Vacation Rental Switch http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&rss=cOeYn2mX Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:23:15 GMT Wed, 29 May 2013 17:04:21 GMT Copyright © 2013 VRMA - Vacation Rental Managers Association Vacation Rental Switch Update http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=164882 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=164882
We are writing to you to provide an update about the Vacation Rental Switch program.

VRMA launched its initiative to address and seek a solution to one of the biggest business challenges faced by our professional manager members: expensive distribution of vacation rentals through multiple third party channels that do not allow professional managers to showcase their company branding for properties they offer, or to differentiate their services from vacation rentals offered directly by property owners.

To provide a solution, at the beginning of 2011 VRMA requested third party proposals to provide a combination of technology and services we believed would be required to create and manage a customized Vacation Rental Switch program for our members. Following a competitive proposal process VRMA entered into a comprehensive "Services And Alliance Agreement" with Pegasus Solutions, Inc., a global travel technology company and the largest third party marketing and reservation provider in the world, to provide required technology and interfaces and, together with VRMA, to develop, implement and manage a customized Vacation Rental Switch program on behalf of VRMA and its members.

While both VRMA and Pegasus committed significant time and resources to implement the "Services And Alliance Agreement" and related agreements with our members and other third party providers, we encountered technical delays, resource requirements, and implementation challenges that were unforeseen at the inception of the Agreement. After careful review of the progress achieved to date and the implementation challenges remaining, VRMA and Pegasus have mutually agreed to terminate the "Services And Alliance Agreement" and other related agreements prior to their expiration in 2014. The VRMA will now explore seeking another third party provider to finalize and implement the Vacation Rental Switch.

While the implementation of the Vacation Rental Switch program has been more challenging and has taken longer than originally anticipated, we have learned a great deal from our experience to date, including a better understanding of the technology requirements and business relationships unique to our industry. VRMA has remained - and remains - steadfast in ensuring that any distribution option offered by the association protects VRM branding, enables a better consumer experience, and affordably facilitates easy, widespread distribution for vacation rental managers. Since announcing this initiative three years ago, the distribution landscape has changed substantially, and Pegasus' internal focus has shifted. We recognize - and share - the frustration that the Switch still is not available. But we know we must get it right.

When the National Association of Realtors made the commitment to standardize the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), not all REALTORS® thought they would participate. Now the MLS is a significant member benefit and branding for every REALTOR®. We believe that the Vacation Rental Switch will have much the same impact on the vacation rental industry.

We will keep you informed as we evaluate and pursue other business relationships to continue our progress with the Vacation Rental Switch program. If you have additional questions about the status of the program on a going forward basis, we invite you to view the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website.

We thank you for your dedication to VRMA and appreciate all you do to make it - and this industry - great.

Sincerely,

Your VRMA Board of Directors


]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 18:04:21 GMT VRS online enrollment now available; 45 companies already signed on http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=153647 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=153647

Online enrollment for the Vacation Rental Switch opened at this year's Annual Conference. More than 40 companies have already completed the Vacation Rental Switch (VRS) online participation agreement.

Want to add your company to this list? Contact VRMA’s Business Development Manager, Jamey King, at Jamey@vrma.com. There is no financial obligation to complete the participation agreement, but you must be a current VRMA member and serve as the primary contact for your company’s VRMA membership.

The enrollment form has five simple steps:

  1. Enrollment – provides an overview of the process
  2. Company Information – Your company information will be pre-populated from the VRMA database. You will need to select or fill in your PMS provider information.
  3. Primary Contact Information – This information will also be pre-populated from the VRMA database.
  4. Signature – You will need to provide an electronic signature for the terms and conditions of the agreement. The email address of the primary contact will serve as the electronic signature for the agreement.
    • If you would like an opportunity to review the agreement prior to signature, contact Jamey.
  5. Confirm – You will confirm your participation on this tab. At this point you will have completed the VRS agreement. We will send you an e-mail with confirmation of enrollment, as well as a copy of the agreement.

There are two more steps that will need to be completed closer to the implementation of your properties in the VRS.

  1. You will be provided a form for completion with your banking information. All fees for the VRS are collected via ACH transactions with your bank. The advertising fee will be billed the month after you activate any property. The transaction fee will be charged the month of the check-in date of the reservation; however you will receive the invoice the following month.  No billing will take place until your properties have been activated in the VRS.
  2. You will be provided with a spreadsheet for completion with a list of the properties you are entering into the VRS, with property name, address, city, state, and zip code.

 

]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:22:29 GMT Online Enrollment Available at the Annual Conference http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=151365 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=151365

We are pleased to announce that the online participation agreement for the Vacation Rental Switch will be available in the Member Village during the Annual Conference. You may stop by the VRS kiosk during the conference to complete the agreement.

