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Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - September 2005

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

Search Tip: hold down ctrl key and press f key, enter your search term, click find.

Newsletter Archive

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

Contents

Whistler newsletter topics - September 2005 - at a glance:

1. WHISTLER INFORMATION SESSION - HIGHLIGHTS
2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97
3. PRINT ADVERTISING - ACCOMMODATION GUIDE - AD DEADLINE
        >> SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2005 <<
4. SCAM ALERT!
5. WIRELESS INTERNET FOR YOUR BUILDING?
6. DISCOUNT LIFT TICKETS - FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR GUESTS
7. VRBO ARTICLE - OWNER DIRECT VS. PROPERTY MANAGER
8. CHEAKAMUS CHEMICAL SPILL EDITORIAL
9. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST
10. SUBSCRIBE & REMOVE INSTRUCTIONS

FREE Marketing Tips...

1. WHISTLER INFORMATION SESSION - HIGHLIGHTS

A big thank you goes out to those of you who made it to our 2nd annual Vacation Rental Marketing Info Session at Dusty's in Whistler on August 20, 2005! A good time was had by all and feedback so far indicates that there were plenty of useful tips and ideas discussed at the event.

If you didn't make it this year, we hope you'll join us next year!

Follow this link for the highlights of the Vacation Rental Marketing presentation.

Need Your Own Site?

2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  If these designs don't suit your style, we recommend pre-built websites from www.FrontPageTemplates.com (cost around $50).

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 $20 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Accommodation Guide...

3. PRINT ADVERTISING - ACCOMMODATION GUIDE - AD DEADLINE SEPT. 30, 2005

Increase Exposure for Your Whistler Vacation Rental Now - 1st ads booked get top spots in your neighboorhood!

Over 2 million guests pass thru Whistler Resort every year. The Whistler Accommodation Guide will get your rental property information into their hands. Let us help you tap into the repeat visitor market and expose you to thousands of guests who are unaware of owner-direct vacation rentals.

What is the Accommodation Guide?

High-quality, 4 by 9 inch color glossy, 22-page booklet. Click image to download  color pdf file. The first ever owner-direct vacation rental catalogue for Whistler Resort Exclusive to ResortAc.com advertisers Easy-to-follow format with clear photos, descriptions, and maps

click to download

  >> AD DEADLINE SEPT. 30, 2005 <<

 1st ads booked get top spots in your neighborhood!

Follow this link for more Accommodation Guide details or call Troy toll-free 1-888-205-0649.

Scam Alert!

4. SCAM ALERT! BEWARE OF OVERPAYMENT TRICK

We have seen a recent surge in scam attempts in Whistler over the past week. Be aware of the overpay-and-get-refund trick that is being used by fraudulent renters. Here is an email recently received on ResortAc.com:

Wireless Internet Available

5. WIRELESS INTERNET FOR YOUR BUILDING?

We have connected with a company that provides high-speed wireless Internet access and online services for short-term subscribers and long-term fixed residential and commercial customers in Whistler.

THIS SERVICE IS OFFERED AT NO COST TO THE PROPERTY OWNER

Often only one or two antenna installations are necessary to cover an entire neighborhood. This company is prepared to offer half price or free Internet access to owners who host this equipment on their premises.

Read more about Whistler wireless...

Discount Whistler Tickets...

6. DISCOUNT LIFT TICKETS - FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR GUESTS

We are into our 3rd season selling lift tickets securely online at www.ResortAc.com/lifttickets.asp

Your guests' convenience and security are guaranteed!

• Save time - Avoid the lift ticket windows & have tickets personally delivered to your Whistler lodging.
• Save money - Discounts up to 20% off the Whistler Blackcomb ticket window prices.
• Secure - Credit card details protected by 128 bit SSL encryption, the same as what banks use.

Order discount Whistler Blackcomb lift tickets here.

Owner Direct Sales Pitch

7. VRBO ARTICLE - OWNER DIRECT VS. PROPERTY MANAGER

Which is better for guests... owner direct or property managed vacation rentals?

Here's a great editorial by David Clouse, founder of  www.VRBO.com that provides tips to owners on how to differentiate their vacation rentals from property managers:

...when I started VRBO.COM back in 1995 never in my wildest dreams did I expect that property managers would want to join... that's why I named it "Vacation Rentals by Owner"!

Read tips on promoting owner direct vacation rentals here.

CN Chemical Spill...

8. CHEAKAMUS CHEMICAL SPILL EDITORIAL

The recent chemical spill in the Cheakamus River South of Whistler has had devastating consequences to both wildlife and tour companies.

See fish kill photos here.

Take a minute and read Rios Sdrakas, Owner of Rivers Edge Sportfishing Outfitters Ltd. editorial:

... I’ve realized that government deregulation and cutbacks leave the onus on private rail companies to patrol themselves. In the case of the Cheakamus River spill, 141 cars of 144 cars were empty. Back a few years ago when BC Rail was on board, they would hardly ever put over 90 cars on trains through our community. Unrealistic quotas and self-regulation puts us all at jeopardy. Read Rios whole editorial here.

Interested?

9. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - August 2005

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

Newsletter Archive

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

Contents

Whistler newsletter topics - August 2005 - at a glance:

1. FREE INFORMATION SESSION - WHISTLER - AUGUST 20, 2005
2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97
3. WHISTLER VACATION RENTAL SURVEY RESULTS
4. WE WANT YOUR TESTIMONIALS
5. WHISTLER RECEPTION SERVICES
6. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST
7. SUBSCRIBE & REMOVE INSTRUCTIONS

FREE Marketing Tips

FREE Drinks & Snacks...

1. FREE INFORMATION SESSION - WHISTLER - AUGUST 20, 2005

Whistler property owners... Increase vacation rental bookings and shift your administration onto auto-pilot. 

We've shown over 100 Whistler vacation rental owners how to maximize revenue, minimize tedious administrative tasks, and virtually eliminate rental management problems. 

