Web marketing news

Cross updating and linking with other systems.

Any owner who is also listed with Embrace Scotland, the brand name for the Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), can now have their availability calendars automatically updated through our Supercontrol booking system.

The ASSC is the independent trade association run for and by holiday property owners in Scotland. Anyone can join to receive benefits from the full range of advice, industry representation, events and networking opportunities, supplier discounts, access to the ASSC members’ website and support from industry experts. Note – The ASSC Constitution requires that Membership with Marketing is only available to owners whose properties have achieved a Quality Assurance grading to the UK ‘common standard’ , such as that run by VisitScotland.

We will be rolling out other links with advertisers and marketing sites that will also auto update calendars. As this develops updating will also include tariff information, property descriptions and photos.

Current major websites that we link to – TripAdvisor, Flipkey, Holiday Lettings.co.uk (pilot of 25 properties) – these are offered free of charge to Gael listed owners.

We will soon be able to offer a free listing with iknow-scotland.co.uk. Formed in September 2003, I-Know is an award-winning regional online accommodation and hospitality directory that attracts millions of visitors every year.
The integration with I-know will consist of live availability and booking through Gael booking pages.  We will have a live data feed in place with I-know and customers will be able to see live availability.

We will keep you updated with further news on marketing developments.

Energy Performance Reports for Holiday Lets

Since October 2008 anyone selling or renting out a property has been required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance report (EPC); holiday lets have been up until now excluded.

An EPC is issued following an inspection of your property by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The DEA will determine the energy efficiency of the property and rate it from A to G (with A being the most efficient). Currently surveys start from around £30 depending on the size of the property and the assessor used.

According to Residential Landlord it appears that there are new Government guidelines due to come in force on 30th June 2011 stating “that any holiday lets which are let out for more than 4 months a year will require an EPC when first rented out”. Furthermore, all property advertisements will have to contain the EPC rating from July 2013.

This would mean that any property newly put on the holiday let market from June this year will require an EPC and that all holiday lets will need an EPC by July 2013.

The good news is most EPCs last for 10 years, the bad news is failure to comply could result in a £200 per day penalty.