INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Sept. 28, 2011) - Although parts of the economy are still subdued from the effects of the Great Recession, more leisure travelers enjoyed vacation home and condo rental hospitality last year than ever reported before – a respective 22 and 24 percent. What’s more, nearly half are interested in doing so within in the next two years, showing a significant boost from 2010.*

As a testament to these new insights, bookings for professional vacation rental managers grew more than seven percent nationwide in the past six months versus the same time last year. Future outlooks mirror this upward trend with a more than 12 percent rise over 2010 expected in the next six months – good news for the holiday travel season.**

This rapid rise speaks to Americans’ ongoing desire to put relationships at the core of their travels, and to find value that appeals to the whole family.

“Travelers are selecting vacation rentals for many reasons, from cost savings to the inherent values that allow families and friends to grow closer by enjoying quality time together underneath the same roof,” explains Alex Risser, President of the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) and its Discover Vacation Homes awareness initiative, the official public resource on vacation rental travel.

Value for price is revealed as the main motivator for vacation rental travel, with the appeal of privacy, full-kitchen facilities, amenities and more space overall as the most desirable reasons to rent – reasons that resonate when vacationing as a family or group.

To travelers discovering this trend, there are millions of vacation rental choices to book through companies or individual owners and offering a range of benefits. When choosing a vacation rental from an established property management company, they can be assured there’s a reputable hospitality business serving them each day.

For more information about vacation rental travel, and to find reputable companies in locations across North America, visit http://www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com. All of the companies listed here subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Business Practices to ensure guests are provided a quality lodging experience.

* Ypartnership/Harrison Group 2011 Portrait of American Travelers(SM) ** Analytics data by the VRMA and NAVIS Research LLC.

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About the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA)
Founded in 1985, the VRMA is the professional trade association of the vacation rental property management and hospitality industries. Membership includes hundreds of professional vacation rental manager and associate suppliers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, representing tens of thousands of vacation rentals, condos and villas.

About VRMA’s Discover Vacation Homes Initiative
Discover Vacation Homes is the trusted public voice on vacation rentals, providing an official resource for vacation rental travel information. As the awareness initiative of the VRMA, it represents tens of thousands of rental homes, condos and villas from hundreds of the most well established vacation rental management companies in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Media Contact:
Amanda Drake
MMGY Global
(407) 838-1829
adrake@mmgyglobal.com