Lincoln Park
With one of the city’s longest stretches of traffic-free biking and designated bike lanes along many of the main streets, it’s no wonder Lincoln Park is a favorite Chicago neighborhood among avid cyclists and recreational bike riders alike. Paved paths crisscross the expansive namesake park, providing easy access to the site’s many attractions (such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, Conservatory and History Museum), and underground passes and a skywalk with ramps to North Avenue Beach make crossing busy Lake Shore Drive carefree. The bike trail along the edge of Lake Michigan has become a main artery for city cyclists heading south to downtown and beyond or north to Lakeview and other north side neighborhoods. Actually, the path is part of a continuous 18-mile-long lakefront bike trail that hugs the shoreline from the South Shore Cultural Center up to East Rogers Park.
The bike lanes in Lincoln Park are especially useful in areas like DePaul University where many students ride bikes around campus; Armitage Avenue, which is a popular boutique shopping district that is easier to walk or bike to than drive; and the Clybourn Corridor where a bunch of big box stores and chain retail options make for a parking shortage that bikers do not have to deal with. Lincoln Park residents who work in downtown have a quick commute to the business district in the Loop. Bikers can shoot down Wells Street and be in the midst of City Hall, Chicago Board of Trade, Sears Tower and other major office buildings in less than 10 minutes.
The Loop
Living in the Loop, you are already in the heart of Chicago and close to many of the city’s main attractions and its thriving business center. That’s exactly why a good number of Loop residents ride bikes around the neighborhood: everything is nearby and it sure beats sitting in traffic or waiting for the “L” train to come by. The inner blocks of the Loop are fairly congested with cars, taxis, buses and pedestrians, so cyclists should be cautious when riding through these hectic downtown streets (wearing a helmet and reflective gear is always recommended). Just west of the Chicago River, Canal and Clinton streets have bike lanes, which make for quick and safe north-south routes that pass by both Union Station and Ogilvie Center (Chicago’s main transportation hubs). Ride east pass Michigan Avenue and you’ll be in the sprawling park grounds of Millennium and Grant parks, which offer several outlets to the extensive lakefront bike trail—a wildly popular means for travel by city cyclists.
Once on the lakefront trail, bikers enjoy well-maintained, paved paths with mile markers and lane designations for orderly riding and directional assistance. From the Loop, bicyclists can head down the trail 5 minutes to the Museum Campus to spend a day at the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium, or see the Chicago Bears play at Solider Field. And, instead of paying through the nose for parking, bikers can lock up their bikes outside for free!
Lakeview
Bike riding is such a common form of transportation in Lakeview that you’re bound to see bicyclists coasting down the streets even during winter! The strong cycling interest in this north side Chicago neighborhood has prompted the establishment of bike lanes and shared lanes on several of Lakeview’s major thoroughfares. Halsted Street, which divides East Lakeview and Lakeview proper, has handy bike lanes that provide a north-south travel route right by loads of dining options, trendy night clubs and comfy neighborhood watering holes. During the summer, Cubs games are always cause for bottlenecks around Wrigley Field, but bikers never get caught up in the traffic jams. Those swift two-wheelers can fly right by the line of cars backed up at lights and diverted by barriers set up for the crush of fans flooding the ballpark grounds.
Chicago’s well-traveled 18-mile lakefront bike trail makes a tour through Lakeview East with easy access from the neighborhood streets to the path via three Lake Shore Drive underpasses at Barry, Roscoe and Waveland. Bike riders can take the vehicle-free trail north a few minutes to the Sydney Marovitz Golf Course and Montrose Harbor and Beach, or south past the Belmont Harbor Dog Beach to Lincoln Park and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. And, Lakeview residents who work in downtown might just find this picturesque trail to be the fastest way down to the Loop (roughly a 20-minute ride). Try to beat that time in a car during rush hour!
South Loop
The South Loop is a budding Chicago neighborhood that has the right idea when it comes to “bikeability.” As one of the lucky communities with public parkland along Lake Michigan, the city’s extensive lakefront bike trail runs right through the South Loop, connecting it with 18 continuous miles of scenic shoreline cycling. On the north end of the neighborhood, bikers can hop on the path from Grant Park. Cruise by Buckingham Fountain and watch the impressive water jets shoot 50 feet in the air then take the paved trail south through the Museum Campus and right past Burnham Harbor. Further down, bikers can easily cross Lake Shore Drive at the overpass/ underpass at 18th Street and another elevated skyway at the massive McCormick Place convention center on Cermak Road.
Students at Roosevelt University and Columbia College (both located on Michigan Avenue in the South Loop) appreciate the convenient bike routes through the park and the designated bike lanes along the neighborhood’s high-traffic streets. Wabash is useful for north-south travel and Roosevelt provides bikers with a safe east-west avenue to cross the Chicago River. Just west of the waterway, Roosevelt meets up with Canal Street, which also has bike lanes and allows cyclists to head up to the business district in the Loop from a less-congested west side approach.
Bucktown
Unlike Chicago’s other top neighborhoods for biking, Bucktown is inland from the water and does not share in the popular lakefront bike trail that runs practically the entire length of the city shoreline. Nevertheless, this ultra-trendy community shows a fondness for cycling that has spurred neighborhood-wide measures to provide safe and convenient bike routes within the Bucktown borders. Streets with designated bike lanes are concentrated in the center of Bucktown, where most of the area’s business and entertainment are focused. Damen is a north-south running thoroughfare that bisects the neighborhood and intersects all the other main avenues in Bucktown with bike lanes or shared lanes. From Damen, riders can pick up Armitage to the west or Cortland to the east, which crosses the Chicago River and hooks back up with Armitage in Lincoln Park and takes bicyclists directly to the waterfront (about a 10-minute trip from the heart of Bucktown).
Slicing diagonally through Bucktown is Milwaukee Avenue, another heavily-traveled Chicago road that passes through numerous neighborhoods and is the site of countless shops, restaurants, bars and other businesses. Up in Bucktown, Milwaukee has shared lanes (marked by chevron and bike symbols on the pavement and yellow diamond warning signs). At Division, the shared lanes change to bike lanes (indicated by solid stripes on the pavement and signage alerting motorists to its existence), which continue to Grand Avenue where Milwaukee dead-ends in the River West neighborhood. Because Milwaukee angles straight towards the Loop, it provides a great way to transverse downtown from the near northwest side community of Bucktown.
