Baron Holiday Homes Reaches More Vacation Rental Guests with Kigo

Baron Holiday Homes made a sizable investment decision a few years ago to better compete in the vacation rental business on the small island of Gozo just off Malta. The company leapt far from its modest beginnings in 1995 of eight properties with a vow to grow its portfolio while maintaining the island’s rich architectural heritage.

Baron Group Malta, which operates Baron Holiday Homes, extended its vacation rental home business model by building and selling a network of vacation rental homes that could be managed while owners weren’t staying in them.

Image via Baron Holiday Homes

Meticulous care was taken when designing and building the residences, situated in prime locations in village cores – some centuries old – and on the outskirts, with spectacular views. Unique features were incorporated into the residences to retain the character and mystique of a culture that dates to 5000 BC. In some, functional living environments were merged with old farmhouse features like mill rooms and barns to combine a pleasant and well-designed atmosphere with a typical Gozitan setting.

Rising to new heights with synchronized vacation rental management

Today, Baron Holiday Homes embodies 79 properties. It has become a leader of vacation rental homes in a big way on the 41-square miles of Gozo nestled in the Mediterranean. Properties are loaded with amenities and most have air-conditioning and private pools.

Baron Holiday Homes provides an array of services, from car hire and airport transfers to land and sea excursions, and staff trained to attend to individual needs. Each property is managed by a dedicated team of rental representatives, maintenance and pool technicians, maids and gardeners who work together to effectively manage the properties.

Image via Baron Holiday Homes

In addition to a staff that is focused on ensuring the best possible experience for every visitor, Kigo Channel Manager has been a key partner in managing the properties, company officials say. The software has helped staff go about the business of renting luxury vacation accommodations with seamless execution. The company can avoid the potential pitfalls of moving thousands of vacation rental guests through properties each year.

“Kigo Channel Manager has given us peace of mind that our availability is synchronized 100 percent to avoid overbooking and clients showing up when the home is not ready,” said Baron Holiday Homes Reservations Manager Donald Said (pronounced “side”). “Availability syncing was a very big part.”

Maximizing property exposure to vacation rental guests

Synchronizing and updating calendars while merging and managing online bookings and inquiries into one universal reservation system is Kigo’s forte.

Kigo’s Channel Manager is the channel hub of Kigo Marketplace, allowing property managers to connect to millions of travelers all over the world. They serve both general and niche markets, empowering companies to reach vacation rental guests from a range of interest groups around the world.

Channel Manager aims to maximize property exposure in marketplaces big and small. This is just what Baron Holiday Homes needed after increasing its management portfolio to nine times its size with a very attractive set of vacation rental homes.

Image via Baron Holiday Homes

Said noted that Channel Manager’s ability to help maintain competitive rental rates across all portals has been a particular benefit.

“We have our rates synched, which allows us to create special offers,” he said. “That helps us fill in nights that are available.”

Optimizing property investments for owners

Getting the most rental dollars possible is critical for the property owners who depend on Baron Holiday Homes to fill vacancies and achieve a solid return on investment.

It’s just as critical for Baron Holiday Homes, which celebrated its 20th year in business in 2015, to maintain high occupancies.

The company guarantees rental income of 5 percent of the property’s purchase price for a minimum of five years. Baron Holiday Homes is responsible for all aspects concerning the rental of the property, including marketing and maintenance management.