11/14/2017 - Letter to Prior Guests
Dear Prior Guest --
You are receiving this email because you were a part of over 800 groups that stayed at 625 or 627 S. Paca Street in the past 12 years.
First and foremost I want to thank you for your business, and I wanted to let you know that I am still in business! My new website can now be found at:
The comments from over a decade of guests from all over the world indicate many great memories have been made while staying in my S. Paca Street homes and it’s been great fun to be a part of the memory making process.
Please feel free to post my link on facebook or social media to share with others!!
First and foremost I want to thank you for your business, and I wanted to let you know that I am still in business! My new website can now be found at:
The comments from over a decade of guests from all over the world indicate many great memories have been made while staying in my S. Paca Street homes and it’s been great fun to be a part of the memory making process.
Please feel free to post my link on facebook or social media to share with others!!
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=== December, January and February Deals! ==
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=== December, January and February Deals! ==
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There is a negative industry shift going on that is affecting all owners. Bookings are way down across the industry. I had to sell 625 S. Paca St this summer as a result of it, and I’ll expand on all of that below. First, let me tell you how bad it is and offer some discounted rates for the winter season in hopes of getting some bookings!?!
As of today, I have no bookings at all for December, January, February. Zero. Zip. Nada. Goose Egg. Being with no bookings for the slow season at this point in November is not a good feeling and something I haven’t seen in 12 years in business. In looking at calendars of others in my market, I’m not alone. I was the leading producer in Baltimore for many years. I still am near the top if not the top producer, and I’ve got zero bookings. Not a good sign.
As of today, I have no bookings at all for December, January, February. Zero. Zip. Nada. Goose Egg. Being with no bookings for the slow season at this point in November is not a good feeling and something I haven’t seen in 12 years in business. In looking at calendars of others in my market, I’m not alone. I was the leading producer in Baltimore for many years. I still am near the top if not the top producer, and I’ve got zero bookings. Not a good sign.
If anyone is interested in a 3 to 7 night Wintery Baltimore Retreat getaway, my base rate for this off season is $250/night for up to 8 people. Please add a $175 cleaning fee and $350 damage deposit as typical for budgeting purposes. And I may be willing to flex a little for stays in the 6-7 night range and/or for smaller groups depending on availability at time of request.
If you are interested in a stay longer than 7 nights, please reach out as I will work out great pricing that may make sense for both of us ($115-$225/night). Any writers in the group? Anyone needing a retreat in a quiet urban setting? Anyone want to do the Washington DC tours in winter? Anyone looking for an urban, winter sabbatical? My calendar is wide open right now!?
If you are interested in a stay longer than 7 nights, please reach out as I will work out great pricing that may make sense for both of us ($115-$225/night). Any writers in the group? Anyone needing a retreat in a quiet urban setting? Anyone want to do the Washington DC tours in winter? Anyone looking for an urban, winter sabbatical? My calendar is wide open right now!?
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== I had to sell 625 S. Paca St and I’m bummed about the reason why... ==
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As some of you know, in 2012 we relocated to California and we converted 625 S. Paca Street into a vacation rental at that time. So we had both 625 and 627 as vacation rentals for the past 5 years.
At that time I re-branded my business under the then new URL ( http://south-paca-street-vacation-rentals.com ). That URL now just redirects to my new website http://bryans-baltimore-vacation-rental.com .
Unfortunately, in early 2017 Homeaway and VRBO (now Expedia owned companies) quietly announced a shift from being a fee based advertising platform to an online travel agency with hefty consumer booking fees. I realized before others just how devastating that shift was going to be, and I chose to sell 625 S. Paca Street before the avalanche started.
It was a very difficult decision because it was a decision to sell my live-in artwork and an income generating property, but when all factors were considered, that was really the only option. And now that the avalanche has started, I’m glad it’s gone because my real estate bailing bucket is filling fast yet again…
For those that need to book a second home in the future or for those I can not accommodate, I have referral information for another home on South Paca Street I can provide.