If you would like to learn how you can do the same, join us at Dusty's in Whistler Creekside on August 20th at 5 pm for a FREE casual information exchange.

Topics to be discussed...

• Best vacation rental websites to advertise on

• How to handle rental requests from multiple websites

• How to process rental deposits & payments securely online

• How to effectively handle guest check-ins & services

Bonus topics...

• How to quickly create your own vacation rental website on a shoestring budget

• Search engine tips & secrets

Are your bookings down? Many Whistler owners have experienced what can only be described as a very disappointing season at Whistler this past year.  As you know, it can be difficult to ensure that your rental property is booked on a consistent basis, which can be really hard on your pocket book! Why not take advantage of our special offer... 

It's FREE - Please join us at Dusty's in Whistler Creek on August 20th at 5 pm to enjoy a complimentary drink and snacks, while learning how you can increase your rental bookings & guest satisfaction at minimal cost.  

Presenters...

www.ResortAc.com:
Providing successful online vacation rental directories for Whistler homeowners for the past decade.  Owned and operated by Troy Assaly, a seasoned Whistler veteran and self-declared Internet marketing junkie. Background includes: Bachelor of Commerce from UBC, management experience, small business experience, Blackcomb Sales Mgr., Canadian Snowmobile Adventures Sales Mgr., EagleTours.com co-founder. Student of marketing gurus - Corey Rudl, Yanik Silver, Dan Kennedy, Perry Marshall, Brad Fallon, among others. Troy will share with you his latest knowledge in this exciting and dynamic industry.

Paradata Systems:
A Whistler-based company leading the North American Internet payment industry with a well-established, secure and economical credit card acceptance program for Vacation Rental Owners & Managers. Accepting credit cards from your renters provides them with security and convenience, so they are far more likely to rent your property than if you only accept checks and cash. A single additional rental each year will pay for this program!  Paradata will provide you with facts on one of the easiest ways to increase your rental bookings.

Follow this link for more details...  http://resortac.com/merchant.asp

Whistler Reception Services:
Providing in-resort check-in and guest services from their Whistler retail location. Co-founder Cheryl Waters is an entrepreneur with 11 years of hospitality experience in hotel & property management, including executive administration, reservations, front office and operations management.  Whistler Reception services include greet screening your guests, obtaining signed registration card, and credit card preauthorization to ensure the security of your rental unit. They also provide you an opportunity to capture more revenue through over the counter business.

Follow this link for more details...http://resortac.com/whistler_reception.asp

Services from these Whistler companies are available ala carte or as a package. Please note that ResortAc.com subscribers receive special rates on these innovative vacation rental services. Special package rates will be unveiled at the presentation, so don't miss out.

Please RSVP so we can make sure we have enough food and drinks for the group! Email or call toll-free 1-888-205-0649.

Hope to see you there!

Need Your Own Site?

2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  If these designs don't suit your style, we recommend pre-built websites from www.FrontPageTemplates.com (cost around $50).

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 $20 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Owner Survey Results

3. WHISTLER VACATION RENTAL SURVEY RESULTS

Wondering how other Whistler Vacation Rental Owners fared last Winter? Check out the survey results here:

www.vacationrentalwhistler.com/survey_resortac_results_2005.htm

Follow this link for complete survey results:

www.vacationrentalwhistler.com/survey_resortac_results_2005.htm

Testimonials

4. WE WANT YOUR TESTIMONIALS

We want your feedback! Call our feedback line at 1-800-609-9006 x8043 (recorded message) and let us know how we are doing or email us today.

Whistler Reception

5. WHISTLER RECEPTION SERVICES

Check out the useful services of Whistler's only centralized check in for private rental units. Whistler Reception agents greet screen every guest and obtain a signed registration card and credit card preauthorization and imprint to ensure the security of your unit.

Whistler Reception can also offer you an opportunity to capture more revenue through over the counter business that they receive during the season. They provide this type of business to their members at a 10% commission.

Follow this link for a list of the benefits of Whistler Reception's owner-direct program.

Interested?

6. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - June 2005

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

Current Newsletter

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

Contents

Whistler newsletter topics - June 2005 - at a glance:

1. WHISTLER VACATION RENTAL SURVEY
2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97
3. RESORTAC.COM SEDUCES SEARCH ENGINES
4. SCAM ALERT - OVERPAYING, REFUNDING
5. RENTAL REQUEST MANAGEMENT TIPS
6. CALL FOR PROPERTY PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS
7. DEAL TIME IN WHISTLER?
8. CUSTOM MAPS FOR YOUR LISTING
9. WE WANT YOUR TESTIMONIALS
10. WHISTLER RECEPTION SERVICES
11. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST
12. SUBSCRIBE & REMOVE INSTRUCTIONS

Owner Survey

1. WHISTLER VACATION RENTAL SURVEY

Wondering how other Whistler Vacation Rental Owners fared last Winter? We'll tell you how they did, but first you have to tell us a little about how your season went.

Please complete this anonymous Whistler Home Owner's Survey.  It will take you less than 10 minutes.  We will tally your answers on July 5th and show you the detailed results with graphs on our website.

Need Your Own Site?

2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  If these designs don't suit your style, we recommend pre-built websites from www.FrontPageTemplates.com (cost around $50).

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 $20 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Search Engines

Google Tip...

3. RESORTAC.COM SEDUCES SEARCH ENGINES

After years of slogging away on my computer, the search engines are rewarding us... Top listings on Google.com!

Would you like your vacation rental listing on ResortAc.com to be top spot on Google.com? It's easier than you think... simply enter your target keywords into your 'Property Name' field on the page where you edit your listing. This way your listing page will come up directly in the search engine results. It's that simple...
 

Property Name	Position	Google Results
Whistler Village Town Home	1	view
Ski-in/Out Arrowhead Point	1	view
Village 2 Bedroom	1	view
luxury slopeside condo	1	view
Northstar at Stoney Creek	1	view
Whistler Town Plaza	2	view

Scam Alert

4. SCAM ALERT - OVERPAYING, REFUNDING

A common scam occurring in the owner-direct vacation rental world, recently, is the overpayment-and-request-refund scam. Here's how it works...

