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Today we are talking about how the websites AirBnB and VRBO have completely revolutionized the travel industry and put hotels on notice that they need to step up to their competition.\\xa0 We find this phenomenon fascinating not only because we travel a lot but more importantly because we are consistently appalled by the interiors of the spaces being rented.

1.\\xa0 What exactly are these sites?

A. AirBnB History: The story behind how AirBnB got started is awesome. It was started by 2 guys in 2007 who were living in San Francisco. They couldn\\u2019t afford their rent and came up with the idea of renting air mattresses in their apartment during a time when a big conference was going on in town and hotels were scarce. They whipped up a website and called it Air Bed & Breakfast. After many attempts to target guests during events like the Democratic National Convention, increase cashflow thru bootstrap marketing techniques and putting their idea in front of angel investors and startup accelerators, they have become a $25 billion company!

B. How Does it Work? Airbnb is an online marketplace which lets people rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests. Airbnb takes 3% commission of every booking from hosts, and between 6% and 12% from guests. You can now find a place to stay in over 192 countries worldwide!

C.\\xa0 VRBO History: VRBO was started before AirBnB in 2004 in Austin Texas. They are a little different in that their site doesn\\u2019t include home sharing and room rentals and isn\\u2019t doesn\\u2019t rely as heavily on reviews. They do however have 2 million rentals in 190 countries.

2.\\xa0 Personal experience

A.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 VRBO \\u2013 Oxford Condo

B.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 AirBnB \\u2013 Murray Christmas Reunions in Annapolis, MD, Rosemary Beach, FL, W. Palm Beach, FL

C.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 AirBnB \\u2013 Rome, Italy

D.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Chicago \\u2013 Emory

E.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Joann \\u2013 experiences?

3.\\xa0 What we love about it

A.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Price

B.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Variety of options

C.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Great for large events

D.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Choose a host language

E.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Immerse yourself in an area not suitable for a hotel

4.\\xa0 What makes us squirm \\u2013 marketing of these rentals!

A.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 A picture says a 1000 words! Invest in the photography and styling!

B.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What matters when marketing?

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 i.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Paint colors

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 ii.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Lighting

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 iii.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Simple furnishings

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 iv.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Interesting artwork \\u2013 local to the area

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 v.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Comfortable bedding

5.\\xa0 What renters want

A.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Direct communication with owner or management company

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 i.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Rome \\u2013 calling us a cab/ Making restaurant reservations

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 ii.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 FL \\u2013 Offering ideas for charters and pottery painting locations

B.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Feedback from other renters

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 i.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Guest book

\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 ii.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Reviews

C.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 A fully stocked kitchen

D.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Necessities for at least 2 days \\u2013 tp/paper towels/coffee/ trash bags/salt & pepper/ dish washing liquid

E.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Extra towels, blankets and pillows \\u2013 GREAT bedding

F.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Amenities \\u2013 bike, balls, cards, games, grills, pool toys

6.\\xa0 Our future in this industry \\u2013 for years we\\u2019ve threatened to crash the medical services industry and start a design revolution in doctors offices. However, given our love of travel and our high standards in the hospitality arena, we feel like our advice is better suited for the vacation rental industry.

For Part 1 of our vacation rental advice column we\\u2019ve got some quick, valuable advice for all those hosts out there:

A.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Our top fave 10 paint colors for a bright, fresh rental

B.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Our top 10 Sunbrella performance fabrics for long lasting durability of upholstery