Information on Chicago’s best neighborhoods for biking is supplied by Chicago real estate website Dreamtown.com.
by: Spencer Mason
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 25 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2553
The Top 5 Burlesque, Cabaret and Comedy Clubs In London
London’s Top Burlesque, Cabaret and Comedy Clubs
Making a list of the best burlesque and cabaret clubs in London is in part a fools errand. The requirements of say a middle aged American tourist from the Mid West is going to be very different from that of say a young metropolitan burlesque aficionado or a hen /office party for that matter. And that’s before getting into supper club vs theatre style club vs bar style club, gay vs straight or the whole traditional vs neo burlesque debate. Below are what I call my five “best of breeds”. I make no attempt to crown one “best of show” – continue my canine simile – because to do so would be errant nonsense.
Madame Jojos
A must for everyone not just because it is the Daddy of the burlesque cabaret scene but because through its superlative programming it caters for almost everyone from my American tourist (go for the weekend shows) to my burlesque aficionado hipsters (go for the showcases and some of the midweek shows) not to mention having some rather good club nights (but that’s for another article). If anything the only groups not well catered for I would say are UK hen and office parties who might find the weekend shows too dumbed down (well you try and find humour that can encompass 20 different nationalities – including Japanese - that isn’t!) and the midweek show / showcases a mite inaccessible. Wonderful architecture and a convenient location caps off a great overall package . Other grumbles might be the high prices and the so so food and drinks but that’s not really the point is it. My main criticism is that it leans far too heavily towards traditional burlesque /cabaret forms and is looking increasingly dated for it relative to its more avante garde rivals – shades of The Royal Academy of Art there perhaps in the mid 90s which go so left behind by the likes of Goldsmiths College with the whole Brit Art thing. Still should one expect a venerable Grande Dame to be anything else – I mean would you want your Great grandmother to be break dancing and “getting it on” with the kids Particularly well suited for tourists
Volupte
Again situated conveniently in the West End albeit in a somewhat uninspiring (but well decked out) basement Volupte is my preferred London supper club. Escellent burlesque programming with a good range of both traditional and neo burlesque performers and for that matter a great website too with not a flash of err flash. What I especially like about the programming is that its both sophisticated and accessible at the same time something which from my own experience is quite hard to achieve. Everything is just right from the ever so crisp white linen table clothes to the faux Edwardian table lamps. Good food and drinks service too with a large stage (albeit somewhat obscured behind pillars for some tables so do make sure to check when booking!). Grumbles unfortunately as a supper club the atmosphere can be bit restrained to say the least and with a Holborn address very office party dominated (the yards of white linen only surpassed by the acres of white shirts and ties of the office workers who descend pack like) so the audience is somewhat less sophisticated than the shows (the management by the way are to be complimented for ignoring the “I want more tits and arse” brigade). I am not a great fan of the standing tickets either and as with all West End venues yes the prices are high. An excellent late licence caps off a great night out. Oh and please do avid expensive imitations like Pigalle’s which I have heard nothing but bad reports about (Vince Powers should really stick to rock and roll!)
Vauxhall Tavern
The legendary gay cabaret haunt which has launched just about every gay /transvestite crossover TV comedian and host in the UK and beyond for the last 20 years which tells you something of the quality of the acts here. All this in a venue unparalleled anywhere in the UK for its grossness from the sweat stained black walls to loos indescribable in their filthiness - all which of course provides the perfect backdrop for the b*tch queen from hell style of acts that predominate here (hecklers beware!). Unfortunately this venue is strictly gay so not accessible for the majority of us. People often write of how Lost Vagueness, avante garde performers like Leigh Bowery and clubs like Torture Garden helped spark off the neo burlesque movement . However I suspect the Vauxhall Tavern had a far greater indirect influence than any of these. So for any gay or bi sexual people from overseas visiting London don’t leave till experienced at least one night at The Vauxhall Tavern. But a word of warning do avoid the legion of cheap and expensive imitations from Clapham to Camden – none of them are the patch on the real thing. Finally the Vauxhall Tavern is obviously much more a cabaret than burlesque venue – you won’t be seeing too many girls in feathers not unless they are drag queens that is. Grumbles its gay only and really could do with a tiny bit of a clean and maybe a tiny bit of air conditioning too without of course wanting to in any way change the character of the place. Oh No! Particularly well suited for metropolitan gay and gay friendly customers
Bethnal Green Working Mans Club.
I am not entirely sure why I am including this venue because its not actually a burlesque or cabaret venue at all - it is as the title suggests a working mans club in a really rather unpleasant part of London. It’s also rather unpleasant inside although possibly of interest to sociologists as you do feel you are walking back in time to the 1950s - from the ancient cashier at the front door to the aging beehive haired harridans who pass for bar staff (serving some of the most uninspiring drinks I have seen. Lets just say the mixology revolution forget to get off at Bethnal Green tube) not forgetting vinyl and carpets so decrepit that you wonder it does not stick to your shoes (oh and does on busy nights). The programming is however inspired and its home to some of the best roving neo burlesque club nights (Wham Bam Club for one) and performers (Chocolate Delicieux for one). However do check listings in advance and do ring in advance too or when you arrive you might be very disappointed when you find there is no show and only warm beer in plastic glasses and checkers for entertainment. Particularly well suited for metropolitan sophisticated burlesque aficionados and clubbers
Peacock Bar http://www.the-peacock-bar.co.uk
Now I have to confess to some bias here as I book the club and helped create it. However in my defence Peacock Bar has been rated Top London Burlesque Club, Top London Cabaret Club as well as Top Birthday Party venue by ViewLondon [plus won just about every other award under the sun in the last six months including Top London Small Venue from Function Fixers. Our programming is very much neo burlesque – really musical comedy sketches /social commentary in the finest Kinks style. We also specialise in being interactive and bringing audience members on stage with a lot of improve as well as being a bar club rather than a supper club. All of which we believe creates a much livelier, exciting and dynamic atmosphere than you get at either supper clubs (although we do of course provide food) or traditional burlesque shows (well just how many girls in feathers can you see in a lifetime). We also try and program seasonally so for Christmas we are presenting “ Christmas Lunch and Christmas Dinner with a difference with free burlesque and cabaret – put your boss on stage and humiliate him! Particularly well suited for birthday party, Christmas party, hen party and stag party bookings.