For whatever reason given, the potential renter wants to send you a check for a large sum of money in excess of the rent due. They may give one of the following reasons why they have this "suspiciously large" check to send: wedding gift, honeymoon, payment from a trust fund, bonus from their employer, or gift of another type. If you deposit this check they will ask you to wire the difference back to them immediately. You may be hounded and possibly threatened to return the excess funds. Here's an example from a recent Whistler rental inquiry:

Rental Requests

5. RENTAL REQUEST MANAGEMENT TIPS

Ever feel overwhelmed with the management of your rental requests? ResortAc.com provides a useful online tool to assist you!

The Rental Request Manager provides a space for you to sift, sort and file your rental requests based on criteria like arrival date, number of nights, and whether you have replied to the potential guest.

Replying to guests directly from this page requires one click (on their email address). As well, the Rental Request Manager provides a secure space for you to store contact info, notes, and credit card information.

To access your personal Rental Request Manager, logon to ResortAc.com and click 'Manage Rental Requests'. Upon page loading you will see all the requests you have received through our system. You can filter these results to show only the ones you want to view. These results may be sorted by clicking the column headings. As well, you can set the status of each request so it will appear where you want it to appear when you return to this page.

Please give the Rental Request Manager a test drive today and let us know if you have any questions or suggestions by email or call toll-free 1-888-205-0649.

New Photos?

6. CALL FOR PROPERTY PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS

As the operator of this website, the most common question I am asked is 'how can I get more inquiries and bookings?'. The obvious answer to me is to offer the most desirable image of your property, using pictures and words.

You've heard it before, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Whistler vacation rentals are a cut above typical ski resort accommodations, so why not let your potential guests see for themselves? It's fast and easy to load photos directly to your listing 24/7. In this day of digital cameras, there's no excuse for outdated, fuzzy or dark photos.

Once you've taken care of your photos, you need to check your property description. On our site you have unlimited space for describing your rental homes... take advantage of it! Provide details about your favorite features, location, and surroundings. If you spend time in Whistler yourself, think about the 'experience' your home provides and convey this in your description.

It's a great practice to have a few friends or co-workers critique your listing after you've given it a facelift. You may be surprised how many important details you've overlooked... not to mention grammar and spelling mistakes! Remember, there are literally hundreds of owners and management companies competing with you and the potential customer will judge your home (and you) based on your listing details. It doesn't cost any extra to put your best image forward... and you may be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Whistler Deals

7. DEAL TIME IN WHISTLER?

It's a sad reality, but Whistler appears to have entered the travel deals phase of life. We have been drifting this way for the past couple seasons, but it seems like the hoteliers are in full swing now. If you're not aware of the current extent of the discounting, try a hotel search for 'Whistler Canada' on www.HotWire.com for July or even Christmas. You may be shocked by the low prices... I know I was.

If an effort to remain competitive and provide more exposure for owners who care to play the discount game, we have added a 'Whistler Deals & Last Minute Specials' page to ResortAc.com here: www.ResortAc.com/deals.asp. This page is now #2 on Google.com for the search 'whistler deals' (view Google results here).

You are welcome to add your latest last-minute deals and specials by logging in as the owner and updating your listing. Enter your special offer in the area marked 'Deals and Last Minute Specials'.

Custom Maps

8. CUSTOM MAPS FOR YOUR LISTING

Whether you have a prime Whistler location or a quiet place that's hard to find, why not show all your potential clients with a really good map? We are now offering high-quality custom Whistler maps for our owners and guests. Follow this link to see a sample custom map (click the 'View Map' button half way down the page).

Sounds great, but what's the cost? FREE for annual subscribers. Follow this link for complete pricing.

Testimonials

9. WE WANT YOUR TESTIMONIALS

We want your feedback! Call our feedback line at 1-800-609-9006 x8043 (recorded message) and let us know how we are doing or email us today.

Whistler Reception

10. WHISTLER RECEPTION SERVICES

Check out the useful services of Whistler's only centralized check in for private rental units. Whistler Reception agents greet screen every guest and obtain a signed registration card and credit card preauthorization and imprint to ensure the security of your unit.

Whistler Reception can also offer you an opportunity to capture more revenue through over the counter business that they receive during the season. They provide this type of business to their members at a 10% commission.

Follow this link for a list of the benefits of Whistler Reception's owner-direct program.

Interested?

11. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - July 2004

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

Printable Version

Newsletter Archive

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's ongoing community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. If you would like to receive this newsletter automatically Subscribe Now.

Contents

Whistler newsletter topics - July 2004 - at a glance:

1. 2003/2004 WHISTLER HOMEOWNER SURVEY RESULTS
2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97
3. LEVERAGING YOUR LISTINGS WITH COLOR POSTCARDS
4. EASY RENTAL CONTRACTS
5. WHEN VACATION HOMEOWNERS GO ON VACATION
6. FINE TUNE YOUR CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST
7. SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY CLOSURE UPDATES
8. HYDROGEN HIGHWAY - VANCOUVER TO WHISTLER
9. CHASING THE ALMIGHTY DESTINATION VISITOR
10. PAN PACIFIC WHISTLER INTRODUCES NEW ADDITIONS
11. NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST
12. SUBSCRIBE & REMOVE INSTRUCTIONS

Owner Survey Results

1. 2003/2004 WHISTLER HOMEOWNER SURVEY RESULTS

Wondering how other Whistler Vacation Rental Owners fared last Winter? Our survey results are in:

View all survey results here: Data or Graphs

Congratulations to Kerry Dennehy, Marnie Gibson, and Margi McGraw! You are the winners of $90 or 1 month free listing on ResortAc.com. Thanks for completing our Whistler Homeowner Survey 2004!

Need Your Own Site?

2. BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  These prebuilt websites look great!

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 $20 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Advertising Idea

3. LEVERAGING YOUR LISTINGS WITH COLOR POSTCARDS

In marketing our own rental property, we've found that a picture postcard can be extraordinarily effective. We recommend them to all of our readers. Here's why.

First, a postcard with a beautiful picture on the front isn't going to be tossed in the trash. It's just human nature for someone to turn it over to see what's on the back.

Second, who usually sends postcards? Friends and family, of course. So your recipients will be predisposed to look at them.

Third, standard 4.25- by 6-inch, four-color postcards are incredibly inexpensive. For less than $140, for example, you can have 500 color postcards printed, front and back, and delivered to your door. That's a cost of about 28 cents each. (The unit cost drops with the quantity ordered, of course.)

Best of all, a postcard makes it easy to leverage your online property listings. Just have the printing company include not only your land address and telephone number, but also one or more addresses for your online listings.

Once you've got your postcards, you'll want to mail them to all of your former guests as a warm gesture and gentle reminder. (Scribble a quick note on the back to the effect that you hope to hear from them about renting your place again this season.)

Keep a supply of postcards in your car so you can pass them out to interested parties. (Think of your postcard as your property's business card.) Also, be sure to stock your vacation property with a supply of postcards for guests to use and send to their friends.

We've been very impressed with Modern Postcard (www.modernpostcard.com). But their minimum print run is 500. For smaller quantities, you might look at VistaPrint (www.vistaprint.com) and Postcard Builder (www.postcardbuilder.com).

Written by Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner
Authors of How to Make Your Vacation Property Work for You!: The Quick & Easy Guide to Advertising, Renting, Managing, and Making Money from your Second Home (320 pages, includes CD with convenient forms and software)

For more information or to order your copy visit:

www.ResortAc.com/books.asp

Rental Contracts

4. EASY RENTAL CONTRACTS

We always recommend having a signed rental contract. It does not have to be long, complicated, or lawyer-like. Follow this link for sample agreements you can copy, paste, and edit for your own use:

www3.cyberrentals.com/lease4.html

Emergency Contact Info

5. WHEN VACATION HOMEOWNERS GO ON VACATION

Yes, it's true, vacation homeowners go on vacation too. As schools let out and the height of the summer getaway season approaches, many of you may be dreaming of your own escape from it all. It might be worth a moment's time, though, to consider how your vacation can affect the renters who are paying you for theirs.

Just yesterday we received a phone call from a frenzied vacationer who had paid their monies, received the key, and successfully navigated to the rental home only to find that the key didn't work. Repeated calls to the owner got only an answering machine ... the owner was on vacation himself. The renter knew there was a caretaker, but had no phone number.

Thus the call to CyberRentals, the only alternative they had. We attempted to help by sending emails and calling various phone numbers, all to no avail. As of this writing the renter is still locked out.

To make sure that your own vacation goes without a glitch, and that you gain the uninterrupted peace and quiet that you so richly deserve, here are a few easy steps to take:

1) Be sure to include any caretakers' phone numbers on each document you send to renters, including leases, maps and directions, etc.
2) If you don't have a caretaker or property manager on call, be sure to have some alternative contact (friend, relative) so that renters in emergency situations have someone to call -- even if that contact can only tell folks where an extra key is hidden on the property.
3) While on vacation, consider modifying your home phone answering machine to include the phone number where you can be reached (for emergency use only of course).
4) If you take a cell phone with you, be sure that your guests are aware of the number.
5) Consider removing your email address from your webpages during the duration of your vacation, unless you plan to religiously monitor your email.
6) Be sure to have at least one key hidden on the property for extreme emergency use.
7) Give alternative phone numbers to your vacation rental site. We don't mind recording that info as it can be a lifesaver when we field those rare but horrific calls from stranded renters.

A little bit of forethought can insure that your renters and you both have a terrific, relaxing and hassle-free vacation.

Written by: Hunter Melville and Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals
www.cyberrentals.com/

Check-out Checklist

6. FINE TUNE YOUR CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST

Be sure that your vacation rental guests know exactly what's expected of them at check-out. Start a "check-out checklist" by recording a detailed list of what you do personally at check-out. Then reduce your list to a much shorter one that's reasonable to expect from renters rushing to depart.

Be sure that your list is reasonable; happy guests can be a great source of future referrals. Email your check-out checklist to your renters before they arrive. Also leave a printed copy in plain view inside your rental. This helps to make it clear, from the beginning of their stay, that you expect your guests to treat your vacation home with care.

Renters appreciate the checklist because it defines what you expect of them. Here are some basics that we expect to find on a check-out checklist:

__ Dishwashing instructions. (Reasonable: "Load and start the dishwasher before you leave.")
__ What to do with used bed linens, bath towels, etc. (Reasonable: "Place used linens on top of the washer.")
__ What to do with leftover food. (Should unopened food be discarded with the garbage?)
__ Where/how to dispose of garbage.
__ If guests are responsible for any housecleaning chores, be specific -- but never expect your guests to eliminate the need for a thorough, professional housecleaning.
__ Identify appliances that should be unplugged for safety, like the coffeemaker and toaster.
__ Heating/cooling system instructions.
__ Turn off all lights, radios, TVs, and electronics.
__ Instructions for pool, pool heat, and spa.
__ Instructions for safe disposal of fireplace ashes.
__ Instructions for locking/securing your property.
__ What to do with the keys.
__ How to report destroyed, damaged, or lost items.

Your checklist should also address any financial issues:

__ Tell guests when to expect return of their security deposit; identify possible "deductions". Be specific to avoid misunderstandings, bad feelings, and complaints.

Written by: Brian and Lisa Raub, A1 Vacation Rentals
www.a1vacations.com/

Highway 99 Closures

7. SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY CLOSURE UPDATES

Clear and current highway closure information can be found here:

www.gtmconsulting.com/info/project_updates/travelling-sts.htm

Less Pollution?

8. HYDROGEN HIGHWAY - VANCOUVER TO WHISTLER

Government of Canada Gears Up to Put Fuel-Cell Technologies on the Road. World's first Hydrogen Highway to be built between Vancouver and Whistler.

