Summer lettings

How to communicate with your potential renters - how to turn site visitors into enquiries, and enquiries into bookings.
Hells Bells
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Summer lettings

Post by Hells Bells »

Now I know most of you have no problems in the summer season, but as a proud new owner of an apartment in a ski area, I am now coming to the end of my first season. I now need to attract a different market, walkers, nature lovers, climbers, cyclists etc. I have tweaked the website a little to bring green pastures, sunshine to their attention. Have you any other suggestions to improve the bookings for the Summer months? So far, I have had 3 enquiries for the same week in August, all from Franch families wanting to pay using cheques vacances, but nothing else.
Helen
cromercrabholiday
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Post by cromercrabholiday »

There are various outdoor pursuits magazines that you could try an advert in. I think we tried once as a change and got nothing from it, but our cottage is not necessarily in the right place.

John
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Normandy Cow
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Post by Normandy Cow »

Hmm... difficult one!

Many years ago I spent two winter and two summer seasons working in Crans Montana (Switzerland), and I remember that although it wasn't heaving like in the winter, it was still busy in the summer, and very beautiful (in fact I came to prefer the summer in the mountains). I also remember though that the season was very short (just six weeks or so in July/August), mainly because the weather was so unpredictable at altitude the rest of the time.

I remember that the summer guests were very different from those in winter - a lot of walkers and climbers, and fewer younger visitors. I also seem to remember that there were far fewer English people in the summer. As I worked in a restaurant I have no idea how/where chalet/apartment owners advertised, but I do know that it was much easier to find digs in the summer than in the winter!

Good luck, I wish I could come out to the Alps for a summer holiday because I do have very fond memories. :D
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Once again , all my recent enquiries have been from French families wanting to use cheques vacances. I think I may have to consider offering this methd of payment. Does anyone know how I go about applying to join the scheme?
la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

Helen,
here is the website link.
http://www.ancv.com/index.php?pro_adherer
I enquired about it earlier this year as I get quite a lot of French people wanting to pay by cheque vacances. I didn't go for it as you have to have accreditation with either Gites de France or Clévacances and I am not with either of these organisations.
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Nor am I Susan, so I guess it's a non-starter.
memes
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Post by memes »

You could try this lot - I've not had any luck with them but they specialise in sporty hols so may be better for you - I got a free trial..
http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com

M
Martha
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Post by Martha »

I was discussing this with a letting agent in Chamonix, and he was saying that the summer market is much more diverse than the winter market - people come from so many different groups, and for so many different reasons. He said that he reckoned no-one had really cracked the summer marketing yet and it was a lot more work - just a case of putting as much publicity out as possible I suppose. Sorry, I guess this isn't much help :/

Do they keep the lifts open at Serre Chevalier in the summer?
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Firebug, There's a lift open in each village starting from about June 15th, through to the middle of September. Thanks for the links guys, I'll check them out.
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Memes, checked it out, but costs £100, no mention of free trial. I don't really want to commit to a full year.
memes
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Post by memes »

Hmm try emailing them and asking for a free trial - think I asked as they had very little in my part of Italy and they let me give it a go.. I'm a great believer in asking nicely and seeing if I get lucky!

M
Hells Bells
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Post by Hells Bells »

Thanks I've just done that, they don't have another property in my area, so fingers crossed. My registration email did say they were offering a free trail on relaxingholidays.com though.
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