That completes my review of the Top Five Burlesque and Cabaret Clubs. Please feel free to contact me with any criticisms or praise and also with any venues I may have missed
by: Lawrence Merrett
Making a list of the best burlesque and cabaret clubs in London is in part a fools errand. The requirements of say a middle aged American tourist from the Mid West is going to be very different from that of say a young metropolitan burlesque aficionado or a hen /office party for that matter. And that’s before getting into supper club vs theatre style club vs bar style club, gay vs straight or the whole traditional vs neo burlesque debate. Below are what I call my five “best of breeds”. I make no attempt to crown one “best of show” – continue my canine simile – because to do so would be errant nonsense.
Madame Jojos
A must for everyone not just because it is the Daddy of the burlesque cabaret scene but because through its superlative programming it caters for almost everyone from my American tourist (go for the weekend shows) to my burlesque aficionado hipsters (go for the showcases and some of the midweek shows) not to mention having some rather good club nights (but that’s for another article). If anything the only groups not well catered for I would say are UK hen and office parties who might find the weekend shows too dumbed down (well you try and find humour that can encompass 20 different nationalities – including Japanese - that isn’t!) and the midweek show / showcases a mite inaccessible. Wonderful architecture and a convenient location caps off a great overall package . Other grumbles might be the high prices and the so so food and drinks but that’s not really the point is it. My main criticism is that it leans far too heavily towards traditional burlesque /cabaret forms and is looking increasingly dated for it relative to its more avante garde rivals – shades of The Royal Academy of Art there perhaps in the mid 90s which go so left behind by the likes of Goldsmiths College with the whole Brit Art thing. Still should one expect a venerable Grande Dame to be anything else – I mean would you want your Great grandmother to be break dancing and “getting it on” with the kids Particularly well suited for tourists
Volupte
Again situated conveniently in the West End albeit in a somewhat uninspiring (but well decked out) basement Volupte is my preferred London supper club. Escellent burlesque programming with a good range of both traditional and neo burlesque performers and for that matter a great website too with not a flash of err flash. What I especially like about the programming is that its both sophisticated and accessible at the same time something which from my own experience is quite hard to achieve. Everything is just right from the ever so crisp white linen table clothes to the faux Edwardian table lamps. Good food and drinks service too with a large stage (albeit somewhat obscured behind pillars for some tables so do make sure to check when booking!). Grumbles unfortunately as a supper club the atmosphere can be bit restrained to say the least and with a Holborn address very office party dominated (the yards of white linen only surpassed by the acres of white shirts and ties of the office workers who descend pack like) so the audience is somewhat less sophisticated than the shows (the management by the way are to be complimented for ignoring the “I want more tits and arse” brigade). I am not a great fan of the standing tickets either and as with all West End venues yes the prices are high. An excellent late licence caps off a great night out. Oh and please do avid expensive imitations like Pigalle’s which I have heard nothing but bad reports about (Vince Powers should really stick to rock and roll!)
Vauxhall Tavern
The legendary gay cabaret haunt which has launched just about every gay /transvestite crossover TV comedian and host in the UK and beyond for the last 20 years which tells you something of the quality of the acts here. All this in a venue unparalleled anywhere in the UK for its grossness from the sweat stained black walls to loos indescribable in their filthiness - all which of course provides the perfect backdrop for the b*tch queen from hell style of acts that predominate here (hecklers beware!). Unfortunately this venue is strictly gay so not accessible for the majority of us. People often write of how Lost Vagueness, avante garde performers like Leigh Bowery and clubs like Torture Garden helped spark off the neo burlesque movement . However I suspect the Vauxhall Tavern had a far greater indirect influence than any of these. So for any gay or bi sexual people from overseas visiting London don’t leave till experienced at least one night at The Vauxhall Tavern. But a word of warning do avoid the legion of cheap and expensive imitations from Clapham to Camden – none of them are the patch on the real thing. Finally the Vauxhall Tavern is obviously much more a cabaret than burlesque venue – you won’t be seeing too many girls in feathers not unless they are drag queens that is. Grumbles its gay only and really could do with a tiny bit of a clean and maybe a tiny bit of air conditioning too without of course wanting to in any way change the character of the place. Oh No! Particularly well suited for metropolitan gay and gay friendly customers
Bethnal Green Working Mans Club.
I am not entirely sure why I am including this venue because its not actually a burlesque or cabaret venue at all - it is as the title suggests a working mans club in a really rather unpleasant part of London. It’s also rather unpleasant inside although possibly of interest to sociologists as you do feel you are walking back in time to the 1950s - from the ancient cashier at the front door to the aging beehive haired harridans who pass for bar staff (serving some of the most uninspiring drinks I have seen. Lets just say the mixology revolution forget to get off at Bethnal Green tube) not forgetting vinyl and carpets so decrepit that you wonder it does not stick to your shoes (oh and does on busy nights). The programming is however inspired and its home to some of the best roving neo burlesque club nights (Wham Bam Club for one) and performers (Chocolate Delicieux for one). However do check listings in advance and do ring in advance too or when you arrive you might be very disappointed when you find there is no show and only warm beer in plastic glasses and checkers for entertainment. Particularly well suited for metropolitan sophisticated burlesque aficionados and clubbers
Peacock Bar http://www.the-peacock-bar.co.uk
Now I have to confess to some bias here as I book the club and helped create it. However in my defence Peacock Bar has been rated Top London Burlesque Club, Top London Cabaret Club as well as Top Birthday Party venue by ViewLondon [plus won just about every other award under the sun in the last six months including Top London Small Venue from Function Fixers. Our programming is very much neo burlesque – really musical comedy sketches /social commentary in the finest Kinks style. We also specialise in being interactive and bringing audience members on stage with a lot of improve as well as being a bar club rather than a supper club. All of which we believe creates a much livelier, exciting and dynamic atmosphere than you get at either supper clubs (although we do of course provide food) or traditional burlesque shows (well just how many girls in feathers can you see in a lifetime). We also try and program seasonally so for Christmas we are presenting “ Christmas Lunch and Christmas Dinner with a difference with free burlesque and cabaret – put your boss on stage and humiliate him! Particularly well suited for birthday party, Christmas party, hen party and stag party bookings.
