“The story of how a new type of getaway became the best way to getaway”. In our fast & innovative industry of vacation rentals, here’s a free ride in our time machine that will take you all the way back to the beginning of the history of vacation rentals. Find out how the first vacation homes evolved into hundreds & thousands of online rentals ready for bookings! And… it’s all in a very easy-to-read infographic for you (nearly as good as a FREE ride, right?!) Bon voyage!
In the year 1624…
First recorded vacation home – Palais de Versailles built as a hunting lodge by Louis the XIII.
In the 1600’s…
The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo in Italy is constructed. It has been used for centuries as a vacation home for the Pope.
In the 1800’S…
In Europe, it was custom to ask friends to use their vacation homes via snail mail and wait weeks to get a response.
First Timeshare- Large families began investing in vacation homes to share between themselves during different seasons.
In the year 1837…
The telegraph is invented, making it easier and faster to reply to requests to stay at a vacation home.
In the 1950’s…
Vacation rentals begin to appear in the USA and listings are placed in the newspapers. Most families do not go on holiday for the entire season so owners begin to capitalise on the vacant periods.
In 1985…
The VRMA is founded. The Vacation Rental Management Association.
In 1995…
The World Wide Web leads to the founding of VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) which initially lists just one property in Breckenridge, Colorado.
In 2003…
Couch Surfing is created, signalling how diverse the vacation rental industry is becoming.
In 2005…
HomeAway launches as a merger of 5 different sites and later purchases VRBO. HomeAway inventory crosses into the hundred thousands.
In 2008…
Airbnb is founded as an online marketplace for people to rent out rooms in their homes.
In 2013…
14% of travellers book a private home or apartment for at least one trip in the year.
In 2015…
Vacation rental industry is worth an estimated $85 billion. HomeAway alone has more than 2.8 million rooms which is more rooms than the four largest hotel chains in the world.
NOW…
- VRBookings- one of the first channel managers founded in 2003
- Booking.com- first hotel booking site
- $27,360- Average amount of vacation rental owners generate annually in income
Rentals united…
Channel Manager For Vacation Rentals
- Founded in 2013
- 2,596,000- Euros in bookings since 2014
- 250,000- Properties already connected