The pandemic thrust vacation rentals into the spotlight. And, as the hospitality sector recovers and travelers make up for lost time, it’s a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Vacation rental companies have historically promoted direct-to-consumer booking practices, but the list of companies partnering with travel agents is growing.
The latest company to see the benefits of teaming up with travel professionals is Homebelike, a new vacation rental company focused on the Caribbean and Latin America. Seeing what it thought was a void in the rental home space, Homebelike was founded in 2021 by the team of hospitality veterans behind Hospitality Management Solutions (HMS) and Mint Hotels & Residences.
“We wanted to provide an option for guests to immerse themselves as a local within the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Miguelina Butron, partner and vice president of sales and marketing for Homebelike and Hospitality Management Solutions. “Where they had the resources of a hotel but with all the comforts of home and a local concierge.”
Although the accommodations populate from a variety of portals, they are all managed and vetted by Homebelike. Along with privately owned properties, Homebelike is working directly with large housing developments; for example, it is the official rental platform for Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. The company also features new construction projects with multiple units.
Every booking is assigned a local Experience Specialist who is available 24/7 to the travel agent, as well as to the client once they’re on the ground. (The property owner is never involved.) Regardless of the destination, after a client arrives, the Experience Specialist will introduce themselves and offer support as a local resource. The fastest way for both the client and agent to reach the assigned Experience Specialist is typically via WhatsApp. If a problem arises, the Experience Specialist has the expertise and authority to provide assistance.
During my stay in a villa in Casa de Campo, I couldn’t get my bedroom’s patio doors to open. (It’s likely a rainstorm had caused the wood casing and floor to swell.) The villa had eight bedrooms, so in my case, the quickest fix was simply moving to another bedroom. But had I needed to move to different accommodations, the Experience Specialist would have handled the logistics.
How Travel Agents Can Work With Homebelike
Homebelike is a consumer-facing website, but it’s courting travel advisors with discounted net rates on their entire catalogue of vacation rentals. Properties from a variety of portals — including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, and Homes and Villas by Marriott — all appear in searches done via Homebelike.
Travel agents are free to add whatever commission they feel is appropriate to bookings.