That completes my review of the Top Five Burlesque and Cabaret Clubs. Please feel free to contact me with any criticisms or praise and also with any venues I may have missed
by: Lawrence Merrett
New Years Eve Restaurants in Nottingham
Nottingham becomes alive on New Year’s Eve. Nottingham is famed for its vibrant night life and there are hundreds of options for any New Years Eve revellers, the question is what to do? With the largest concentration of bars and pubs in a mile radius in the whole of Europe party goers can enjoy a huge range of stylish bars and then go to one of the many clubs and dance the night away.
The Lace Market is home to a number of stylish bars from Living Room to the famous Pitcher and Piano converted church, or perhaps West of the city towards the castle and the cobbled streets is for you. There are a good number of restaurants in Nottingham that will cater an amazing 3-5 course meal and then provide a range of post meal entertainment so you and your guests won’t have to worry about a thing! Having a meal with friends and family on New Year’s Eve is the perfect way to chat about the highs and lows of the year and indeed set those New Year’s resolutions. After all isn’t New Year’s eve about celebration, those you care about and reflection on the year just gone.
Go dine are already taking bookings for New Year’s eve and as everyone knows, those who prepare early tend to get the right offering, venue and even the best table; as the year progresses we shall be adding New Year’s Eve menus and putting these all in one area for you.
Vienna - Situated just of the Market Square in Nottingham city centre Vienna would make the ideal venue. Beautiful surroundings, in house bar, and if you want to join the crowd gathered in the square simply step outside.
Harts - Nottingham restaurant awards winner 2009, Harts will ensure your New Year’s is memorable. Exquisite food, fantastic champagne, perfect service, in-house bar, the list goes on, ooh and why not stay in the fantastic rooms within the hotel... the list is endless at Hart’s.
Home Bar and Restaurant- If you want to be slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre Home Bar is a perfect venue. Home Bar is literally that, Home from home. Enjoy a fantastic menu cooked by one of the finest chefs in Nottingham and then why not sit back in one of Home’s leather sofas.
Check out New Years Eve restaurants in Nottingham.
by: Mark Roberts
The Lace Market is home to a number of stylish bars from Living Room to the famous Pitcher and Piano converted church, or perhaps West of the city towards the castle and the cobbled streets is for you. There are a good number of restaurants in Nottingham that will cater an amazing 3-5 course meal and then provide a range of post meal entertainment so you and your guests won’t have to worry about a thing! Having a meal with friends and family on New Year’s Eve is the perfect way to chat about the highs and lows of the year and indeed set those New Year’s resolutions. After all isn’t New Year’s eve about celebration, those you care about and reflection on the year just gone.
Go dine are already taking bookings for New Year’s eve and as everyone knows, those who prepare early tend to get the right offering, venue and even the best table; as the year progresses we shall be adding New Year’s Eve menus and putting these all in one area for you.
Vienna - Situated just of the Market Square in Nottingham city centre Vienna would make the ideal venue. Beautiful surroundings, in house bar, and if you want to join the crowd gathered in the square simply step outside.
Harts - Nottingham restaurant awards winner 2009, Harts will ensure your New Year’s is memorable. Exquisite food, fantastic champagne, perfect service, in-house bar, the list goes on, ooh and why not stay in the fantastic rooms within the hotel... the list is endless at Hart’s.
Home Bar and Restaurant- If you want to be slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre Home Bar is a perfect venue. Home Bar is literally that, Home from home. Enjoy a fantastic menu cooked by one of the finest chefs in Nottingham and then why not sit back in one of Home’s leather sofas.
Check out New Years Eve restaurants in Nottingham.
by: Mark Roberts
วันอังคารที่ 23 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2553
How To Close A Vacation Rental Deal Like A Pro - Part 1
In previous article, The Art and Science of Responding to Inquiries, we discussed how to instruct your computer to automatically respond to a prospective renter's first email request, how to handle your next communication with him using the "fast-and-dirty response", how to build a FAQ to save time and energy, and when to communicate by email or phone.
Now that you've carefully and enthusiastically provided your prospective renters with clear, honest and comprehensive details about your wonderful property and region, how can you make sure that all that investment of time and effort will translate into firm bookings? In other words, as the sales specialists put it, how do you "close the deal"?
In this article, I will also provide some tips on how to screen your guests before firming up your bookings.
Benchmark and track
Let's begin this discussion by taking one step back. Start keeping statistics now so that you'll have a clear picture of where you stand. Benchmark how you are doing today, and over the coming months, track your progress - number of inquiries vs. number of bookings - as you integrate the communication techniques laid out here. Every time you lose a booking, try to figure out why and what you could do better.
Target the right clientele for your property
If you're losing bookings today, the problem may simply be that you are not aiming at the right renters for your particular property. Have you taken the time to thoughtfully reflect about what profile of renter your property would naturally attract? Have you stood back to look at your property objectively, in conjunction with your region, through the eyes of a renter?
You cannot hope to have a high ratio of bookings vs. inquiries if you're shooting too wide, as with a bee-bee gun - you may hit a few birds but because there is nothing strategic about your approach, you're wasting precious ammunition (your time and energy). It's well worth it to take some time to position and brand your property, so that you can attract the right renters through fine-tuning your communications.
Here is an exercise to guide you through this process:
1. Start by studying the profile of your past guests - describe that group, in writing. What do they have in common? Review what they told you they appreciated about your property - these elements may prove to be points you'll want to highlight in your communications.
2. What type of traveler normally visits your region? You should be able to obtain statistics and a visitor profile from your local tourist office. Visit regional tourism Web sites and inventory the type of activities available in your region - are they aimed at families, sports-minded couples, culture freaks?
3. To whom would you really prefer to be renting? For instance, you may decide you prefer to rent to couples with no children, or to small groups even though your home can accommodate a larger number.
4. Examine all the features of your property - to whom are they best suited? A "romantic spa" and a "high-tech gourmet kitchen" might not send the same message as a "kid-friendly swimming pool in a large, safe, fenced-in back yard".
