“An iPhone application to search for vacation rentals” plus 1 more

An iPhone application to search for vacation rentals

Posted: 17 Aug 2010 03:49 AM PDT

Published: 12 Aug 2010

Online vacation rental company HomeAway has developed an iPhone application that would allow users to search, filter and share the more than 230,000 global vacation rental properties available on HomeAway.com.

The HomeAway Vacation Rental Search app is free to use.

Referring to the functionality of the new application, the company mentioned that a lot of features found on HomeAway.com including filter by number of bedrooms and price are also available on the new application. Users can also view the physical location of vacation rentals via Google Maps and search by proximity to landmarks and geography. It also enables users to search as specifically as "Lake Travis, pet-friendly, outdoor grill, with pool," for example.

Social media on Mobile

Users via HomeAway's iPhone application can also share vacation rental options with groups of friends and family via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter.

The industry believes that one thing is certain about Facebook, Twitter, or whatever new social media channel will appear in future (joining them or even replacing them): these channels will be accessed more and more from mobile browsers. One should also not ignore the pace with which the base of mobile Internet users is expanding.

Companies like Morgan Stanley Research expect mobile Internet users to eclipse desktop users in the next three years.

Accentuating on the same, Ronnie Gurion, president, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution, recently told EyeforTravel, "If you look at the first five years of mobile Internet adoption vs. the first five years of desktop Internet adoption, it's not even close. Within the first two years of their existence, mobile Internet adoption nearly doubled that of desktop adoption."

There have been quite a few developments which signal the future. For instance, Malaysia Airlines recently introduced the world's first kiosks to sell airline tickets using the Apple iPad. Apple recently sold its three millionth iPad, just 80 days after its introduction in the US.

Gurion says, "The iPad integration isn't a big surprise. It's part of this larger wave of innovation where diverse mobile devices, mobile applications and mobile users will quickly be the norm. If you start connecting the dots, mobile is also a major enabler of social media, which has an increasing impact on where and how people book their travel."

"We're already making significant investments in mobile across our business, and we've been using our presence on Facebook and Twitter as both sales and customer satisfaction channels. And when you consider the potential referral opportunities from a social network like Facebook – which boasts more individual users than the populations of most developed countries – the impact and influence is just enormous," said Gurion.

Upcoming Conferences & Reports

Online Marketing & Social Media Strategies for Travel Summit 2010

5-6 October, Andels Hotel, Prague

Formerly known as the Sales & Marketing in Travel Summit, this well established event examines key strategies to engage customers in the new media landscape. Join top travel brands who'll share insightful case studies, best practices and ideas!

Travel Distribution Summit India 2010

6-7 October 2010

The annual meeting place for India's rapidly expanding online travel industry. Going into its fifth successful year, over 300 Indian and International delegates will convene in Mumbai for two days of knowledge sharing and deal making.

Travel Distribution Summit North America

13-14 October, 2010 - Chicago

Now in it's 12th successful year, this is THE travel industry event where the North American online travel industry meets to network, share fresh industry knowledge and learn profitable new strategies.

European Online Travel Report 3rd Edition

2009-2010

This comprehensive report will help you understand the incredibly complex European online travel market and allow you to pinpoint specific growth opportunities for your travel company.

Revenue Management & Pricing in Travel Conference, Europe

23-24th November 2010

This long-standing industry event brings together the best in industry to discuss the hot topics and trends in Revenue Management. Find out how you can continue to price for profit without eroding your rates at the same time as holding your brand integrity and values. Understand how Social Media and CRM are affecting RM strategies and benefit from expert knowledge on best practice in these fields.

Social Media Strategies for Travel N. America 2011

February/March, San Francisco

Attend the world's leading social media conference solely dedicated to the travel industry - now in it's 4th successful year! This is the event where top travel brands and social media experts meet to drive forward best practices

Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2011

London May 10-11 2011

The biggest gathering of online travel, pricing and distribution executives in the world will take place in London in May 2011. The most cost effective way to keep up with this fast changing industry.

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Mayor signs TVR bill into law

Posted: 16 Aug 2010 05:45 PM PDT

LIHU'E — Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. today signed into law Bill No. 2364, which amends Ordinances 864 and 876 relating to single-family transient vacation rentals.

The ordinance allows for owners of TVRs outside the boundaries of the county's Visitor Destination Areas to apply for a permit under certain circumstances, a county news release states.

Applicants for single-family transient vacation rentals will need to complete a TVR application and provide a sworn affidavit attesting that the use of the residence as a TVR occurred prior to March 7, 2008.

The applicant will also need to provide proof of Transient Accommodation Tax and General Excise Tax licenses, proof of payment of taxes and evidence of use of single family transient vacation rental.

In addition, applicants will need to provide plans signed and stamped by a licensed engineer accurately representing the property as it exists today and a digital pdf format copy of their application.

Applicants for single-family transient vacation rentals within the State Land Use District Agriculture will need to provide a petition for a Special Permit. Applications, affidavits, sample petitions and special permit checklists are available at the planning counter at the Mo'ikeha Building and on the Planning Department website at www.kauai.gov/planning.

Applicants who already have a valid Non-Conforming Use Certificate or TVR registration do not need to apply. This bill does not apply to any TVR in the conservation district, the release states.

Applicants who apply by Oct. 15 (within 60 days of the bill becoming law) will not be charged an application fee. Anyone who applies after that date will be charged and application fee of $1,500.

Refer to Ordinance 2364, also on the planning website, for complete details.

Vacation Rentals

Tuesday, August 17, 2010