The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the vacation rental business. Many owners are still facing higher-than-normal cancellation rates and cautious travelers. But through it all, people are finding ways to make the most of the unusual circumstances.
With more flexible work and school arrangements, many families are embracing the idea of a flexcation, a longer stay that mixes work and play. In fact, a recent Vrbo survey found that 67% of travelers who took a flexcation said they would do it again.
Heather Barbiere is one partner who has seen the impact of this trend in her own business. Heather has worked with us since 2016 and has several rental properties listed on the our platform.
During the pandemic, Heather — as with many owners — saw unusually high cancellations, lots of refunds, and lower booking volume. She started studying what other rental owners in her area were doing, and spent some time researching what was appealing to guests booking pandemic getaways.
After looking closely at the dynamics in her market area, and reviewing trend data from Vrbo about what travelers were looking for, Heather decided to begin promoting her properties not just as destination rentals, but as destination homes.