5. Your rental rates help position your property within your particular vacation rental market. How do your rates compare to those of other properties in your region? Inflated rates limit the pool of interested renters while rates that are too low, compared to similar properties in your area, can create suspicion (what's wrong with this house?) and attract bargain-hunters. Investigate regional rates and make sure that yours are appropriate for your target clientele and region.
6. Have you thought about growing your renter pool by rethinking some of your policies - to include pets, for example?
Revamp your communications to fit that target clientele
Now that you've done this important positioning work, you're ready for the next step: Examine your current communications with your renters - ads, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), email and verbal communications - and make the necessary adjustments to content and language. Ask yourself questions such as:
- Is my content and specific choice of words working to attract my target clientele?
- Are any of my claims confusing or contradictory for this target group?
- How can I present my offer so as to discourage renters whom I have excluded from my target group?
- This is a work-in-progress, so you'll need to review your communications on a regular basis and keep making adjustments. You'll discover that it is more profitable to cut back on the number of undesirable inquiries in order to make more time to invest in potentially agreeable, profitable business relationships.
Play an active role in your renter's decision-making process
Don't just wait passively for a renter to take his decision. There are several ways you can influence that decision in your favor. When a renter is faced with two or three equally interesting options, it's often going this "extra mile" that can swing the situation in your direction.
- Respect best practices: Remember that you are competing with other property owners who take their rentals as seriously as you do. So handle all inquiries in a timely and professional manner - review our compilation of best practices in our April issue. Your renter's comfort level will be affected by your overall approach and your personality.
- Like a good scout, Be Prepared! Always be ready for that call - which of course will come in at the most inconvenient moment! Keep your FAQ and booking calendar up to date and handy - near your home phone, with you in the car, in your briefcase at work - so you can quickly say whether the week requested is available or not. Be prepared to propose other dates.
- Always follow up: So many property owners don't take the trouble to follow up on inquiries. If they don't hear back from the renter, they assume she has chosen another property - which may not be the case.
Take a moment to reflect on how you yourself react to a renter's silence… Isn't it possible that the renter may simply be overwhelmed at the office, preoccupied by a child's illness, or is waiting for her procrastinating husband to give feedback on a short list of properties? Your timely, thoughtful call could tilt the balance in your favor because it will bring you and your property back top-of-mind and give you another opportunity to remind the renter of all the advantages of renting with you. In short, your call might just save the day by making it much easier for your renter to take her decision. If you can create a comfortable, trusting relationship with her during that call, your chances of closing the deal within a few hours are multiplied.
- Provide your guest with a decision-making tool: Now that you've spoken with your prospective renter and have listened to her carefully, especially her subtle in-between-the-lines messages, you have a much better understanding of where her hesitations lie. You might want to try a homemade decision-making tool such as the one below. Send this chart along with a note: "Hello, Jane. Following our conversation, I gave some thought to the concerns you expressed and have prepared this little chart for you, in the hopes that it might help you take your decision more comfortably. Let me know if I can be of any more help."
by: Michael Canson
Now that you've carefully and enthusiastically provided your prospective renters with clear, honest and comprehensive details about your wonderful property and region, how can you make sure that all that investment of time and effort will translate into firm bookings? In other words, as the sales specialists put it, how do you "close the deal"?
In this article, I will also provide some tips on how to screen your guests before firming up your bookings.
Benchmark and track
Let's begin this discussion by taking one step back. Start keeping statistics now so that you'll have a clear picture of where you stand. Benchmark how you are doing today, and over the coming months, track your progress - number of inquiries vs. number of bookings - as you integrate the communication techniques laid out here. Every time you lose a booking, try to figure out why and what you could do better.
Target the right clientele for your property
If you're losing bookings today, the problem may simply be that you are not aiming at the right renters for your particular property. Have you taken the time to thoughtfully reflect about what profile of renter your property would naturally attract? Have you stood back to look at your property objectively, in conjunction with your region, through the eyes of a renter?
You cannot hope to have a high ratio of bookings vs. inquiries if you're shooting too wide, as with a bee-bee gun - you may hit a few birds but because there is nothing strategic about your approach, you're wasting precious ammunition (your time and energy). It's well worth it to take some time to position and brand your property, so that you can attract the right renters through fine-tuning your communications.
Here is an exercise to guide you through this process:
1. Start by studying the profile of your past guests - describe that group, in writing. What do they have in common? Review what they told you they appreciated about your property - these elements may prove to be points you'll want to highlight in your communications.
2. What type of traveler normally visits your region? You should be able to obtain statistics and a visitor profile from your local tourist office. Visit regional tourism Web sites and inventory the type of activities available in your region - are they aimed at families, sports-minded couples, culture freaks?
3. To whom would you really prefer to be renting? For instance, you may decide you prefer to rent to couples with no children, or to small groups even though your home can accommodate a larger number.
4. Examine all the features of your property - to whom are they best suited? A "romantic spa" and a "high-tech gourmet kitchen" might not send the same message as a "kid-friendly swimming pool in a large, safe, fenced-in back yard".
5. Your rental rates help position your property within your particular vacation rental market. How do your rates compare to those of other properties in your region? Inflated rates limit the pool of interested renters while rates that are too low, compared to similar properties in your area, can create suspicion (what's wrong with this house?) and attract bargain-hunters. Investigate regional rates and make sure that yours are appropriate for your target clientele and region.
6. Have you thought about growing your renter pool by rethinking some of your policies - to include pets, for example?
Revamp your communications to fit that target clientele
Now that you've done this important positioning work, you're ready for the next step: Examine your current communications with your renters - ads, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), email and verbal communications - and make the necessary adjustments to content and language. Ask yourself questions such as:
- Is my content and specific choice of words working to attract my target clientele?
- Are any of my claims confusing or contradictory for this target group?
- How can I present my offer so as to discourage renters whom I have excluded from my target group?
- This is a work-in-progress, so you'll need to review your communications on a regular basis and keep making adjustments. You'll discover that it is more profitable to cut back on the number of undesirable inquiries in order to make more time to invest in potentially agreeable, profitable business relationships.
