Newsletters
Professor John Edwards: Insects & Music
Published on 03/30/12 by May, William Victor — When I first began to help out with the Gallery Concerts Organization, one of my favorite not-for-profir groups, I met a gentle white haired man with a goatee who glowed with his enthusiasm for the music. Later I was to learn he glowed about just about everything. If the term "twinkle in his eye" was created for anyone it was John.... read more
Twas the Night before Vacation Rental Christmas
Published on 12/31/11 by Covey, Jan — The Christmas and New Years Holidays are a big season in almost every vacation rental market. Read how one plucky manager gets through the hub bub.... read more
March, April & May best months to visit old & green land of Umbria
Published on 02/02/11 by Nuzzaci, Giuseppe — The Umbria region is located exactly in the middle of Italy . And it’s the best charming headquarters to stay and to discover all the central Italy regions: from the now commercial Tuscany to the most wild and real Umbria, Le Marche and Lazio. From Florence to Perugia, From Siena to the medieval Gubbio, from Pisa to the Spiritual and lovely Assisi, from Rome to Cortona, from Spello to Ancona or to the see of the funny Emila Romagna region with the towns of Riccione and Rimini.... read more
Vacation Road Trips Start at the Dentist
Published on 04/01/10 by Adair, Gail — Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offe... read more
Sunbanks Resort - Little known Secret Location
Published on 03/31/10 by Taylor, Penny L. — Warm weather took me on a drive to Central Washington state, to little known Banks Lake and SunBanks Resort. Toasty hot in summer it boasts warm warm water unlike most big lake resorts.... read more
Become a Vacation Rental Angel
Published on 03/01/10 by May, William Victor — Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offe... read more
Chief Joseph Welcomes Everyone
Published on 12/17/09 by May, William Victor — Can I invite you to the most unique and remote mountain lodges in Washington State? It is called Chief Joseph Lodge and sits dead center in the middle of the state and five miles up from the summit of Blewett Pass highway. Click here to take a look. www.ChiefJosephLodge.com. There are photos, vid... read more
Complaints, Compliments and Compassion
Published on 11/19/09 by May, William Victor — For a number of years our company has been donating vacation rental use to a wonderful group called OutdoorsForAll.org (Formerly SkiForAll.org). Their mission is to enrich the quality of life for children and adults with di... read more
Everything Robert Fulgham Learned in Kindergarten
Published on 11/01/09 by May, William Victor — I stumbled onto an Internet posting the other day that told me it has been twenty years since Robert Fulgham wroteEverything I Really Need to Know I Learned in kindergarten.... read more
Remembering the "Thank You" Game
Published on 09/01/09 by May, William Victor — Surprises are great. And thank you's are best. In an industry like property management that requires attention to detail, constant supervision and reconciliation of occasionally conflicting goals between guests and owners it is too easy to forget the little personal things that make life worth liv... read more
Ocean Shores and Westport are Beaches Like No Other
Published on 08/01/09 by May, William Victor — A truth in advertising disclaimer is required first. Although I haven't lived in the area in almost 40 years, I must admit that I did grew up in several towns on the Washington Coast. Up until 4th grade the town of Raymond was where my parents lived and, you know how that goes, so did me. After th... read more
World's First Vacation Rental Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Published on 03/18/09 by May, William Victor — The every increasing cost of advertising on the mammoth impersonal vacation rental listing websites has spawned innovation. On April 6th, the Vacation Rental Industry Association, with the help of Plumbob Publishing is unveiling the first every Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals. T... read more
You Can Still Go On Vacation
Published on 03/09/09 by May, William Victor — What will happen if unemployment hits 8% in the US? If you passed remedial math in school you know that means 92% of folks are still employed. While the 92% may be holding back on expenses but life goes on. The employed will continue to buy groceries, clothes, cable TV, phone services and - make n... read more
The New World of Publishing
Published on 01/23/09 by May, William Victor — I have been in, around, up to and about communication, journalism, advertising, marketing and publishing for a lot of years in one form or another. But this is a new era. The era of online publishing. Our company Plumbob Publishing is a thrown back to the era when journalists actually tried to veri... read more
Why You Can't Shoot Vacation Rentals with a Camera
Published on 01/15/09 by Romain, Joseph — Well of course you can. Today everyone has a camera or two or three. They've moved up from the decades old Brownies to Polaroids to click and shoot and now into the world of digital and now to sophisticated digital cameras with large formats (pixels) and self correcting shooting. So h... read more
Lotus Hale Hawaiin Villa Vs. Poipu Grand Hyatt Hotel
Published on 01/09/09 by May, William Victor — The Grand Hyatt at Poipu Kauai Hawaii is a real gem. If you want beauty and pampering this is your place - provided you want to a small room, high prices, less privacy and a hike to everything you might want to do. For just about $400 per night you get one of the 602 motel 6 size rooms. Better appo... read more
Barack Obama Endorses Vacation Rentals
Published on 11/24/08 by May, William Victor — The next President of the United States has effectively endorsed the entire concept of Vacation Rentals by renting a private home in Kailua on the North Shore of Oahu, a Hawaiian Island. He is staying there for a week with his wife Michelle and two daughters. He is staying at a secluded beach re... read more
The Care & Feeding of Xenophobia.
Published on 01/20/08 by May, William Victor — The adverse reactions to Vacation Rentals continue. For example on January 1st, 2008 the island of Maui in Hawaii just outlawed 1,100 rentals. And now the island of Kauai is going to followed suit. Interestingly, the reasons for vacation rental prohibitions or restrictions in each jurisdiction are... read more
What Makes Vacation Rentals Unique
Published on 06/11/07 by Kinkaid, Ana M. — Vacation Rentals are the newest member of the hospitality industry. Here are some of the ways that vacation rentals offer an attractive alternative to traditional lodging. LOTS OF ROOM - One of the biggest differences between a vacation rental and almost all other forms of lodging is the space ava... read more
Is it Too Late to Invest in a Vacation Rental?
Published on 08/10/05 by May, William Victor — Are vacation rentals the espresso stands of the future? Over thirty years ago a couple of Seattle entrepreneurs started a little shop in Washington State to make and sell the kind of rich and potent coffee - common in Europe - that they couldn't find in their home town. More than a decade later, an... read more