== I had to sell 625 S. Paca St and I’m bummed about the reason why... ==
============================================================
As some of you know, in 2012 we relocated to California and we converted 625 S. Paca Street into a vacation rental at that time. So we had both 625 and 627 as vacation rentals for the past 5 years.
At that time I re-branded my business under the then new URL ( http://south-paca-street-vacation-rentals.com ). That URL now just redirects to my new website http://bryans-baltimore-vacation-rental.com .
Unfortunately, in early 2017 Homeaway and VRBO (now Expedia owned companies) quietly announced a shift from being a fee based advertising platform to an online travel agency with hefty consumer booking fees. I realized before others just how devastating that shift was going to be, and I chose to sell 625 S. Paca Street before the avalanche started.
It was a very difficult decision because it was a decision to sell my live-in artwork and an income generating property, but when all factors were considered, that was really the only option. And now that the avalanche has started, I’m glad it’s gone because my real estate bailing bucket is filling fast yet again…
For those that need to book a second home in the future or for those I can not accommodate, I have referral information for another home on South Paca Street I can provide.
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=== Details on the Industry Shift ==
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=== Details on the Industry Shift ==
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In July 2017 VRBO, Homeaway and all other Expedia owned websites implemented a required 4 to 9% booking fee when they dramatically changed their business model from online advertising portal to online travel agency (OTA).
I use to get an email with lead info and from there we were on our own to do business as we felt appropriate. Now all I get is an email notice of a lead. I then have to log in to a console, communicate from within that console, and book via their business system and their credit card processor. No email addresses or phone numbers can be shared or else both myself and the consumer could lose our user privileges. In addition to the complexity and loss of flexibility, with this system the consumer gets a 4 to 9 % booking fee added onto my quote that is payable to Expedia.
This is nothing short of huge, corporate profit grab that negatively affects owners and consumers alike. All consumers and owners were funneled into a few websites over many years, advertising channels were bought up and monopolized and we became fish in a barrel.
I use to get an email with lead info and from there we were on our own to do business as we felt appropriate. Now all I get is an email notice of a lead. I then have to log in to a console, communicate from within that console, and book via their business system and their credit card processor. No email addresses or phone numbers can be shared or else both myself and the consumer could lose our user privileges. In addition to the complexity and loss of flexibility, with this system the consumer gets a 4 to 9 % booking fee added onto my quote that is payable to Expedia.
This is nothing short of huge, corporate profit grab that negatively affects owners and consumers alike. All consumers and owners were funneled into a few websites over many years, advertising channels were bought up and monopolized and we became fish in a barrel.
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=== Vacation Rental Maestro - My new blog-ish website!! ===
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=== Vacation Rental Maestro - My new blog-ish website!! ===
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As a result of all of this July 2017 shift and market collapse, I have started a blog-ish style website that is being used by many renters and owners to share this information with others.
This website has been loaded with info..
This website has been loaded with info..
- On the home page I provide the backstory above along with tips and tricks for finding out who owns homes advertised on vrbo, homeaway and airbnb so you can try to do business direct.
- The “Resources for” menu is loaded with information
- The Listing Websites link has a list of alternate Property Listing websites where owners are flocking too..
- And there’s more valuable info on the More menu… a lot more…
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=== In Closing... ===
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=== In Closing... ===
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While it’s not all great news, this too shall pass, right!?
Again, thank you all for your prior business. It was and still is much appreciated. Also, thanks for future business and referrals, as I need that support now more than ever!
Please have a safe and joyous holiday season.
Warm Regards,
Bryan and Holly
Again, thank you all for your prior business. It was and still is much appreciated. Also, thanks for future business and referrals, as I need that support now more than ever!
- Please feel free to forward this email to any who may be interested in a wintry Baltimore getaway!!
- Please feel free to forward this email to any who may be interested in the industry news!!
- Please feel free to post any of the above URLs on your social media pages for promotion, education, or conversation
Please have a safe and joyous holiday season.
Warm Regards,
Bryan and Holly
PS- Please share this page and this information with others. The industry related news needs to get out in a big way so those of us still in business can meet up with renters interested in doing business direct via new channels.