Play an active role in your renter's decision-making process
Don't just wait passively for a renter to take his decision. There are several ways you can influence that decision in your favor. When a renter is faced with two or three equally interesting options, it's often going this "extra mile" that can swing the situation in your direction.
- Respect best practices: Remember that you are competing with other property owners who take their rentals as seriously as you do. So handle all inquiries in a timely and professional manner - review our compilation of best practices in our April issue. Your renter's comfort level will be affected by your overall approach and your personality.
- Like a good scout, Be Prepared! Always be ready for that call - which of course will come in at the most inconvenient moment! Keep your FAQ and booking calendar up to date and handy - near your home phone, with you in the car, in your briefcase at work - so you can quickly say whether the week requested is available or not. Be prepared to propose other dates.
- Always follow up: So many property owners don't take the trouble to follow up on inquiries. If they don't hear back from the renter, they assume she has chosen another property - which may not be the case.
Take a moment to reflect on how you yourself react to a renter's silence… Isn't it possible that the renter may simply be overwhelmed at the office, preoccupied by a child's illness, or is waiting for her procrastinating husband to give feedback on a short list of properties? Your timely, thoughtful call could tilt the balance in your favor because it will bring you and your property back top-of-mind and give you another opportunity to remind the renter of all the advantages of renting with you. In short, your call might just save the day by making it much easier for your renter to take her decision. If you can create a comfortable, trusting relationship with her during that call, your chances of closing the deal within a few hours are multiplied.
- Provide your guest with a decision-making tool: Now that you've spoken with your prospective renter and have listened to her carefully, especially her subtle in-between-the-lines messages, you have a much better understanding of where her hesitations lie. You might want to try a homemade decision-making tool such as the one below. Send this chart along with a note: "Hello, Jane. Following our conversation, I gave some thought to the concerns you expressed and have prepared this little chart for you, in the hopes that it might help you take your decision more comfortably. Let me know if I can be of any more help."
by: Michael Canson
The Art And Science Of Responding To Vacation Rental Inquiries - Part 1
So what's so complicated, you say, about providing information and answering questions from potential vacation renters? After all, as an owner, you certainly know your property well. And it's not like it's rocket science or something. Or is it?
As you will see in this issue and the next, responding effectively to inquiries - in a way that maximizes your chances of securing bookings - is a well-balanced cocktail of technology, behavioral science, intuition, good communications and experience.
How Your Computer's Auto-Reply Capability Can Become an Ally
You're not always in front of your computer when inquiries arrive. And responding to all those inquiries can be quite time-consuming. But you've learned that not responding in a timely manner is not an option - it may mean losing bookings. On the positive side, your quick turnaround tells a potential guest that you'll be just as responsive in dealing with any problem that may arise during his stay. So what's the solution?
You've probably noticed those automatic computer messages that business people generate to confirm reception of email when they're away from the office for any extended period of time. You too can put this tool to good use in your rental business. Setting up an auto-reply message can help you manage your initial contacts with your potential renters. The technical procedure is pretty straight-forward, but if you can't figure it out, ask a technician or friend for help.
Start by deciding what level of information you want to provide in this first correspondence - which will be your second chance to make a positive impression. Renters will have already viewed your property listing, which means your auto-reply message should include some additional useful information. However, it's important to avoid overkill at this stage - it's often better not to tell all until you have a better idea of your renter's needs, desires and personality. So save the detailed explanations and the answers to his questions for your next communication. With experience, you will get a sense for how much info and which precise details to include in this first communication, and how to work up from there. You might want to include some of your own questions, to help you screen the renter.
Some owners have simplified their lives and that of their renters by setting up a Web page that provides standard, high-quality information to renters. Your first communication with your potential renter could simply be a referral to your Web page. If this is your approach, make sure that you still sound warm and personal in your email message and not distant or mechanical.
While you're thinking about what to include in your first communication, why not set up today a warm but professional auto-reply message such as this one:
We're so pleased that our property caught your attention! We're very much looking forward to telling you more about it and our exciting region and answering all your questions. We promise to get back to you within 24 hours. Please tell us where you learned about our property and if this is your first trip to our area.
Remember to provide your name, contact info and the name and reference ID of your property on third-party Web sites so that the renter who has been exploring several properties can remember yours. If you have a web page, add your link as well as a link back to your property listings on those other sites. Make sure you know how to activate (hyperlink) these links in your email (see Insert menu). Reiterate the dates to avoid confusion later.
The Fast-and-Dirty Response
When you're ready to sit down and answer those inquiries, start by glancing through all of them to identify those that can or should be handled urgently - there are at least four types in this urgent category.
* Last-minute bookings: If a renter has decided to organize a last-minute vacation, there's no time to lose - you'll need to give priority to his request.
* Dates and pricing: Many renters start their search by sending off messages to several potentially interesting property listings. All they are interested in at this point is availability and pricing, so don't waste their time or yours by providing a lot of information they don't want at this time. Two exceptions: If you're booked out on the requested dates, do provide alternate dates - this might turn things around. And don't lose an opportunity to invest in the future: Add a "hook" - some tidbit of info that could work to keep you high on the renter's priority list, if not for this vacation then sometime soon.
* Poor match: With experience, you'll be able to identify renters who are unsuited to your property. These situations will be easier to handle if you have already taken the time to determine exactly who your target clientele is and what kind of renter you want to avoid. Matching the inquiry against that list - and against your rules and regulations - should allow you to screen. Remember to send these people a thoughtful email thanking them for their interest and telling them why your property is not the right one for them.
* Scams: Watch out for suspicious emails - among tell-tale signs are offers to pay by wire transfer or other unusual payment methods, confusing or contradictory information or multiple grammar mistakes. A quick phone call to the supposed renter or a reverse phone search will help confirm your intuition. If you are pretty sure that the inquiry is a scam, delete the email and warn the sites on which you list your properties.
by: Michael Canson
As you will see in this issue and the next, responding effectively to inquiries - in a way that maximizes your chances of securing bookings - is a well-balanced cocktail of technology, behavioral science, intuition, good communications and experience.
How Your Computer's Auto-Reply Capability Can Become an Ally
You're not always in front of your computer when inquiries arrive. And responding to all those inquiries can be quite time-consuming. But you've learned that not responding in a timely manner is not an option - it may mean losing bookings. On the positive side, your quick turnaround tells a potential guest that you'll be just as responsive in dealing with any problem that may arise during his stay. So what's the solution?
