A Guide for Vacation Rental Managers
As a vacation rental property manager in Europe, building strong relationships with local tourist boards is an essential strategy for attracting more guests and increasing your booking rates. Local tourist boards in Europe play a pivotal role in promoting destinations, providing valuable resources, and connecting local businesses with tourists. In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can network with these boards to enhance your vacation rental business, create mutually beneficial partnerships, and increase visibility in a competitive market.
What Are Local Tourist Boards in Europe?
Local tourist boards, also known as tourist offices or destination marketing organizations (DMOs), are agencies that promote tourism in specific regions, cities, or countries. These organizations typically work with local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and short-term rental operators, to boost tourism and drive traffic to their area. They offer a range of services, from marketing support and promotional opportunities to providing important insights about the tourism trends and demands of specific locations.
By networking with these boards, vacation rental managers can gain access to a wealth of resources and improve the chances of their properties being promoted to the right audience. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just starting in the short-term rental business, building connections with local tourist boards can enhance your property’s visibility and attract more international and domestic guests.
Why Should You Network with Local Tourist Boards in Europe?
There are numerous reasons why networking with local tourist boards can benefit your vacation rental business:
- Marketing Opportunities: Local tourist boards often offer free or discounted promotional opportunities for accommodation providers. These can include listings on their websites, social media shout-outs, inclusion in printed guides, and participation in local tourism campaigns.
- Increased Visibility: Tourist boards typically attract a significant number of tourists who visit their websites or contact them for recommendations. By becoming a part of these efforts, your vacation rental can receive exposure to a broader audience, including international tourists.
- Access to Local Events and Networking: Tourist boards are often involved in local events, trade shows, and networking gatherings. Being connected to these organizations gives you a chance to engage with other tourism-related businesses, including potential partners or collaborators.
- Insider Knowledge: Local tourist boards are an excellent source of information regarding tourism trends, visitor demographics, and seasonal patterns. This insight can help you adapt your vacation rental to better cater to the needs and preferences of your guests.
- Government and Legal Support: In some regions, local tourist boards are involved in enforcing tourism regulations. Networking with them can help ensure that you stay up-to-date with any legal changes, taxes, or licensing requirements that affect vacation rentals in your area.
Steps to Network with Local Tourist Boards in Europe
Building a relationship with a local tourist board takes time and effort. However, with the right approach, the benefits can be substantial. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to network effectively with local tourist boards in Europe:
Research Your Local Tourist Board
The first step in networking with local tourist boards is identifying which organization represents your region. In many European countries, the structure of tourism boards can vary; there might be national, regional, or local tourist boards, each with different roles and responsibilities.
- National Tourist Boards: These are country-level organizations that often focus on attracting international tourists to the entire nation.
- Regional and Local Tourist Boards: These boards focus on specific regions or municipalities, promoting local destinations, events, and attractions.
To find your local tourist board, start by searching online for your city, region, or country’s official tourism website. Additionally, local chambers of commerce or municipal websites may also provide relevant links to tourism organizations.
Attend Local Networking Events and Workshops
Once you’ve identified your local tourist board, look for opportunities to attend events or workshops organized by them. Tourist boards often hold networking events for local businesses to discuss tourism trends, share marketing tips, and explore collaboration opportunities.
- Tourism Conferences: Look for tourism conferences or forums organized by your local tourist board. These events provide excellent opportunities to meet other industry professionals and build relationships with key figures in the tourism sector.
- Workshops and Training: Tourist boards often offer workshops designed to help local businesses improve their marketing strategies, manage guest experiences, and stay compliant with regulations.
Engaging in these events will help you connect with decision-makers and establish a rapport with the tourism board staff.
Introduce Your Vacation Rental to the Tourist Board
Now that you have a clear understanding of the local tourist board’s offerings and network, it’s time to introduce your vacation rental. You should reach out to the board with a formal introduction, highlighting the unique features and advantages of your property. Make sure to provide information like:
- The type of guests you typically host (families, couples, solo travelers, etc.)
- The location and proximity of your rental to key tourist attractions or landmarks
- Special amenities or services your property offers (e.g., guided tours, local experiences, etc.)
This introduction should be professional but friendly, and it’s essential to explain how partnering with the tourist board could be mutually beneficial. Be sure to include any details on how your property aligns with the board’s goals of promoting tourism in the area.
Take Advantage of Digital Platforms
In today’s digital world, many local tourist boards in Europe operate websites, apps, and social media platforms to engage with tourists and businesses alike. These platforms are often an ideal place to showcase your vacation rental.
- Online Listings: Many tourist boards allow local businesses, including short-term rental properties, to list their offerings on their websites. Ensure your property is listed with accurate descriptions, professional photos, and up-to-date availability.
- Social Media Engagement: Follow your local tourist board on social media and engage with their posts. Share their content on your profiles and tag them when you feature local attractions or events. This kind of cross-promotion can boost your visibility and create goodwill with the board.
Offer Special Deals for Tourists
One of the best ways to attract the attention of local tourist boards is by offering special deals or packages for tourists visiting your area. Whether it’s a discounted rate for off-season bookings or a package that includes local tours, food experiences, or transportation, local tourist boards will often be keen to promote such offers to their audience.
Additionally, offering exclusive deals can make your vacation rental stand out as a top choice for tourists, and many tourist boards will be more likely to collaborate with you if they see that you are providing extra value to potential guests.
Maintain Strong Relationships
Networking with local tourist boards doesn’t end once you’ve made the initial connection. To truly benefit from your partnership, you must maintain an ongoing relationship.
- Regular Communication: Keep the tourist board updated on your property’s activities, events, or any changes to your offerings. Regular communication helps you stay on their radar and ensures your property remains visible in their promotions.
- Feedback and Collaboration: Be open to feedback from the tourist board on how you can improve your offerings or better align with their marketing efforts. Collaborating with them to create campaigns or promotional events can result in mutual growth.
Networking with local tourist boards in Europe is a powerful way to promote your vacation rental business, enhance your marketing efforts, and connect with other industry professionals. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can develop strong relationships with these boards and position your property as a top choice for tourists visiting your area.
If you’re looking for additional information on guest verification, short-term rental insurance, or property management, CoverCat can help. Our expertise can support your business in delivering exceptional guest experiences while ensuring your vacation rental is well-protected.
