After a couple years of working through the specifics of technology, the Switch is currently in the initial beta testing mode. Three vacation rental management companies have been trained on the Switch.  We appreciate the time and effort provided by our members who are participating in this crucial phase.

Online enrollment will be open soon. All members will be encouraged to enroll in the system in order to create their "accounts.”  As a reminder, the $1,000 enrollment fee is waived for VRMA members.  Enrollment does not obligate a company to any specific level of participation, so we encourage you to enroll. This will assist us in demonstrating the importance of the Switch for distribution partners.

At this time, property management software (PMS) providers are actively being solicited for their participation in the Switch. They will provide their own customers with a simple method to upload properties to the Switch.  Two software companies have signed agreements (to be announced soon) with a few others at various stages of this process.  Encourage your PMS provider to participate.

When properties are uploaded into the Switch, a manager will select specific channels for distribution of each property, so we are actively soliciting a variety of distribution channels.  Although the popular, widely-known travel search site currently in conversation cannot be revealed, it is worth noting that this site along with several others in the negotiation phase will provide very high visibility for vacation rental properties that are distributed to them.

DiscoverVacationHomes.com is VRMA’s current public-facing website with links to member websites. With the creation and implementation of the Vacation Rental Switch, VRMA's consumer-facing DiscoverVacationHomes.com has the potential to be a more dynamic, content-rich site that allows consumers to search and book vacation rentals online in real-time. As we continue the beta testing phase of the Switch, changes will be made to the site to allow inventory to be booked online. A full redesign of the site will launch later; an interim solution integrating a booking engine powered by data in the Switch will be launched in the coming weeks to support the beta testing phase.