You've probably noticed those automatic computer messages that business people generate to confirm reception of email when they're away from the office for any extended period of time. You too can put this tool to good use in your rental business. Setting up an auto-reply message can help you manage your initial contacts with your potential renters. The technical procedure is pretty straight-forward, but if you can't figure it out, ask a technician or friend for help.
Start by deciding what level of information you want to provide in this first correspondence - which will be your second chance to make a positive impression. Renters will have already viewed your property listing, which means your auto-reply message should include some additional useful information. However, it's important to avoid overkill at this stage - it's often better not to tell all until you have a better idea of your renter's needs, desires and personality. So save the detailed explanations and the answers to his questions for your next communication. With experience, you will get a sense for how much info and which precise details to include in this first communication, and how to work up from there. You might want to include some of your own questions, to help you screen the renter.
Some owners have simplified their lives and that of their renters by setting up a Web page that provides standard, high-quality information to renters. Your first communication with your potential renter could simply be a referral to your Web page. If this is your approach, make sure that you still sound warm and personal in your email message and not distant or mechanical.
While you're thinking about what to include in your first communication, why not set up today a warm but professional auto-reply message such as this one:
We're so pleased that our property caught your attention! We're very much looking forward to telling you more about it and our exciting region and answering all your questions. We promise to get back to you within 24 hours. Please tell us where you learned about our property and if this is your first trip to our area.
Remember to provide your name, contact info and the name and reference ID of your property on third-party Web sites so that the renter who has been exploring several properties can remember yours. If you have a web page, add your link as well as a link back to your property listings on those other sites. Make sure you know how to activate (hyperlink) these links in your email (see Insert menu). Reiterate the dates to avoid confusion later.
The Fast-and-Dirty Response
When you're ready to sit down and answer those inquiries, start by glancing through all of them to identify those that can or should be handled urgently - there are at least four types in this urgent category.
* Last-minute bookings: If a renter has decided to organize a last-minute vacation, there's no time to lose - you'll need to give priority to his request.
* Dates and pricing: Many renters start their search by sending off messages to several potentially interesting property listings. All they are interested in at this point is availability and pricing, so don't waste their time or yours by providing a lot of information they don't want at this time. Two exceptions: If you're booked out on the requested dates, do provide alternate dates - this might turn things around. And don't lose an opportunity to invest in the future: Add a "hook" - some tidbit of info that could work to keep you high on the renter's priority list, if not for this vacation then sometime soon.
* Poor match: With experience, you'll be able to identify renters who are unsuited to your property. These situations will be easier to handle if you have already taken the time to determine exactly who your target clientele is and what kind of renter you want to avoid. Matching the inquiry against that list - and against your rules and regulations - should allow you to screen. Remember to send these people a thoughtful email thanking them for their interest and telling them why your property is not the right one for them.
* Scams: Watch out for suspicious emails - among tell-tale signs are offers to pay by wire transfer or other unusual payment methods, confusing or contradictory information or multiple grammar mistakes. A quick phone call to the supposed renter or a reverse phone search will help confirm your intuition. If you are pretty sure that the inquiry is a scam, delete the email and warn the sites on which you list your properties.
by: Michael Canson
How To Rent Out A Holiday Home
The important steps involved are described in this article; if the advice given is taken and you do the necessary work (some effort is necessary for what is, after all, a major investment), there will be no problems and you will maximise your marketing potential. However - and this cannot be emphasised too strongly - if you are lazy and think that good renters are going to rush to book your beautiful villa while you sit waiting for the phone to ring, you will be left with an expensive, empty investment.
The property obviously needs to meet local health and safety regulations, to be clean, well-maintained and furnished/decorated to a standard that fits what you expect to receive in rent (simple and neutral respectively is normally appropriate). It should not be cluttered by lots of personalised artifacts, such as family photos and all kitchen/bathroom utensils, etc, should be out of sight. If when guests first arrive they are welcomed by a basket of essentials (tea, coffee, milk, rolls, butter and mineral water, etc) and fresh flowers they are more likely to relax and come again next year. You should also make sure there is an up-to-date and complete file of useful local information for each new visitor.
You need to decide what dates you want to rent it out to holidaymakers and then what are the seasonally-based rental prices you should set to attract renters - based on researching prices asked for similar properties in similar locations.
Positive consideration of how the property will be maintained is necessary - if you are there, this can be controlled by yourself (covering such things as meeting guests to hand over and collect keys and formally agree the condition/contents of the property before and after and listing who to call on when the air conditioning or plumbing fails), otherwise you need an agent or a reliable person (make it a business, not an informal, arrangement) to take care of these things.
It should go without saying that you need to find out about legal and tax issues in the country where your property is located and, indeed, with your own country's taxes associated with overseas rental income. This means consulting the appropriate departments or professionals.
Then possibly the most challenging job is that of advertising. There are many ways to do this, such as in newspapers, magazines, local agents, your own website, through relatives and friends and of course via reccommendation. None of these ways are likely to generate enough bookings to make it worth your while. They would cost you a lot of time and money to control and the option of having your own website is a non-starter, because it will cost you from £500 to £1500 for a designer and your website will not be found by searchers.
On the other hand, there are many well-organised holiday rental search type websites, that have other properties on their books and that attract many visitors via the search engines (importantly, they have already made the investments needed to develop a website and promote it using various search engine optimisation, ie SEO, techniques). Some of these websites offer free advertising, some are free to advertise but take a percentage of any rentals and some simply ask for an annual fee, which varies widely but is usually proportional to how big they are. Many in each category charge extras, eg for highlighting an advert or for entering advert details. It is suggested that the free ones do not offer a very professional service, in which properties are presented too simply in advert-bound and cluttered pages. It is further suggested that the very big ones are expensive and are simply overwhelming for searchers (with thousands of options that can quickly lose a visitor).
The best option is undoubtedly to use any and all professional-looking websites with a nominal annual fee, eg £30, noting that some offer a free period (which should be grabbed with both hands!). Some work is necessary to enter details and upload photos, etc; but that's all part of the work needed to promote your property rental. Some websites do that work for you for a price, if you already have your own website to extract details from or you provide them details in some other way.