Marking another milestone on the road to a new energy era powered by hydrogen, the Government of Canada today announced funding for the world's first Hydrogen Highway(TM) to be built between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, made the announcement at Globe 2004, a trade fair and conference on environmental technology and management.

Read more here...

www.fuelcellsworks.com/PressRelease26.html

Regional Visitors

9. CHASING THE ALMIGHTY DESTINATION VISITOR

Pique Editorial by Bob Barnett
www.piquenewsmagazine.com

Whistler's business woes were well documented last week [mid-winter 2003/04], locally and in Vancouver, but if it's any consolation, we are not alone.

The City of Aspen is putting $400,000 into helping the Aspen Skiing Company subsidize hosting the X Games over the next four years, the X Games being the biggest marketing boost Aspen has seen in years. The city is also working on a downtown revitalization plan. Last month Colorado Ski Country USA, the marketing arm of all Colorado ski areas, announced skier visits for the first period (Oct. 28-Dec. 31, 2003) were down about nine per cent from the same period last year.

Earlier this winter a study commissioned by Colorado ski areas found the state had lost 1.23 million destination skier visits over the last six years.

Interestingly, these random economic indicators come after record skier visits last winter in both Canada and the United States. The winter of 2002-03 produced generally good ski conditions all season, all across the continent. The suspicion is that the record skier visits were fuelled by regional skiers and boarders who decided to visit their local mountain more often.

So, are regional skiers the new/old market North American ski resorts must rely on? And if so, does it make sense that B.C. has a new Ministry of Resort Development?

To be sure, the new ministry is not just about facilitating the development of mountain resorts. And even if the regional skier market seems to be what ski areas across the continent are focussing on right now, that doesn't mean destination markets won't return or new ones won't develop in the future.

But at the same time, it appears that the ski industry and the province are taking their cue from the sausage industry: the finished products, the ski resorts, certainly look nice, but maybe there should be more focus on the raw materials that go into them.

The foundation of the business - the raw material - is what we now call the regional market. It used to just be called local skiers.

Many years ago, before skiing became a business, it was a recreational pursuit, usually a family activity, and often part of a town's culture. In the Interior, ski areas at Kimberley, Rossland/Trail, Nelson and other areas developed from the mining industry, which was the industry in those towns. Skiing was what much of these towns' folk did on weekends and in their spare time during the winter. The mining company helped build the lifts and local ski clubs operated them.

Eventually, ski hills began to outgrow the ski club model and became businesses. But as the ski business grew it became, in many people's minds and wallets, more exclusive. Today those in the ski hill business are left trying to steal destination visitors from one another while hoping the regional market can sustain them.

The ski business has also morphed into the resort industry, with mountain villages and a cadre of little businesses dependent on the overall success of the resort - this newspaper being one of those little businesses.

Because this model has been mostly successful, we now have a Ministry of Resort Development. That's not necessarily wrong - as Al Raine has said, if we set our minds to it, there's no reason why B.C. can't become the number one jurisdiction for winter sports in North America. I'm just not sure if we've made that decision and if so, if we know why we're doing it.

We've wandered far from the roots of the sport. It's now something people must invest in, something too many people have to be convinced to do, rather than something that people grew up with.

About three years ago John MacLachlan Gray wrote about his family's vacation in Whistler. Gray, who feigns no interest in skiing, wrote:

"I understand the thrill of skiing has to do with cold clean air, immense vistas and the sensation of speed; but cold air and immense vistas are a Canadian commonplace, and I have enough speed in my life, thanks. Did the year 2000 go by fast enough for you? Enjoying the downhill slope of your physical condition? Is your hair collecting snow?

"There, you see? You're skiing already."

Facilitating the development and expansion of resorts is fine, but efforts also need to be focused on people like Mr. Gray.

Then, perhaps, the regional business will be enough to sustain resorts.

Meeting Space

10. PAN PACIFIC WHISTLER INTRODUCES NEW ADDITIONS

Pan Pacific Whistler... recently completed two new enhancements to this award-winning property, namely the Singing Pass Meeting Room and the Pacific Suite.

Read more here...

www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/3/prweb113215.htm

Interested?

NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions to sales@resortac.com and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter Archive - June 2004

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

Search Tip: hold down ctrl key and press f key, enter your search term, click find.

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's ongoing community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. If you would like to receive this newsletter automatically Subscribe Now.

Owner Survey

2003/2004 SURVEY - 3 CHANCES TO WIN $90 DEADLINE JUNE 15, 2004

Wondering how other Whistler Vacation Rental Owners fared last Winter? We'll tell you how they did, but first you have to tell us a little about how your season went.

Please complete this anonymous Whistler Home Owner's Survey.  It will take you less than 10 minutes.  We will tally your answers on June 16th and show you the detailed results with graphs on our website.

Need Your Own Site?

BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  These prebuilt websites look great!

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 $20 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Whistler Deals

WHISTLER VACATION RENTAL DEALS - www.ResortAc.com/deals.asp

We have added a feature to our website that gives each owner an easy way to update their special rates and have them included on a 'deal sheet'. Follow this link to see the latest Whistler deals: www.ResortAc.com/deals.asp

If you have a listing on www.ResortAc.com follow these instructions to have your specials included on the Whistler deals page:
1. Click on the Owners link on the left side of page at www.resortac.com
2. Logon using your Username and Password.
3. Click on Manage Your Properties.
4. Click on the property you want to edit and scroll down to the 'Classified Ad' box.
5. Enter your special offer in the text box and then click the Submit button to save it.
Note: your listing number and phone number will automatically be included so you do NOT need to enter them in the text of your ad.

Long-Term Rental

WHISTLER LONG TERM RENTAL TENANTS

Whistler couple will manage your lodge or property in return for 2004/5 winter accommodation. Knowledgeable locals with management experience, pretty handy, and professionally tied to Whistler Blackcomb Mountain / Tourism Whistler. Planning ahead!

