obstacles to Whistler travel. For one, she
recommended that some hotels change their deposit and cancellation policy to
allow last minute cancellations. “It’s better to book them and to take the
risk than it is not to book them in at all (because they’re scared of losing
their deposit),” she said.
She also advised
accommodation partners to look at their minimum length of stay requirements.
Hotels should still protect their weekends, she said, but accommodation
providers should also be flexible for mid-week bookings.
As well, she advised hotels to look closely at their pricing from day to
day, and urged them to try and be consistent. “It’s confusing customers who
don’t understand why there’s a price change from Tuesday to Thursday,” she
said.
She also urged the food and beverage industry, and retail industry, to get
involved with packages. One area where Whistler comes up short compared to
sun resorts and winter destinations in Europe is that we don’t have an
all-inclusive option for lower income travelers.
Goodwin further recommended that Whistler keep price parity with other ski
resorts that are already lowering their prices in response to the economic
crisis.
Fisher cautioned that Tourism Whistler’s forecast is based on older data,
and that the economic crisis is still unfolding. “We don’t know what all the
impacts are going to be,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I’d still
rather be us than other resorts.” |