One website that you must use is http://www.solapartments.co.uk, who are free up to 1/1/2010 (then £29.99/year). Importantly, this is a very professional website that is uncluttered and provides a clean, full-featured property advert page with 16 photos in a distinctive Flash gallery, an interactive map, an availability calendar and direct owner contact details. It also features a wide variety of travel aids via seperate menu selections (not mixed up with property search and property advert pages!). They do not make you pay extra for anything, even if they have to enter your details for you.
On the website(s) you enter your property details, it makes sense to 'sell' your property in the most effective way you can imagine, to attract bookings in what is a very competitive market - good, clear photos of every room, every outside feature and interesting local attractions such as the beach or golf course; a pricing structure; complete and grammatically-correct details of the property and its surrounding areas, including all facilities (air conditioning, TV, broadband internet, kitchen appliances, etc) in the property; what there is to do in the area (horse-riding, sailing, sightseing - you name it).
You can outline terms and conditions in your advert, but you should have a rental agreement already prepared, so that this can be emailed to a renter. The agreement needs to clearly define the deposit required and when it is due, when the balance is due (before they arrive), what the refund and cancellation policy is, what additional costs there are such as for cleaning after they leave, if smoking or pets are allowed and how the condition of the property will be established before and after the rental (to decide if any damages or losses need to be paid for out of the deposit).
Most importantly, when you receive an enquiry you should respond promptly and in a professional and friendly manner (they won't wait more than 1 day - they're anxious to plan their holiday somewhere now not next week and they will be keen to establish a rapport with the owner - they need to feel they can trust you when they send you a deposit) and be prepared to be flexible and helpful with such things as the price, times of arrival and departure, minimum stays, help with airport transfers, etc - just make sure you get that booking!
by: David Stuttard
The property obviously needs to meet local health and safety regulations, to be clean, well-maintained and furnished/decorated to a standard that fits what you expect to receive in rent (simple and neutral respectively is normally appropriate). It should not be cluttered by lots of personalised artifacts, such as family photos and all kitchen/bathroom utensils, etc, should be out of sight. If when guests first arrive they are welcomed by a basket of essentials (tea, coffee, milk, rolls, butter and mineral water, etc) and fresh flowers they are more likely to relax and come again next year. You should also make sure there is an up-to-date and complete file of useful local information for each new visitor.
You need to decide what dates you want to rent it out to holidaymakers and then what are the seasonally-based rental prices you should set to attract renters - based on researching prices asked for similar properties in similar locations.
Positive consideration of how the property will be maintained is necessary - if you are there, this can be controlled by yourself (covering such things as meeting guests to hand over and collect keys and formally agree the condition/contents of the property before and after and listing who to call on when the air conditioning or plumbing fails), otherwise you need an agent or a reliable person (make it a business, not an informal, arrangement) to take care of these things.
It should go without saying that you need to find out about legal and tax issues in the country where your property is located and, indeed, with your own country's taxes associated with overseas rental income. This means consulting the appropriate departments or professionals.
Then possibly the most challenging job is that of advertising. There are many ways to do this, such as in newspapers, magazines, local agents, your own website, through relatives and friends and of course via reccommendation. None of these ways are likely to generate enough bookings to make it worth your while. They would cost you a lot of time and money to control and the option of having your own website is a non-starter, because it will cost you from £500 to £1500 for a designer and your website will not be found by searchers.
On the other hand, there are many well-organised holiday rental search type websites, that have other properties on their books and that attract many visitors via the search engines (importantly, they have already made the investments needed to develop a website and promote it using various search engine optimisation, ie SEO, techniques). Some of these websites offer free advertising, some are free to advertise but take a percentage of any rentals and some simply ask for an annual fee, which varies widely but is usually proportional to how big they are. Many in each category charge extras, eg for highlighting an advert or for entering advert details. It is suggested that the free ones do not offer a very professional service, in which properties are presented too simply in advert-bound and cluttered pages. It is further suggested that the very big ones are expensive and are simply overwhelming for searchers (with thousands of options that can quickly lose a visitor).
The best option is undoubtedly to use any and all professional-looking websites with a nominal annual fee, eg £30, noting that some offer a free period (which should be grabbed with both hands!). Some work is necessary to enter details and upload photos, etc; but that's all part of the work needed to promote your property rental. Some websites do that work for you for a price, if you already have your own website to extract details from or you provide them details in some other way.
One website that you must use is http://www.solapartments.co.uk, who are free up to 1/1/2010 (then £29.99/year). Importantly, this is a very professional website that is uncluttered and provides a clean, full-featured property advert page with 16 photos in a distinctive Flash gallery, an interactive map, an availability calendar and direct owner contact details. It also features a wide variety of travel aids via seperate menu selections (not mixed up with property search and property advert pages!). They do not make you pay extra for anything, even if they have to enter your details for you.
On the website(s) you enter your property details, it makes sense to 'sell' your property in the most effective way you can imagine, to attract bookings in what is a very competitive market - good, clear photos of every room, every outside feature and interesting local attractions such as the beach or golf course; a pricing structure; complete and grammatically-correct details of the property and its surrounding areas, including all facilities (air conditioning, TV, broadband internet, kitchen appliances, etc) in the property; what there is to do in the area (horse-riding, sailing, sightseing - you name it).
You can outline terms and conditions in your advert, but you should have a rental agreement already prepared, so that this can be emailed to a renter. The agreement needs to clearly define the deposit required and when it is due, when the balance is due (before they arrive), what the refund and cancellation policy is, what additional costs there are such as for cleaning after they leave, if smoking or pets are allowed and how the condition of the property will be established before and after the rental (to decide if any damages or losses need to be paid for out of the deposit).
Most importantly, when you receive an enquiry you should respond promptly and in a professional and friendly manner (they won't wait more than 1 day - they're anxious to plan their holiday somewhere now not next week and they will be keen to establish a rapport with the owner - they need to feel they can trust you when they send you a deposit) and be prepared to be flexible and helpful with such things as the price, times of arrival and departure, minimum stays, help with airport transfers, etc - just make sure you get that booking!
by: David Stuttard
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