As the country braces itself for potentially ice-cold conditions this winter, forgive us for reminding you of the importance of protecting your holiday home from the cold. We see more burst pipe and escape of water insurance claims than any other. The damage caused can be significant but there are several simple steps holiday homeowners […]
18th May 2012 may have been just another day for most, but for Facebook it was another significant step in the astronomical rise of the world’s largest social network. Their Initial Public Offering (IPO) not only set the value of the company at a whopping $104 billion but also set the course of the company […]
We speak with holiday homeowners and their holiday home letting agents each and every day. This constant contact gives us an understanding of the issues you’re facing on a daily basis, but we also strive to understand the bigger picture; what’s making the industry tick, tourism trends and the opportunities these developments potentially provide you […]
English Tourism Week (ETW) is coming! If you’re not already familiar with the concept, you may well be soon! Celebrating its 5th birthday next March, ETW is a weeklong celebration of events showcasing the quality and vibrancy of holiday cottages and other tourism businesses across the country. Here’s everything you need to know… What is […]
With winter now upon us, you might be considering installing a wood burner in your holiday cottage to make it more appealing to visitors during those colder months. Wood burners can be a great way to heat your property; not only could you potentially reduce energy bills, but a roaring fireplace can also become a […]
So the clocks have gone back; the nights are certainly a little darker, as are the mornings, and the mercury in the thermometer has noticeably dropped. It may seem strange that now is an opportune time to be targeting one of the fastest growing areas in the tourism industry; the winter booking. We take a […]
Times have changed; according to VisitEngland, a survey of 12,000 travellers revealed that 77% of people usually or always referenced TripAdvisor before selecting accommodation and 53% said they wouldn’t select somewhere that didn’t have reviews. Managing the reputation of your holiday letting property online is key to securing bookings. The growing importance of managing the reputation […]
With Christmas and New Year’s Eve edging ever closer, now may be the time of year that you consider providing some complimentary drinks for your guests as a gesture of seasonal goodwill. On first impressions it sounds a relatively simple concept, but many holiday homeowners might not be aware of the law when it comes […]
Most holiday homes will now have a blog or latest news section full of lovingly crafted content; things to do, places to visit and great local food to enjoy. This is an effective way of increasing engagement with your site, and also maximising your chances of your holiday letting property ranking highly in Google. So […]
As specialists in holiday home insurance we speak to cottage owners each and every day. We hear what they’re experiencing on the ground, and for that reason we’re always paying close attention to the latest Visit England statistics, which give a great indication of how buoyant holiday home bookings are the health of the industry […]
Many holiday homeowners will proudly display their award wins and certifications on entry to, or outside their property. If your accommodation is of a high quality it’s only right that you’ll want people to know, and tasteful positioning of holiday cottage signage is an obvious way of communicating this to visiting guests and passing trade. […]
We spend all day talking to holiday home and cottage owners across the UK, advising on holiday home insurance needs and dealing with claims. Whilst of course our role is to provide peace of mind by way of a safety net for owners, we also truly believe that prevention is much better than cure. Therefore […]
So that’s it, the temperatures are beginning to fall, the school holidays are a distant memory and those visitor numbers have subsided. It’s time to take a deep breath and begin to prepare for next year. Even if your website has proven to be a real winner this summer, competition is fierce and there are […]
Adding a timber decking area to your holiday home can bring many benefits to your guests; the perfect setting to make the most of long summer nights, increased space and freedom, and the ideal spot to read a book or enjoy an alfresco meal. These are just a few of the reasons decking areas have […]
The holiday let welcome folder; so often the first point of contact that the visitor will have once they’ve made their way into your holiday home. We take a look at ten content areas to make sure that yours is a success, and adds value to their stay. A warm welcome Whilst in all likelihood […]
You only get one chance to make a first impression; your dazzling holiday home will ensure guests are happy with the accommodation, but when was the last time you updated your Holiday Let Welcome Folder? If the answer is more than a year, now could be the time to get that information folder up to […]
Many will by now be familiar with the names Christi and Bobby Shepherd, who aged just seven and six, tragically lost their lives as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst on a four star family holiday at a Thomas Cook run hotel. The details behind this case have driven home the importance of taking […]
The consequences of a fire in your holiday home can be catastrophic and in some cases fatal; in the last year there were 322 fire related deaths across Great Britain, and whilst this figure is significantly down on the 1988 high of 731, there are on average 39,600 reported dwelling fires every 12 months. Despite […]
With a busy summer season now drawing to a close, an upcoming autumnal chill in the air could mean your holiday let is about to become the winter home of an unwelcome guest; the cluster fly. What are cluster flies? Slightly larger than the average household fly and appearing more sluggish in flight than their […]
When someone visits your website the words you’ve written about your holiday cottage and the way in which you’ve written them can be the difference between a booking and a missed opportunity. Encourage lookers into bookers with enticing holiday home website copy We take a look at how to achieve more holiday home bookings with […]
With 450 household fire incidents across the country each and every day (170,000 in the past year), the government has recently promised to get tougher on fire prevention. On 11 March 2015 the housing minister Brandon Lewis announced that residential landlords in England will now be required by law to install working smoke and carbon […]
Being awoken in the middle of the night by the loud blast of a fire alarm can be both terrifying and disorientating. There may well be a multitude of things rushing through your mind; is there really a fire or is it a false alarm? Where are the children? Which is the safest route from […]
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to gain a truly unique view of your holiday home or holiday cottage complex? To take to the skies and give those visiting your website a real feel for the fantastic location in which your cottage nestles? If a photograph speaks a thousand words, the boundless […]
Most holiday homeowners who look after their own bookings will have taken hundreds of reservations from happy guests over the years, but some may not be aware of the legal contract they are forming each and every time they accept a booking, and the legalities they should have in place. Your Holiday Home Booking Contract […]
When someone stays at your holiday home and has a great time you want them to return again and again, but with potentially up to a year before they enjoy their next trip, how do you drive repeat holiday let bookings and make sure you’re in their mind when they come to decide whether to […]
Holiday Lets and Tax – What you need to know We take a look at some of the tax issues holiday homeowners need to be aware of in this article Holiday Letting ~ A Tax Overview… Have you declared your holiday rental income? When you begin letting a holiday home it’s imperative you tell HMRC […]
One of the most important aspects of successful marketing is identifying where your potential customers can be reached and delivering the right message to them, at the right time, whenever and wherever that may be. Growing your Holiday Cottage Bookings With more than 30 million registered users in the United Kingdom there’s little doubt that […]
As specialists in holiday home insurance we’re dedicated to making sure we have our fingers on the pulse of the industry; what’s affecting holiday homeowners, the key trends, and how we can help support you through these. We take a look at some of the developments and Key Trends for Holiday Homeowners in the past […]
Ever wondered how to make more of events and use them to increase bookings? Here are our top ten event tourism tips to increase holiday home bookings by making the most of festivals and cultural events in the locality of your holiday letting property. Is there a Facebook page or group for the event? If it’s […]
When the romantic and swashbuckling television costume drama Poldark returned to our screens not many of the millions of viewers would have been thinking about a 65% spike in visits to the local tourism website, the largest since Cornish sailor Ben Ainsley made his way through the Duchy clasping the Olympic torch a little over […]