Orlando would be a great selection for either the 2018 or 2022 event. Orlando and Florida already attract visitors from across the globe. Ample lodging accommodations including vacation villas are in place to meet the rigorous supply demands of football fans. Four stadiums across the state of Florida would be convenient for World Cup™ fans with Orlando being the epicenter. Direct flights to Orlando are also a huge convenience for those wishing to attend the football matches from abroad.

The Greater Orlando area is home to some 110,000 hotel rooms and an estimated 25,000+ private bedrooms in existing area vacation home villas. Very few markets in the United States can boast these large numbers of lodging accommodations for special events of this kind. No other city can match the breadth of attractions and entertainment in the region as well. It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Orlando could be selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ event.

If you are interested in supporting the effort to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Orlando, Click here to sign the Orlando petition. Help get the word out by letting others know about the city’s application and forwarding the Orlando World Cup™ petition link to others.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that global tourism (as measured by the net arrivals) rose a stagnant 2% during the recent summer months. Unfortunately recent numbers indicate that it is getting worse before it returns to strong positive growth. Economists now predict that at that at its most optimistic point in the next year, the global tourism market will show signs of recovery in late 2009. Local vacation villa rental management companies, as voiced by feedback from the CFVRMA show (see blog posting), indicate similiar trends for the Orlando vacation home rentals market. Recent financial analyst meetings from Disney and Orlando  travel and tourism trends also confirm this overall prognostication for Orlando vacations.

Pearls of wisdom from the UNWTO show and forums indicate that successful tourism marketers are focusing on travelers to make more trips closer to home. On a former blog posting, we indicated that because of the petro prices dropping (relative to airline ticket pricing) drive-to destinations become a better Orlando vacation “value” for consumers. So while international tourism trends will return to fill Orlando vacation rental homes soon, successful vacation home management companies may look to build a compelling case for renting a vacation home over other traditional means of lodging in the short term. This begins with testimonials and word-of-mouth marketing for those who have enjoyed the vacation home concept and guest experience in the past for their Orlando vacation. All Orlando vacation home management companies have a vested interest in making sure our brand of hospitality is a good one.

SNAD: Significantly Not As Described.

Yes, there is a term for it! You rent an Orlando vacation home or condo that looks great in the photos, but when you get there, the subdivision is less than desired and the house is dirty and has stained carpets.

This is a major problem. The community reviews contained on this blog should give you a leg up on making sure your vacation home meets your expectations including our video reviews of most vacation rental communities.

Your Orlando vacation home management company should be able to provide you with a detailed standardized score of your specific vacation home or condo before you book it. Further, they should warranty the cleanliness of the Orlando vacation home and that the property was inspected the morning of your check-in. You can then pair up this home specific information to the vacation home community reviews we post regularly.

Without this information this can be a difficult process, as some vacation home companies have a vested interest in you booking the homes they manage over someone else’s. As we describe on another blog, absentee homeowners who do not employ a management company may not be in town to inspect the property before it’s occupied by the next guest.

In Orlando, some of the vacation home communities are less than desirable, and some of the homes are just plain poor. If you know where to look, some of the Orlando vacation home community subdivisions are amazing and the homes are wonderful. Please consult our vacation home reviews contained on this site as a reference when booking your Orlando vacation.

Some sites try to provide you information on the homes, but they have vested interests by the owners and managers, as described above. This vacation home blog will continue to provide you with information that will help you make the right choice for your Orlando villa.

Booking with a well managed and professional vacation home management company is key. Ask them what type of quality assurance practices they have in place to assure your vacation home rental is the pinnacle of quality. A well managed vacation home management company will not hesitate to tell you.

The best way to learn is to ask questions. Got a question on a vacation home or a community subdivision? Email us. We respond for free.

Renting an Orlando Vacation Home Rental in the Foreclosure Crisis – 10 Tips

Orlando vacation home foreclosure

Renting an Orlando Vacation Home - In Foreclosure?

1. Try and book Orlando holiday rentals as close to your travel date as possible.
2. Ask if the home you are reserving is behind on its mortgage
3. Ask how many homes in the subdivision have been abandoned
4. Ask what percentage of the development you are staying in contains vacant lots
5. Ask if the community facilities have been completed
6. Ask what percentage of homes in the community have overgrown lawns
7. Pay by credit card only
8. Use a reputable rental management company. If a home they manage is repossessed, they have others.
9. If booking direct from an owner, you must be able to verify the rental home will not be repossessed by the bank by the time your stay comes around.
10. If in doubt, keep asking questions. There are hundreds of management companies handling rental homes – so pick a good one!

Good Vacation Home Management

So you own a vacation home? Join about 40,000 other owners in the Orlando, Kissimmee, Disney, Clermont or Davenport area.

What Homeowners should demand from their management company:

1. The option to opt out of the management contract at any time if you are not happy with the company.
2. The ability to rent out your home at least 65% of the year.
3. A quarterly quality assurance and inspection report with photos and scores for all aspects of your home from the AC system to pool.
4. Assurance that holiday home home repairs are completed at cost, and that a detailed report is provided of work completed
5. All capital projects are bid out in writing to at least three bidders for items such as roof repair, ac replacement, pool resurfacing etc.
6. Minor repairs are billed at a rate no higher than $35 an hour.
7. You can login-in to your account 24 hours a day to view all bookings, maintenance and account details.
8. They are licensed and insured, and can provide all documentation
9. They provide resumes of their key staff
10. They respond quickly and professionally to your requests and answer their phones by the third ring 24/7

• Consider a green values statement for guests at check-in. Simple tips such as running the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher only as needed go a long way in conserving water and energy during the year.
  

  environmental orlando florida vacation homes

• Caulk and seal around windows and door frames of your home.
• Make sure water heaters and hot water pipes are insulated properly.
• Make sure heating/cooling and condenser coils are cleaned regularly.
• It is advisable to paint in lighter palette colors for bath and living areas.
• Refrigeration coils should be cleaned regularly and door seals checked often.
• Make sure you reinforce the need for temperature setbacks when the vacation home is not occupied with your housekeeping team.
• The housekeeping team should also close draperies during periods when the home is not occupied.
• A schedule for changing HVAC filters should be maintained.
• Be sure and adhere to a regular PM program for pool heaters to prevent scaling.
• Make sure the pool skimmer and pump strainer baskets are cleaned regularly.
• Also verify that the pool filter is serviced as recommended.

Although there are many additional ways to promote conservation, these simple ways will have a large cumulative impact on your home energy usage.