Holiday Rental Professionals Seminar 4-5 December 2012
Barceló Atenea Mar
Barcelona, Spain
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Programming
Presentations delivered by industry leaders are the centerpiece of every VRMA event. Whether you've been in the industry a month or a lifetime, and whether your company manages five units or five hundred, the Holiday Rental Professionals Seminar provides the education and connections you need to stay competitive in this changing industry.
General Sessions
Internet & The Digital Era
Tuesday, 4 December, 14:30
Javier Delgado Muerza | Google Travel
Technology has forever changed travel distribution, and continues to do so. This session will explore what those changes mean to the vacation rental industry and your business.
Currently Industry Head in Google Travel Spain, Javier manages one of the most important travel teams for Google travel worldwide. His main focus in this position is accelerating digital adoption, commercial efficiency and global scale with the main travel players in Spain.
Prior to joining Google in 2011 Javier spent more than eight years at Expedia, Inc. where he held managerial positions in lodging supply, air supply and white label distribution across Southern Europe and the Middle East. He started his career at Iberia Airlines and Gate Gourmet, later moving to Globalia, the leading travel services provider in Spain.
Born in Pamplona (Navarre), Javier holds a Hospitality Management Degree and a MBA degree from Cornell University (NY, USA) & ESSEC Business School (Paris, France). He is married and has 2 children.
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A Global Look at Rental Restrictions
Wednesday, 5 December, 9:00
Moderator: Jeremiah Gall, FlipKey by TripAdvisor
Panelists: Petra Friedmann, HomeAway; Joaquim Leal, Interhome; Arnoud Litjens, Short Stay Group Amsterdam; Marie Pistinier, Paris Be A Part Of It.com; Tristan Webb, Utah Vacation Homes
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From Paris to Amsterdam to New York and smaller cities all over the globe, rental restrictions are on the rise at an alarming rate. Rental managers can no longer ignore this issue and hope that zoning restrictions or regulations only apply to unfortunate peers in other markets. Panelists from various areas will discuss current trends and issues, as well as how rental agents can ban together locally to combat rental restrictions.
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Consumer 2020 and Major Challenges for the Vacation Rental Industry
Wednesday, 5 December, 17:30
Jordi Schoenenberger | Deloitte
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The researchers at Deloitte’s Travel, Hospitality and Leisure (THL) division have great insight on the future of the travel. As the THL consulting lead, Jordi will inform attendees how future trends apply specifically to the vacation rental industry. This session will identify the major trends on the consumer side for the coming years and the key areas that can contribute to the success of professional holiday rental agencies.
Jordi leads the Deloitte’s consulting services in the tourism, travel and leisure industries, with strategy and operations as his main competence. He has more than 23 years of professional experience in consulting in the Spanish market, participating on global projects at a European level, with deep experience in hospitality and consumer products.
Jordi holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Barcelona. He has extensive experience in corporate and commercial strategy, mainly in the hospitality and products and services industries.
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Concurrent Sessions
Additional Revenue Sources
Rental commission is not the only way for your business to make money. Successful companies know how to tap into multiple revenue sources. Learn what works well for others, and be prepared to share your ideas in this interactive session.
Presenter: Lee Hughes, CSA Travel Protection
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Dealing with Complaints in the Age of Internet Reviews
This interactive presentation will cover on the ever-growing power of reviews to make or break your business. Participants will discuss how to assess, handle, and respond to complaints; how to sort real complaints from the reduction seekers; and how to balance negotiating and peace-making between owners and renters. Hear real-life examples and get feedback on some of your most difficult cases.
Presenter: Susan Doull, Commendable Rentals LLC
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EU Directives and the European Vacation Rental Business
New European Union directives will have an impact on the vacation rental industry. Rental agents need to be aware of the regulations on customer rights, websites, and anscillary products such as travel insurance. Participants will learn about the new EU rulings and how to adapt their business activities with customers.
