Today I revisited an exclusive villa rental player IAVRA, which I covered initially back in 2011. Back then my review was mega-positive, and I only have more positives to add today about the International Association of Villa Rental Agents (IAVRA) mode and method for renting us all fantastic getaways. Let’s take a look at how far these travel entrepreneurs have come.
Italian Villa by the sea - Courtesy © HappyAlex - Fotolia.com
For a brief primer on what IAVRA does, the service is an exclusive, password-protected, subscribers-only platform that hooks up travel agents with villa agents directly to optimize the villa rental process. IAVRA simply puts technology in place to solve some of the biggest problems the villa rental arena has. Guaranteed commissions, all the data and media in one place, and a more perfect conduit for B2B rental business, this is the core value the system provides. Maybe the best way to understand all this is via watching the company “how to” video below.
Back when I tested the startup I think IAVRA had the same rather limited supply and demand side numbers all startups do, but now the developers tell me the network has become quite vast. With over 4000 properties in 52 countries (from 175 property agent companies) and 650+ travel agent/concierge company subscribers, IAVRA is well on their way to becoming a “go to” resource for a great many agents.
By way of demonstrating the value behind IAVRA I got the service to re-institute my test account so I could show you some properties. One in particular, Allegra in Tuscany, is one I thought some of you might be interested in. A six bedroom villa, this marvelous property is suitable for 12 guests to enjoy the best of the best of Tuscany. But what IAVRA does to help show this touristic value is present the property, along with becoming the perfect tech intermediary for some agents. Let me show you one of the ways. I’ll note here too that the listing agent for this wonderful villa was so kind as to let us reveal it to you.
Let’s say I am a travel agent here in our village of Schweich, Germany. Some long time clients want to visit Tuscany with their relatives, maybe they’ve asked me for just such a holiday many times, and somehow I did not have so much access or info to show them. Let me make this simple. The Allegra property on IAVRA offers a 10% commission for helping rent this villa. The simple math shows that if our big family likes the place, then the €6,386 euro weekly rental garners me €638 euro for printing out and showing online or via my iPad this brochure from IAVRA. (Click here to see the whole brochure)
Pretty simple, as I have laid it out. But obviously the folks at IAVRA have a lot more up their sleeve than a nice PDF and some branded stationary (which is very cool if you see Argo’s here) to sell your clients with. Of course they help with the contractual agreements, forms and so forth; with the availability, booking, and pricing aspects; and a lot more. But let’s keep things easy.
Now anyone reading this might say; “Okay, but what if your client wants something different?” Logic would suggest just a sparse set of resources for a little travel agent like me is not so much different than me just “Googling” villas for my clientele. But wait, there’s 23 other exclusive villas in Siena, Tuscany alone. Now I can show my clients with the big family a lot more options. What you see below is the mail program which allowed me to send my branded suggestions to the client.
The suggested villa rentals and prices etc.
As you can begin to see, really all I have to do to make myself into a villa rental tycoon here is a bit of marketing and PR. Hey, that is our other business! Seriously, for any travel agent, another revenue stream set up for a “win-win” like this could be just what the doctor ordered.
And a final thing. For those of you out there thinking villa rentals seem awefully expensive, perhaps you have not stayed in Paris lately. A look via IAVRA at downtown Paris villa accommodations for a week reveal bargains my friends. The Passy Trocadero villa shown below is a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower off Rue de Passy. Our little family stayed in Paris not long ago for three days and it cost more than the €2100 euro a week price at this two bedroom charmer down the street from 100 wonderful cafes. You had better do the math and then divide by how many parties you have before considering villas expensive.
A Paris Villa for less than a boutique hotel stay!
For more information about IAVRA please visit their website or call: +44 (0)20 7351 6636