August 2006

Vacation lodging can be viewed as a fine work of cabinetry that has to have well-crafted pieces that fit right and stand strong together to last and serve its purpose. To compete successfully for customers in the technologically driven lodging reservations business of today, you need dependable and efficient reservations software in your booking office, a website presence for customer exposure, and an outside reservations booking partnership that can bring even more exposure and bookings to you through their system. It's just too competitive out there to do it on your own. And without just the right pieces fitting together well - the hinges squeak, and the doors fall off.

Repeatedly, travel industry studies find that customers are increasingly turning to the Internet to plan, and reserve their vacations. As stated on the "Travel Daily News" website, preliminary data released at TravelCom 2006 by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) showed that last year (2005), for the first time, more trips were booked online than by any other method. In addition, a recent TIA survey indicated 78 percent of online travelers (79 million Americans) turned to the Internet for travel or destination information in 2005 - a 15 percent jump over 2004.

In this month's "Partnership Spotlight" see what Judy Farnetti, of Mammoth Sierra Reservations, has to say about the benefits from her online reservation partnership with yours truly. Don't miss the surprise that she also has for Mammoth!

   PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
For those in the Mammoth vacation rental industry, Judy Farnetti, President of Mammoth Sierra Reservations (MSR), is a well-known local professional who has spent 13 years fine-tuning MSR, bringing the company to the level of success that has today. With this kind of dedication and expertise, it's no surprise that this month, Farnetti, will present an exciting and new level of luxury service business to Mammoth - more about that later. But first, let's look at MSR and City Concierge, and how these pieces of vacation lodging and the Internet fit together so well.
According to Jefferson Lanz, managing director of City Concierge, Farnetti and MSR have had a lodging business partnership with City Concierge for almost three years. "Judy was one of the first lodging companies to join our lodging reservations and concierge services partnership. She has also been a consistent advertiser with us, maximizing her exposure with new customers, and leveraging our website traffic in order to make it her own."

Farnetti agrees, "Our partnership with City Concierge provides another layer of bookings through their web portal that works a lot like a travel agency, but much better because of the local, real-time, high-quality booking and concierge services that the website offers, which the customers couldn't get as easily elsewhere. This kind of exposure and service has increased our business significantly."

She goes on to say that both MSR's premium advertising listing on the website and the lodging reservations made through City Concierge brings in more business - and all for a very reasonable fee. Farnetti quickly does the math that shows that the effect of MSR's business partnership with City Concierge has been increased bookings by 5 to 6% over last year, with new business coming in everyday.

Farnetti is fast to point out that in the vacation rental industry, use of the Internet for marketing and reservations is absolutely critical in order to have a presence on the web with real-time booking capability. She has found that this is what people want to see - they want to be able to have their reservation completed and confirmed while they are booking it online - not the next day. Farnetti likes City Concierge's real-time reservations software that ties directly into her software and facilitates the booking of a City Concierge customer, directly into MSR's system. This partnership gives them another way to gain customers.

"The system City Concierge uses with us is fast, efficient, and brings in business," states Farnetti, "This is a really good relationship for us."

Now, back to the new business surprise in Mammoth: Farnetti and MSR's parent corporation, TCC, Enterprises, are absolutely proud and excited to announce the August opening of "Grand Havens", an exclusive and unique luxury resort lodging offering high-end vacation properties. Their premier properties - new or newly remodeled - will showcase myriad upscale amenities such as European-style bath features, luxury towels and linens, robe service, and pool towels; along with welcome baskets, gourmet coffee service, daily maids, and premium satellite TVs in every bedroom. To add an even more personal touch, they will offer fax and copy service, free international and domestic calling, 24-hour customer service and on-call personnel, high-speed internet, and a guest messaging service.

Farnetti is confident when she says, "Our goal is to target and attract a more affluent clientele demographic. We want to establish brand-name uniqueness, offer the best of all in every aspect of vacation lodging, and show our business to be unique when it comes to high-end property services - above and beyond the usual."

Grand Havens, with the guidance of Farnetti, plans to offer the best in customer service for their guests and their homeowner clients. City Concierge also plans to continue to offer the best in customer service for their guests and their business partners like Farnetti, MSR, and Grand Havens, along with their other very valuable Mammoth lodging partners. It all fits together well…and lasts.

Check out the newest partner - Grand Havens - opening for business mid-August: 866-go4grand

   SHAMELESS PROMO
Farnetti said it all! Thank you Judy. However, if you're in the lodging rental industry, you might want to consider what she mentioned about the ability of reservation software systems that can work through a real-time process with your booking partners, like City Concierge. Our software is able to bridge into your reservation product and deposit real time bookings. Consequently, this type of relationship, as Farnetti touted, "is fast, efficient, and brings in business." If you want to know more, just call me. Jefferson.

The City Concierge provides Guest Services, Reservations, and Information to visitors and second homeowners who want to know more about your business. Build Your Adventure Online!