This special episode brings together four top vacation rental experts to share their thoughts on this first Guest Education Day.

With the hashtag #BookDirect, February 7^th is the day designated to bring the attention of the travelling public, media and other interested parties, to the benefits of booking directly with a property owner or manager.

I’m joined by Amy Hinote of VRM Intel, Matt Landau of the Vacation Rental Marketing Blog, Vince Perez from Fetch My Guest, and April Salter, Chair of the Association of Vacation Rental Operators and Affiliates (AVROA).

We discuss the changes implemented by OTAs that have precipitated a growing protest movement, such as removing opportunities to communicate with guests prior to a booking, and the addition of service fees. The round table discussion then moves to the alternatives to booking with an OTA.

Most listeners to this podcast are owners and managers so we’d ask that you share the link to the episode with as many people as you can, so travellers and the media and anyone else who can further the cause of #BookDirect will take action.

In the words of Robin Craigen of www.movingmountains.com,

“Booking Direct with the people that will actually take care of you is truly the only way to make certain you have the most seamless experience possible.”

Links discussed in this episode:

AVROA.org

Vacation Rental Owners and Managers Share Book Direct Messages (on VRM Intel)