To sign up:

Visit the Vacation Rental Switch kiosk in the Member Village to log-in to the Vacation Rental Switch agreement.  (Please note, the agreement must be completed by the primary contact with the VRMA for your company.)

When you link to the agreement you will see 5 tabs to complete the agreement:

  1. Enrollment – provides an overview of the process
  2. Company Information – Your company information will be pre-populated from the VRMA database. You will need to select or fill in your PMS provider information.
  3. Primary Contact Information – This information will also be pre-populated from the VRMA database.
  4. Signature – You will need to provide an electronic signature for the terms and conditions of the agreement. The email address of the primary contact will serve as the electronic signature for the agreement.
    • If you would like an opportunity to review the agreement prior to signature, copies will be available for review at the kiosk. If you would like a copy to take with you, please ask the VRMA staff member at the kiosk to send you an electronic copy.
  5. Confirm – You will confirm your participation on this tab. At this point you will have completed the VRS agreement. We will send you an e-mail with confirmation of enrollment, as well as a copy of the agreement.

There are two more steps that will need to be completed closer implementation of your properties in the VRS.

  1. You will be provided a form for completion with your banking information. All fees for the VRS are collected via ACH transactions with your bank. The advertising fee will be billed the month after you activate any property. The transaction fee will be charged the month of the check-in date of the reservation; however you will receive the invoice the following month.  No billing will take place until your properties have been activated in the VRS.
  2. You will be provided with a spreadsheet for completion with a list of the properties you are entering into the VRS, with property name, address, city, state, and zip code.
]]> Tue, 2 Oct 2012 16:35:51 GMT LiveRez.com to Integrate with VRMA’s Vacation Rental Switch Powered by Pegasus Solutions http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=146719 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=146719

LiveRez.com, a cloud-based vacation rental software solution provider, has signed a distribution agreement with Pegasus Solutions and the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) that will allow LiveRez.com to integrate with the forthcoming Vacation Rental Switch (VRS). 

 

This integration will give LiveRez.com's more than 600 professional vacation rental manager partners the ability to seamlessly list their properties in real time on the VRS, a major distribution tool capable of allowing travelers worldwide to find and book professionally managed vacation rental properties online.

 

"LiveRez is excited to give our partners access to the broad distribution opportunities the VRS will provide,” said Tracy Lotz, founder and CEO of LiveRez.com. "As LiveRez has grown over the years, we’ve had multiple distribution opportunities, but distribution through the VRS is the perfect fit for our partner base. The VRS ensures each of our partners’ individual brands will be highlighted since it is also governed by the world’s largest association of professional vacation rental managers.”

 

The VRMA has been working with Pegasus Solutions since late 2011. Pegasus initially brought global distribution to hotels in 1989 with UltraSwitch, which now powers reservations for nearly 100,000 global hotels. Pegasus and VRMA committed to build a distribution solution for the professionally managed vacation rental industry at VRMA’s 2011 Annual Conference. The VRS will allow vacation rental software companies to integrate into Pegasus’ switch technology, which will facilitate real-time online booking, payment processing and calendar integration across multiple online channels.

 

As the VRS nears launch, LiveRez.com is the first property management software company to sign on to participate.

 

"We process in excess of six billion shopping requests for hotels every month, so we understand how the VRS will facilitate vacation rental distribution,” said Mike Montemurro, senior vice president, product management for Pegasus Solutions. "The industry has a real need for a tool to enable vacation rental management companies to reach millions of consumers who utilize online travel sites to shop for travel accommodations. The VRS will provide these sites with real-time access to rates and online reservations for thousands of vacation rental properties. By pioneering a VRS connection, LiveRez.com’s vacation rental management company partners will be able to automatically update their rates and property availability on the VRS through the LiveRez.com software, ensuring exposure and wide availability with little or no extra work.”     

 

According to VRMA President Steve Trover, the VRS will allow professional property managers to list and rent vacation properties through channels like online travel agencies, listing websites and local chambers, among others – while maintaining each property management company’s individual brand. He anticipates the VRS will go live this summer in a beta test on the VRMA’s own consumer website, DiscoverVacationHomes.com.

"Building the VRS has been one of VRMA’s top priorities over the past few years,” Trover said. "Now that we’re nearing launch, I’m excited to see LiveRez jumping on board so quickly.”

 

LiveRez.com’s integration with the VRS further strengthens its relationship with the VRMA. LiveRez.com has been the software gold sponsor of the VRMA for the past two years.

 

]]> Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:36:41 GMT What's the latest on the Switch? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=146387 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=146387
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.]]> Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:35:43 GMT Is there anything I can do to get ready for the Vacation Rental Switch? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141218 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141218

Have a question about the Vacation Rental Switch? Submit it using this form. Questions and answers will be included regularly here in the Vacation Rental Switch blog.

Question: Is there anything I can do to get ready for the Vacation Rental Switch?

