ROCKVILLE, MD—Choice Hotels is entering the vacation home rental industry with Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels, which will be integrated with the Choice Privileges rewards program and offer distinctive benefits for consumers, homeowners and management companies.
“Choice Hotels has a 75-year history dedicated to connecting the world through the power of hospitality. We are drawing on that heritage to become the first hotel brand to partner with local vacation rental management companies to help ease the uncertainty and inconsistency associated with the vacation rental industry,” said Steve Joyce, CEO of Choice Hotels.
He added, “We’ve seen strong demand from vacation rental managers for distribution, branding and technology solutions, and at the same time, we’ve had increasing demand from consumers who desire longer-term stays and larger accommodations with the amenities of home. With these trends in mind, we’ve created Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels.”
Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels is the first major brand to work with independent management companies to provide consistent service standards and offer guests access to live assistance, 24/7, according to the company.
“What the consumer typically sees when shopping online is not always what they get especially when reviews are not verified,” Joyce said. “It’s often difficult to know who is behind the transaction. Is it managed professionally? That can make a world of difference in the vacation experience of the guest.”
To ensure quality, Choice Hotels is selectively forming relationships with vacation rental management companies that have established reputations for great service and high quality product portfolios. Adding further value to these relationships, Choice will offer customer reviews, detailed descriptions and images of each property that will build confidence and transparency.
Management companies will benefit from a reservations delivery platform, founded on technology provided by Maxxton, an enterprise solutions provider for the vacation rental industry. Choice will offer a suite of tools including guest portals, a homeowner management application and automated processing that would enhance interactions with owners and guests.
Choice is launching the new service in eight U.S. locations, including Orlando, FL; Aspen, CO; Destin, FL; Panama City Beach, FL; Williamsburg, VA; Shenandoah, VA; Phoenix; and Big Bear Lake, CA. The initial Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels members include management companies such as Magical Memories, Sterling Resorts and Bluegreen Resorts.