Presenter: Jean-Cedric Bekale, Europ Assistance Holding
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Following Your Lead: Converting Leads to Optimize Your Marketing Dollars
From identifying future guests to advertising and nurturing relationships with property owners, rental managers and agents undertake a multiple-step process to ensure that the right traveler finds the right home…and then books it. This discussion will focus on what works by following the booking process step-by-step to highlight how to more effectively market your properties and convert leads into bookings.
Presenter: Jeremiah Gall, FlipKey by TripAdvisor
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How Mobile Technology is Changing the Game
The explosion in mobile technologies is changing the travel space, and holiday rental agencies are no exception. Guests expect a better experience, and immediate information and communication through mobile devices. As traditional computer accessing of websites fades, mobile technology is becoming the dominate form of e-commerce, information access, and communication. Companies that embrace this trend will lead the marketplace. Best of all, mobile technology can produce cost savings and increased revenue if you harness its potential. This session will explain the options in mobile technology, the benefits of a complete mobile solution, and how it can transform your relationship with your guests and improve your overall business model. Harnessing the power of mobile technology can provide endless possibilities.
Presenter: Patrick McCarthy, Glad to Have You, Inc.
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International Visitors: Assess, Attract and Serve Them Effectively
International visitors represent a huge,growing market for vacation rentals. Are international visitors interested in your company? Which countries and languages should you target? How can you reach your target audience in multiple countries? How can you serve customers in languages your team does not speak? How do cultural differences impact guests' expectations, and how do you ensure your company meets those expectations? Attend this session to learn how you can build your company’s presence abroad and how to best serve your international visitors.
Presenters: Eric Bordier, VRbooster; Ari Eryorulmaz, AE Hospitality
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Online Payments in a Global Holiday Industry
Attendees will learn about the global payment landscape for the European holiday market and new business solutions of online payments. The presenter will lead an interactive discussion on the ways holiday property managers can utilize online payments to grow their business like never before.
Presenter: Matt Golis, HolidayRentPayment
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The Anatomy of an Online Booking
This presentation will cover the need for online bookings and how to best get travelers using your company’s website. Learn tips about guest ease, online travel shopping trends, and website conversion that can make your website, and your company, more successful. Attendees will gain step-by-step process to getting travelers to book online.
Presenter: Tyler Hurst, LiveRez.com
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The Impact of Cloud Computing on Vacation Rentals
This presentation will share experiences of cloud computing resources in vacation rental management. It will focus on the benefits that can be derived by linking existing property management software applications and web distribution systems via the computing cloud. Challenges and solutions will be discussed related to technical and operational considerations required to use technology successfully.
Presenter: Chris Marshall, CBT Ltd
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The Vacation Rental Industry: Present & Future
Using the best insights from HomeAway proprietary market research, this session will describe the state of the vacation rental industry today, including market size and segmentation, marketing strategies used by owners and property managers, and traveler behavior and preferences. Looking forward, we will highlight the dynamics that will propel continued global vacation rental growth.
Presenter: Brent Bellm, HomeAway, Inc.
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Why Everyone Should be Entitled to Your Guests’ Opinions: How Guest Reviews Can Double Your Business
Though the majority (upwards of 90%) of holiday rental reviews are positive, agents are still averse to adding them to their websites. Yet, properties that feature at least one guest review are 14% more likely to be booked. With years of experience at the company that developed the largest verified guest review platform, FlipKey’s Koryn Okey will discuss the value of guest feedback and how it increases consumer confidence and drives bookings.
Presenter: Koryn Okey, FlipKey
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Worldwide Distribution for Vacation Rentals
Worldwide distribution can be a reality for vacation rental agents. This presentation will cover current technology as well as new solutions in development that will influence the future of the vacation rental industry and help you improve your company’s position in the global marketplace. Effectively implementing new technologies can help reduce costs in promotion and gain more exposure to the traveler markets.
Presenters: Eric Mason, Razor Cloud; Rui Mira, BookingMarkets
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