Answer: Because participation in the Switch will be available based on a geographic roll out, the date you will be able to register is not yet determined. However, there are certain things that can be done to prepare for participation.

There are certain guidelines or "rules” that have guided VRMA during the development of the Switch. These rules include standards in the system that VRMA has insisted upon to protect each vacation rental manager who participates in the Switch program, such as leaving control of rental rates and blackout dates with the hands of the participating manager.

These rules also provide guidance for the content that will be required.  Vacation rental managers should be prepared to provide the following:

  • Description of the Vacation Rental Management Company (75 words or fewer)
  • Logo of Vacation Rental Management Company
  • Description of the vacation rental unit (75 words or fewer)
  • Photographs of vacation rental unit (minimum of 4)
  • Floor plan of vacation rental unit (if available)

Now is the perfect time to gather details and photographs in preparation for participating on the Switch.

]]> Fri, 6 Apr 2012 14:49:44 GMT Want a sneak peek of the Vacation Rental Switch? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=140927 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=140927

The Vacation Rental Switch powered by Pegasus Solutions is currently under development. With so much buzz surrounding its launch, we've added two sessions about the Switch to each Regional Seminar.

 

These interactive sessions presented by Pegasus developers and VRMA Board members give managers a sneak peek of the Vacation Rental Switch interface.  

 

Learn how properties go from your property management system or a manual upload through the Switch to vacation rental sites (such as online travel agencies, destination portals and DiscoverVacationHomes.com) then out to consumers.  

 

This session will provide practical answers to questions about the Switch and show you how it can help generate bookings.    

 

Eastern Seminar

April 16-17

Harrah's Resort

Atlantic City, NJ 

Register Now  

Western Seminar

April 30-May 1

Hyatt Regency

Monterey, CA

Register Now

 


]]> Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:58:05 GMT Frequently Asked Question: Can our proprietary software system integrate with the Switch? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=140078 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=140078 Have a question about the Vacation Rental Switch? Submit it using this form. Questions and answers will be included regularly here in the Vacation Rental Switch blog.

Question: We use a proprietary property management software. Will we be able to integrate an XML feed of our property data with the switch?

Answer: The Switch is being designed to integrate with a wide variety of partners. Because we want to connect to many PMS partners and distribution partners, we are using standard specifications for integration using an XML feed. This applies to proprietary PMS systems.  Pegasus has a certification process for integration with the Switch that includes a testing process and applies to any PMS provider.


]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:12:09 GMT Frequently Asked Question: Will the Switch be available outside the U.S.? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141392 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141392 Have a question about the Vacation Rental Switch? Submit it using this form. Questions and answers will be included regularly here in the Vacation Rental Switch blog.

Question: Will the Switch be available to VRMs in Canada, Mexico, and other countries outside the U.S.?

Answer: Yes, demand for vacation rentals continues to grow and VRMA is committed to making sure that we provide consumers with a wide selection of destinations.

Our focus for the first part of 2012 is Switch development in the U.S.  Part of the reason for doing this is the availability of bank settlement for the transaction fees paid by vacation rental managers to the Switch.  We will be making the Switch available outside of the U.S. depending on the availability of fee payment systems.

]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:13:47 GMT How will the Switch affect www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141391 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=141391 Discover Vacation Homes (DVH) is the consumer awareness initiative of VRMA that benefits all members. DiscoverVacationHomes.com serves as VRMA’s official public resource on vacation rentals.  Since 2009, all public relations efforts on behalf of vacation rental management professionals have been conducted under the umbrella of this program.  In the many published articles, television segments, and online content that resulted from these efforts, consumers have been directed to DiscoverVacationHomes.com as a place for information about vacation rental management companies.

Through 2011, the reach of the DVH initiative was to more than 210 million individuals in total circulation/viewership/unique visitors of the hundreds of publications, television shows, and websites that have at least mentioned Discover Vacation Homes.

DiscoverVacationHomes.com will be updated and upgraded with the necessary technology to become the premier channel for the Vacation Rental Switch. The public awareness efforts will continue and will drive traffic to DiscoverVacationHomes.com.  The site will continue to house resources about professionally managed vacation rentals, as well as other information useful to travelers.  In addition, travelers will be able to find and book a property in real-time on the site.

]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:10:44 GMT Got a question? We want to hear it. http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=138056 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=138056 using this form. Questions and answers will be included regularly here in the Vacation Rental Switch blog.
]]> Thu, 2 Feb 2012 18:55:47 GMT What is the Switch? How does it benefit you? http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=137270 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=137270 What is the Switch? How does it benefit you?

In simple terms, the Vacation Rental Switch (VRS) is the online facility that will take property descriptive content, brand information, photography, rates, and availability provided by vacation rental managers (either from their property management system or manually uploaded) and distribute these elements to the specific online distribution channels the vacation rental managers select. Distribution Channels include vacation rental sites such as DiscoverVacationHomes.com, CVB and destination portals, online travel agencies, and more.

