Luxury Self Catering Booking Levels – Summer 2010
Posted by admin on August 6, 2010 under Holiday Home General Items, Holiday Home Owners | 
Be the First to Comment
Over the last few days, there has been much speculation in the local media that self catering bookings in Cornwall are down by as much as 20%. There has also been quite a bit made that visitors are staying at camp sites, rather than self catering properties.
As ever, you can only judge things as you see them and our statistics tell a different story!
We are a holiday home services specialist that provide housekeeping, property management and holiday concierge services to over 100 luxury self catering properties in West Cornwall, North Cornwall and Mid Cornwall. The luxury properties that we look after, rent out in the peak weeks from £ 1200 to nearly £ 6000 a week. Throughout July, August and September of this year, we are virtually at 100% occupancy for the three months and the bookings for October are looking like they will be ahead of 2009.
What perhaps can be deduced from our current market overview, and some current research with paying guests is the following:
> Bookings at the luxury end of the self catering industry is buoyant and increasing year on year.
> Quite a number of guests staying in these luxury properties are holidaying at home in the UK for first time or, the first time in a long time.
> The demands of what a potential customer is looking for in a self catering property has changed significantly over the last five years. They are looking for, as standard; Exceptionally clean and well presented properties, very good quality furnishings, Wi-Fi, well equipped kitchens, quality audio visual equipment, iPOD docking stations linked to music systems or standalone systems, use of house telephone (particularly where mobile signal is weak), inclusion of high quality bedding and cotton rich towels, very high standard of property maintenance, 24 hour helpline if they get a problem, amongst other things.
> Our Holiday Concierge business and the lifestyle services that we supply to guests is also on the increase and they can also influence bookings, where the guests can see that these services are available. These services include grocery shopping, housekeeper services and flexible chef services.
> If the property has additional features such as swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts or other such items, then these properties normally book better throughout the traditionally quieter periods of the year.
> The properties that we look after obtain their bookings through either letting agents, holiday listing websites or indeed via their own websites.
Bookings and expectations in the luxury end of the self catering market increases every year so it would be worth owners of properties that may need upgrading to consider this in the coming years. We can provide help and guidance to existing holiday home owners on what may be required and also to owners of good quality second home owners that perhaps have never rented before. We also provide all the necessary housekeeping, laundry, property management, property maintenance and guest services that are tried and tested services, to fully look after the property, property owners and the paying guests.