Well… here we are.
After years working in tourism, managing properties, dealing with owners, travellers, suppliers, booking platforms and, of course, the occasional “character” who probably deserves a chapter of their own, we finally decided it was time to start sharing some of our thoughts.
I am not going to pretend this is going to be an academic blog.
And honestly, why should it be?
This is a place to talk about tourism from our perspective. From the perspective of people who deal with holiday rentals every single day, trying to make everything work, keep owners relaxed, make guests happy and, occasionally, avoid a 3 a.m. phone call because “the television isn’t working” when, as it turns out, it was simply switched off.
Where do I come from?
My relationship with tourism has never been just about having a profession.
I genuinely love tourism.
I love what it represents: people travelling, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, trying new food, getting lost down a street that wasn’t even on Google Maps and ending up finding one of the best memories of their trip.
Because travelling is much more than sleeping in a bed for a few nights.
It is an experience.
And that is precisely why Faro Homes was created and has continued to grow: with the idea that managing a holiday rental is not simply about opening doors, changing sheets and answering messages.
There is much more to it.
Andalusia: much more than sunshine and beaches
We are incredibly lucky to work in Andalusia.
And I mean incredibly lucky.
Because there are very few places that can offer what we have here.
Mediterranean beaches, mountains, white villages, historic cities, incredible food, culture, nature, festivals, art, flamenco, olive oil, wine, seafood, ham…
We could probably keep going until tomorrow.
Andalusia is an extraordinary destination.
And precisely because of that, I believe we have a responsibility to represent it properly.
When a traveller arrives at one of our properties, they are not simply walking into an apartment, villa or house.
For a few days, that property becomes part of their Andalusian experience.
And that matters.
We want people to leave thinking:
What an amazing place.
Not:
“Well… the place was okay, but the whole experience was a bit questionable.”
Tourism has changed.
A lot.
Travellers are becoming increasingly demanding.
They want instant answers, immediate information, spotless accommodation, good Wi-Fi, air conditioning, swimming pools, views, great locations, restaurants nearby…
And preferably all of it at 2012 prices.
This is where things get interesting.
Because we have also noticed something rather amusing: more and more people book holiday accommodation without actually knowing what they have booked.
And then you get questions like:
“Is there no reception?”
No.
“Is breakfast included?”
No.
“Can someone bring me some extra towels right now?”
Well… possibly.
“Why isn’t there room service?”
Because you booked a holiday home, my friend. Not the Ritz.
And this is not meant as criticism of travellers.
Quite the opposite.
I think there is simply a growing misunderstanding about what a holiday rental actually is and what services should reasonably be expected.
A holiday apartment, a villa and a hotel are different products.
Understanding that difference is important if we want expectations to match reality.
And then there is… basic manners
This is probably where I am going to get myself into trouble.
But so be it.
I think society, in general, could use a little pause for reflection.
We have become accustomed to demanding a lot.
We want perfect service, immediate answers, total flexibility and everything tailored precisely to our needs.
But sometimes we forget something rather fundamental: respect.
- Respect for the person serving you.
- Respect for the person cleaning your accommodation.
- Respect for neighbours.
- Respect for someone’s property.
- Respect for local rules.
- Respect for the destination you have chosen to visit.
And respect for the people who are simply trying to do their job properly.
Because there is something rather ironic about all of this.
We want to visit beautiful, authentic, well-kept and pleasant destinations… and then sometimes behave as if the destination were a theme park designed exclusively around us.
It doesn’t work that way.
What kind of tourism do we want?
This is probably one of the questions I am most interested in exploring.
- What do we actually expect from a destination when we travel?
- Do we want authenticity?
- Do we want to discover local culture?
- Do we want to enjoy the food?
- Do we want our holidays to be comfortable, while also respecting the place we are visiting?
I believe the answer is yes.
And I also believe that those of us working in tourism have a huge responsibility.
We should not simply provide a good place to stay.
We should help create a good experience
And that experience starts long before a guest opens the door to their apartment.
It starts with how we communicate, how we welcome people, how we solve problems and how we explain what staying in a holiday home actually means.
And this is where our journey begins
This blog will be a little bit of everything.
We will talk about tourism, Andalusia, holiday rentals, experiences, owners, travellers, new trends, things we do well and, probably, a few things we could do considerably better.
We will also talk about the changes taking place in our industry and about how we believe it should evolve.
- Because tourism changes.
- Travellers change.
- Expectations change.
- Technology changes.
And we have to change too.
But there are some things that should never change: good manners, respect, professionalism and the desire to do things properly.
So, welcome.
Come in, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the journey.
And if we ever become too serious… don’t worry.
We will probably end up talking about tourism again with a glass of wine in our hands.
This is just the beginning!
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