Email John Walsh

Pricing Errors

HOW TO UPSET YOUR CUSTOMERS

We have received a handful of emails and calls from potential renters who feel they have been tricked by our website.  The complaints are due to cheaper prices posted on your availability calendars than what you actually charge.

Renters are shopping for winter 2004/2005 now.  Please check your posted rates to ensure they are correct.

The www.ResortAc.com system automatically adds pricing and minimum nights to your listing using your 'default' values.  If your 'defaults' are not correct for all seasons you are required to logon as the owner and update the incorrect rates / minimum nights on a regular basis.

Please email or call me toll-free 1-888-205-0649 if you need help with correcting the rates on your availability calendar.

WIN $90

Traffic, Traffic, Traffic

WHAT'S THE SECRET TO WEBSITE MARKETING?
PART 2: FINDING GOOD KEYWORDS

Here's the next instalment of my 1-minute Web marketing tips.  This is a continuation of Website Marketing Part 1.

Keywords:
If you want your website to be listed by search engines, it must be built around words that your potential clients search frequently.  Similar to the foundation of a house, these sought after keywords should make the solid base for all of your headings, body text, and meta tags. 

There are many tools on the Internet that help you to figure out which words (keyword phrases) to use. My favourite keyword research tools are:

Overture.com - allows you to search for a keyword (i.e. Whistler) or a keyword phrase (i.e. Whistler accommodation).  Simply enter the keyword(s) then instantly view a report showing how many searches were processed on Overture during the past month.

WordTracker.com - allows you to enter some keywords then tells you how often people search for them on a variety of search engines.  Also tells you how many competing sites use those same keywords.

By using these two free tools you can quickly figure out the best keywords to build your website around.  From there it's up to you to include the little gems on each of your web pages.

Whistler Photos

WHISTLER MUSEUM ONLINE IMAGE GALLERY

Whether you're a history buff or a Whistler buff or both, you've got to have a look at these classic Whistler images:

www.whistlermuseum.org/gallery/index.html

The culmination of 100's of hours of organisation and scanning, just released to the Internet public on Museum Day, May 10, 2004.

I really enjoyed looking at the old fishing lodge days and some classic Crazy Canuck photos. Definitely worth a look!

Owner Tips

MAKING YOUR GUESTS FEEL WELCOME

I am sure that as vacation property owners, we all have our own ways of making our guests feel welcome. First, and foremost is being nice, polite and professional. People respond to people they like, and that is how we probably got the rental over our competition in the first place.

I have several things that I do in order to stand out, and hopefully gain repeat and referral business. First of all, I have what I term a packet of information that I send each guest after receiving their deposit. In it, I make sure to include my brochure, and I have a four (or five page for our other condo) page list of activities and attractions that I put together especially for our guests. This gives your guests some good information to look forward to receiving right away. It doesn't cost anything except some time. Make sure you give yourself credit, and include your name, phone, address and email address at the top.

When our guests enter our vacation homes, they will find some pleasant surprises. I vary what I do depending on our guests. If we have a couple celebrating an anniversary, I make sure to include a bottle of wine, or sparking cider which is enclosed in a pretty fabric gift bag. I make sure that every guest receives a small fabric gift bag that I fill with my business card, an individual bubble bath pillow packet, and either scented bath salts or tub tea. Our housekeepers usually leave this on the bed, or you can place these items in a small basket in a bathroom like other owners I know of. For repeat guests, or as a special for our one property in off season, I offer a complementary bath and body basket. I buy these items in bulk, and offer most of them for sale on my website.

Here is another great idea from a very nice owner who recently emailed me. This is one unique touch Marie offers. "Thought I would share something I do for my Guests after final payment is received along with the info packet I mail to them, I print them out calling cards with their names (The Smith Family) rental dates, the address and the rental phone number. I print out a sheet for each rental, that gives them 10 cards to share with family and friends. They often comment how much they appreciate that little touch. A great "bang" for a few cents and 5 minutes of my time." Thank you again Marie for sharing!

These great tips supplied by www.forvacationrentalowners.com

Whistler's CSP

WHISTLER'S FUTURE PLANS RELEASED

It's never been easy to do long-term planning, especially in Whistler, but the draft for Whistler's Community Plan has been released to the public.

Whistler, It's Our Future is now available for you to read here.

The Municipality of Whistler is looking for feedback from stakeholders. Please take some time and provide feedback before it's too late.

House Swap

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA HOUSE SWAP

"Perhaps one of your owners might like to spend a sunny month in Sydney Australia in peak summer vacation, while we spend the month in freezing cold whistler?"

3 bedroom house, sleeps 6, heated swimming pool , 2 bath plus small attic area. Great location 2 minutes by car to Balmoral Beach, Taronga Zoo, Mosman shops. House located within walking distance to shops and movie theatres. Bus stop at front door to harbour ferries and CBD Sydney. Mosman is a lovely harbour side suburb of Sydney located on the north shores. Would like similar Blackcomb/Whistler late Dec, early Jan, flexible. Prefer ski in ski out. Thanks.

Email Merin Boyd

Interested?

NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions to sales@resortac.com and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - March 2004

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's ongoing community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. If you would like to receive this newsletter automatically Subscribe Now.

Whistler Discounts

BUSINESS UPDATE - DISCOUNTING NOW

In case you have not already heard, Whistler's numbers are down this season. I have been hearing this all year, directly from homeowners and property managers. Even the package holiday companies I spoke with are feeling the bite this year.

The enthusiasm factor in recent articles from Whistler's papers has dropped down a couple notches. From sky-is-the-limit Olympic optimism to how-will-we-make-it-thru 2004 cash crunch.

Accompanying this bad news is a dramatic increase in discounting. Even Whistler Blackcomb is jumping in head first with a full-page coupon newsletter. Follow this link to view Whistler Blackcomb coupons.

