TRENDING
in Australia was recently launched on the Gold Coast .”
EXTENDING LOYALTY PROGRAMS Extending hotel loyalty programs to shortterm rentals has paid off to better compete with the likes of Airbnb .
For Marriott , 27 % of Marriott Bonvoy members were already staying at home rentals in 2018 . According to Hseih , over 90 % of those who book home rentals on their platform are Marriott Bonvoy members .
“ HVMI is in nearly 100 destinations where we currently do not have a hotel , giving our members more accommodation options and places to stay . Those who book through us earn 5 points per US $ 1 spent and can earn an additional 6 points per US $ 1 spent when they book using one of our Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards ,” she adds .
Similarly for Accor , extended-stays , short-term rentals and branded residences with optional rental programs are all integrated into their loyalty program .
WE HAVE A CURATED APPROACH TO EACH HOME AND ONLY ALLOW HOMES THAT MEET OUR RIGOROUS BRAND STANDARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM . WHILE THIS APPROACH REQUIRES MORE TIME , EFFORT AND RIGOR , WE BELIEVE IT IS WHAT DIFFERENTIATES HVMI VERSUS OTHER OPEN PLATFORMS THAT ALLOW ANYTHING TO BE LISTED FOR CUSTOMERS .
- JENNIFER HSEIH , HVMI
QUALITY OVER SCALE While the likes of Airbnb introduced a unique aspect in the hospitality business , Hseih feels that Marriott ’ s entry into the short-term rental industry has elevated the sector ’ s standards in service .
“ We care about design , cleanliness , safety and high-end amenities and not just scale – which candidly can be overwhelming for the consumer ,” she says .
However , the biggest challenge is to maintain a balance between the demand and supply of homes , particularly in summer leisure destinations . “ We have a curated approach to each home and only allow homes that meet our rigorous brand standards onto the platform . While this approach requires more time , effort and rigor , we believe it is what differentiates HVMI versus other open platforms that allow anything to be listed for customers .”
Accor ’ s Onefinestay property – Villa Waters Edge in Saint Tropez
108 hotelsmag . com July / August 2021