The vacation rental manager maintains control of the inventory at all times and the distributed content includes that vacation rental manager’s brand identity.

This new interface will enable vacation rental managers to merchandise their properties across multiple online distribution channels in a manner that distinguishes them as a unique and different lodging experience, and it will improve the vacation rental shopping experience for travelers.

The VRS will first launch with VRMA’s www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com, its official public resource on vacation rental travel. With the VRS, the site will be capable of allowing travelers to find and book professionally managed vacation rental properties from hundreds of the world’s most reputable companies in real-time.

]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:33:02 GMT Pegasus Solutions and the Vacation Rental Managers Association to Transform Online Vacation Rental Market in 2012 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=137278 http://www.vrma.com/members/blog_view.asp?id=766551&post=137278 Pegasus Solutions and the Vacation Rental Managers Association to Transform Online Vacation Rental Market in 2012

Collaborative Vacation Rental Switch Will Offer Unprecedented Online Vacation Rental Shopping

January 5, 2012- Pegasus Solutions and the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) have partnered to launch a groundbreaking Vacation Rental Switch (VRS) in the next 150 days. The new interface will improve online vacation rental shopping, while also enabling vacation rental managers to more easily merchandise their properties.

The VRS will first launch with VRMA’s www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com, its official public resource on vacation rental travel. With the VRS, the site will be capable of allowing travelers to find and book professionally managed vacation rental properties from hundreds of the world’s most reputable companies in real-time.

"For travelers seeking and booking vacation rentals online, the millions of diverse choices can certainly seem overwhelming,” explained Steve Trover, President of the VRMA. "Working together with Pegasus, we’re developing a solution that improves the shopping experience by setting new, consistent standards for how vacation rentals are presented and sold online. This also streamlines the process for vacation rental managers themselves, who will be able to automate the distribution of their properties through a single platform for the first time.”

Representing one of the fastest-growing hospitality markets*, the vacation rental industry faces many distribution challenges as managers must navigate disparate standards, methods of rate management, inventory and other content. Distribution channels, for their part, are challenged with providing a consistent shopping experience across a highly fragmented and specialized supplier base."

As the vacation rental market has grown in popularity, it makes sense for the professionally managed vacation rental segment to adopt the same revenue generating tools hotels have,” added Mike Kistner, Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Solutions. "We’re pleased to have a committed partner in VRMA that is willing to pave this way for all professional vacation rental management companies.”

The VRS will be offered to professional vacation rental management companies, who will also enjoy a facilitated booking process by leveraging Pegasus’ award-winning RezView® NG central reservations system, as well as its UltraSwitch and UltraDirect distribution products. Development of the VRS was announced at the VRMA Annual Conference October 9-12 in Orlando, Florida.

About Pegasus Solutions

Pegasus Solutions is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to hotels and travel distributors, supplying the award-winning RezView® NG central reservation system, electronic distribution services, advanced agency commission processing and payment services, and hotel marketing representation services. Founded in 1989, Pegasus created and launched the hotel switch, and today its customers include approximately 90,000 properties around the globe as well as a majority of the world’s travel agencies. Pegasus’ powerful representation arm incorporates Utell® Hotels & Resorts and Utell Connect, services that have been chosen by more than 6,000 member hotels in more than 130 countries. It also powers the niche consumer website www.hotelbook.com, dedicated to promoting independent and boutique hotels throughout the world. The company’s widely followed monthly data report The Pegasus View has been awarded a 2011 Stevie Award, and is recognized as the only hospitality report to monitor both actual business and leisure bookings.

Open Hospitality, a Pegasus Solutions company, delivers a full array of strategic online marketing solutions and accommodation booking options. Its award-winning marketing solutions focus exclusively on hotels and hospitality verticals, helping independent hotels, groups and chains raise online visibility, build market share and increase online reservations.Pegasus has 22 offices in 12 countries, including Dallas, London, New York, Singapore and Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, please visit www.pegs.com, www.utell.com or www.openhospitality.com.

About the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA)

Founded in 1985, the VRMA is the international, professional trade association of the vacation rental property management and hospitality industries. Membership includes hundreds of professional vacation rental manager and associate suppliers across the world, representing tens of thousands of vacation rental homes, condos and villas available to travelers. For more information, visit http://www.vrma.com.

*Ypartnership/Harrison Group 2011 Portrait of American Travelers(SM)

# # #

Media Contacts:

Amanda Drake for VRMA

+1 (727) 420-8395

adrake@mmgyglobal.com

Mandy Murphy for Pegasus

+44 (0)20 8490 4877

mandy.murphy@pegs.com

Ariel Herr for Pegasus

+1 (214) 890-7912

aherr@fortepr.com

]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:13:05 GMT