Here's a link to an outstanding editorial by Bob Barnet. It's a great gauge of what's going on in Whistler. If you own real estate in Whistler, you should pay attention to the numbers in the article. These are especially useful if you are not spending much time in the resort yourself.  Follow this link read the Pique Newsmagazine editorial.

Need Your Own Site?

BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  These prebuilt websites look great!

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Whistler Realtor

Whistler Revenue Property Specialist - Kerry Dennehy

Buying or selling in Whistler? For solid results call Kerry 1-604-938-0588.

Kerry just sold 404 Powderhorn for $840,000 (over $200,000 more than the last sale in the building). He assisted his client by advising and coordinating improvements including new wood blinds, paint and drywall repair.

7 reasons why you should deal with Kerry Dennehy to buy or sell real estate in Whistler:

1. Kerry specializes in INVESTMENT PROPERTY:

• With several years experience in property management, construction
• Kerry has the inside knowledge to help you buy, own & manage your investment
• Member of the Advisory Panel Commission for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, which provides Kerry with up-to-date knowledge of Whistler development
• Member of several Whistler strata councils

2. Whistler real estate agent since 1996 

3. Education - BA & Certified Financial Planner 

4. Deeply involved in the Whistler community

• Whistler Realtors Association
• Festival of Lights, Whistler charity
• Pemberton, Squamish & Nicklaus North golf courses
• Whistler Minor Hockey & Baseball Associations
• Whistler Question newspaper writer

 5. The right connections with mortgage brokers, contractors & property managers

 6. Kerry has a proven track record - results with honesty and integrity

• Testimonials and references available

 7. Kerry will guide you from A to Z when completing your real estate transaction

Contact Kerry today for your free property evaluation - www.WhistlerLiving.com

Whistler Deals

RESORTAC.COM SPECIALS - www.ResortAc.com/deals.asp

Understandably, none of us really want to get into the discount game. That said, it may be essential to discount in order to stay competitive in the current Whistler market.

We have added a feature to our website that gives each owner an easy way to update their special rates and have them included on a 'deal sheet'. Follow this link to see the latest Whistler deals: www.ResortAc.com/deals.asp

If you have a listing on www.ResortAc.com follow these instructions to have your specials included on the Whistler deals page:
1. Click on the Owners link on the left side of page at www.resortac.com
2. Logon using your Username and Password.
3. Click on Manage Your Properties.
4. Click on the property you want to edit and scroll down to the 'Classified Ad' box.
5. Enter your special offer in the text box and then click the Submit button to save it.
Note: your listing number and phone number will automatically be included so you do NOT need to enter them in the text of your ad.

For Sale by Owner

WHISTLER FOR SALE BY OWNER

Are any of you interested in selling your Whistler properties? If you are, let me know. I've had meetings with a large for-sale-by-owner company and they are seeking a partner for the Whistler area.

The for-sale-by-owner features could also be added to the ResortAc.com website very easily, if this would offer value to any owners.

Please email or call me toll-free 1-888-205-0649 with any feedback, suggestions, investment capital, or just to share ideas.

OwnerMatch

CUT YOUR COSTS

Cut your Whistler real estate ownership costs in half! OwnerMatch.com will find and structure a "co-ownership partner" for your resort property. It will be another family that you will select personally. You will feel good knowing that the people using the property will have the same "pride of ownership" that you do.

You withdraw half the value of your property in cash for other uses and immediately cut all your costs of ownership in half.  http://www.ownermatch.com

Guest Services

EXTRA GUEST SERVICE

Before working on ResortAc.com full-time, I started and operated a full-service package tour company called Whistler Eagle Tours Inc. www.EagleTours.com is running a top-notch service-oriented business that pampers lots of guests.

When guests are in the planning stages of their vacations they often need more than just accommodation. As an accommodation provider, you need to realize that Whistler packages are getting tougher to compete with. Some of you handle all the package elements yourselves. Nice work.

For those of you who do not offer packages, it may be time to consider our partnership with this local, full-service 'ground handler'. Through Eagle you may offer Whistler lift tickets, Ski and Snowboard School, Kid's programs, Clinics and camps.  Follow this link to for Whistler Eagle Tours info: http://www.resortac.com/eagle.asp

Advertising Rates

RESORTAC.COM ADVERTISING RATES

Our monthly listing fees will be going up March 15, 2004. Activate or extend your listing on www.ResortAc.com to lock in at our current prices and save money.  Follow this link for rates and information.

Increase bookings

EASY WAYS TO INCREASE BOOKINGS

Maximize your booking opportunities by staying on top of your inquiries! Check your email and phone messages frequently - at least once a day, if not more. The sooner you receive an inquiry and respond, the more likely you are to be the first owner the inquirer hears back from. This gives you an advantage over other properties as the vacationer will be impressed and pleased by your quick response, and may even book right away. While it is not always convenient to respond immediately, you can make it easier to do so by minimizing the steps involved in making a response. If you regularly get asked the same questions when people inquire, compile a friendly "frequently asked questions" that you can send as an email attachment along with a personal greeting thanking them for their inquiry and answering any other questions they may have which are not on the FAQ.

If you send additional information through the mail, assemble information packets in advance, so that you simply address them and drop them in a mailbox when an inquiry is made. In all cases, keep your property information at your fingertips, especially up-to-date availability information (if more than one person handles bookings, be sure to
communicate changes in availability as soon as dates are filled!).

Vacationers will appreciate your efficiency, giving them confidence in you and your rental. All amenities being equal, this confidence could be the deciding factor in
booking your property over another. It is also a good idea to keep track of inquiries you have responded to, including the dates of correspondence. This way, you can easily follow up with people who don't get back with you after your response. They may have lost your information, or become busy and neglected vacation planning. Follow-ups remind them of your property and give you another opportunity to connect with them, answer questions, and ultimately secure a booking. Logging the final outcome of communication is also very helpful. A review of past inquiries and bookings can give valuable information about types of people who inquire and book your property and can help you make your advertising materials more effective by targeting those groups of people.

