Travel Agents Still a Better Source
than Internet, Survey Finds

October 1999  -- A five month survey conducted by VacationsURent.com <https://www.vacationsurent.com> in the  spring and summer of 1999 found that hundreds of consumers searching for a vacation rental property left the net satisfied only 10% of the time, and that Travel Agents were still a better source of information.

Consumers regularly contact VacationsURent.com, a leading Internet vacation rental and home exchange site, to request information about properties for rent in various locations. Within three months of their initial request, each consumer was contacted by e-mail for follow up information about their success in finding what they wanted.

In those follow up contacts, 84% of respondents said they were still looking for a vacation rental property, while 10% said they had found what they were looking for on the Internet.

The questionnaire also asked the consumer what other sources they used to find a vacation property to rent. Travel Agents and friends were the next most common sources of information.

There are several possible reasons why consumers cannot find what they want on the net. Among them is the small number of properties presently listed, and the fact that most of those properties have very high occupancy rates, leaving little choice for consumers.

"The Internet is clearly a very good place for owners who wish to rent out their vacation properties or find a home exchange partner, based on our research, and based on the feed back we get from our advertisers. Many of our advertisers report a big increase in occupancy, and a much broader market to sell to," said Lawrence Pierce, President of Vacations U Rent.

Pierce also said that he was surprised that more owners did not use the Internet, considering the demand. "Our site offers a full year of advertising, with pictures and e-mail links, and links to the advertiser's web page for about the same cost as a four line ad in a daily newspaper for 5 days."

VacationsURent.com is a searchable database of alternate accommodations, including condos, houses, cabins, castles, home exchanges, and bed and breakfasts worldwide. Consumers can search the database by town, state, or country; size, type of accommodation and cost, and deal direct with the owners. Owners can advertise their properties for a full year, with pictures, for about the cost of five days in a daily newspaper.

Full survey results ,and a list of consumer requests for properties at <https://www.vacationsurent.com>.

Contact:
Larry Pierce
Vacations U Rent
(888) 668-4241
lpierce@vacationsurent.com

"Service of Hospitality 1ST and Subscribing Members"
Placement Dates: 10/20/99 - 12/20/99
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