Written by Amy Potter of Great Rentals

Listings that Sell

Online Listings That Sell! Planning Your Pix

In the last issue, we looked at writing property descriptions that projected a real personality. This time, we'll focus on photos.

As wordsmiths, we'd love to believe that photos merely illustrate the text in online property listings. But we know that it's really the other way around. People look at the photos first, and only if they are intrigued do they read the text. In our opinion, both text and pictures must complement each other, and both must be superb. But a picture really is worth a thousand words, and a really good picture is worth thousands of words more.

Don't use just any photos of your vacation rental property. Instead, decide that you need the equivalent of the photos a real estate agent would commission if your property were to
be for sale. That's Step 1.

Step 2 is to assume that you can display an unlimited number of pictures of your place. In reality, most Web sites let you display three or four pix as part of your basic subscription, but you can usually opt to display more for an additional fee. (And on some systems, buying more photos can give you greater prominence in a prospective renter's search results. But that's a topic for another issue.)

Step 3 is to prioritize. Assume that you must select only three or four subjects for photographs. What would they be? Keep in mind that your audience is prospective renters. So what does your place offer that they really, really want?

Step 4 is to either hire a professional photographer or to bear down and think about how you will take the photos yourself. Plan to shoot the absolutely essential images that are at the top of your list, as well as the scenes or images that you deem less essential. These "less essential" images can be added to your listing later (for an extra fee), or used for a Web page devoted to your property that you might create in the future.

Step 5 is to "dress the set." Professional photographers know all about F-stops, lighting, and film speeds -- or their digital camera equivalents. But you can't expect them to know what a given image should contain. If a picture of your property's great room is going to have a vase of fresh flowers in the frame, you must put them there. You can't expect a professional photographer to do so for you.

Finally, if you use a professional photographer, make sure that he or she gives you digital copies of all of the shots taken. Probably on a CD, probably in JPG/JPEG or TIFF format. Having your images in digital format will make your life much simpler.

Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner, authors of *How to Make Your Vacation Property Work for You!: The Quick & Easy Guide to Advertising, Renting, Managing, and Making Money from your Second Home*

For more information, visit: http://fullybookedrentals.com/

Interested?

NEWSLETTER TOPICS OF INTEREST

Think of me as your personal reporter. You email your Whistler Resort questions to sales@resortac.com and we'll find the answers and print them in the next newsletter. Simple.

Copyright...

Subscribe or Remove...

Subscribe or Remove

Whistler Homeowner's Newsletter - July 2003

Written / edited by  Troy Assaly.

This newsletter is focused on Whistler Resort's ongoing community issues, travel and tourism trends, property management suggestions, along with tips on how to maximize Internet bookings for your vacation rental homes.

Please forward to anyone you believe would appreciate the information.  For instructions on how to subscribe or be removed from our list, see the bottom of this newsletter.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. If you would like to receive this newsletter automatically Subscribe Now.

Survey Results

WAS 2002/2003 A GOOD WINTER FOR YOU?

Our Whistler home owner survey results are in!  We asked you how your Whistler vacation rentals performed last winter and the results are quite interesting...

Follow this link  to view detailed Whistler Home Owner Survey Results

Need Your Own Site?

BUILD YOUR VACATION RENTAL BUSINESS FOR $97

Every Whistler homeowner who is serious about building their vacation rental business needs to have a website.  A daunting thought I'll agree, but it's faster and cheaper than you might think.

Here's a great solution that is very quick and will save you time and money:  buy a prebuilt website and have us add your vacation rental text and photos.  These prebuilt websites look great!

We will also provide you with your own website address (URL) that's easy to remember and easy to spell.  There are still lots of good names available.

Troy's special offer for ResortAc.com clients CDN$97 for name registration and setup and CDN$30 per month for full-featured web hosting.  Email us today and have your very own vacation rental website in less than a week.

Posted Rates...

HOW TO UPSET YOUR CUSTOMERS

We have received a handful of emails and calls from potential renters who feel they have been tricked by our website.  The complaints are due to cheaper prices posted on your availability calendars than what you actually charge.

Renters are shopping for winter 2003/2004 now.  Please check your posted rates to ensure they are correct.

The www.ResortAc.com system automatically adds pricing and minimum nights to your listing using your 'default' values.  If your 'defaults' are not correct for all seasons you are required to logon as the owner and update the incorrect rates / minimum nights on a regular basis.

Please email or call me toll-free 1-888-205-0649 if you need help with correcting the rates on your availability calendar.

Blind Cleaning...

ULTRASONIC BLIND CLEANING

Whistler Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning offers a revolutionary cleaning system providing astounding results.

Ultra high frequency sound waves are introduced into an “environmentally sensitive” 100% biodegradable cleaning solution. These intense vibrations cause millions of tiny bubbles to form and collapse on the blind surface. This action gently lifts away virtually every bit of foreign matter from the blind, quickly and safely reaching every nook and cranny of the slats, cords, ladders, headrails and mechanisms.

Why not clean your blinds yourself?  Steam cleaning usually ruins blind surfaces and hand cleaning smears dirt and creates static electricity causing surfaces to attract dirt much quicker. The ultrasonic technique is the most gentle and cost effective method of cleaning blinds. Nothing Cleans Like Ultrasonic Cleaning.

You’ve spent hard earned money on the quality of your home or rental property including the blinds. Protect your investment and prolong the life of your blinds with ultrasonic cleaning.

We make every attempt to provide same day service!

New Website...

ACCOMMODATIONWHISTLER.COM

If you have a property listing on www.ResortAc.com you currently have an account set up on our new website.

If you decide you want to advertise your vacation rental on www.AccommodationWhistler.com simply logon with your username and password from www.ResortAc.com and update your listing details, then activate it for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. 

Please email or call me at 1-888-205-0649 or 250-503-3863 with any questions you may have.

Website Traffic...

OUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC UPDATE

Average number of user sessions per day (NOT hits):

Need Help?

SPECIAL OFFER ON PROPERTY SERVICES

Special Offer for ResortAc.com Owners: Signup before August 1st, 2003 for an an