Tips for selling a Florida villa break

While many think first of Florida’s busy high-rise hotels and packed beachfront resorts, Florida has a diverse range of holiday villas to suit all types of client.

“A villa holiday is a great choice when visiting Florida, as it gives you the flexibility to come and go as you please, a place to spread out and relax and somewhere for the whole family to enjoy,” says Lauren Pace, director of global marketing and trade at Visit Florida. “Most have private pools, games rooms and all sorts of mod-cons that you may or may not have at home.”

But it’s not just families that will benefit from the freedom of private holiday homes in 2021; groups of friends and couples will too. To find out exactly what agents need to consider when marketing and selling Florida’s villas to their clients, we spoke to a selection of destination representatives, villa providers and expert tour operators to glean their top tips.

LOCATION, LOCATION 

With holiday homes in abundance across Florida, it’s important to tailor the choice of destination to your clients’ interests. Those keen to visit parks such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Gatorland and Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park would do well to pick Kissimmee. It’s just minutes from the rides and perfect for “thrill and chill vacations,” says Jo Piani, director for the UK and Ireland at Experience Kissimmee.

“Our villas are ideal for families – small, large, or even multigenerational – as they range from cosy two-bedroom condos to 15-bedroom luxury mega mansions,” she adds. Encore Resort at Reunion and The Bear’s Den Resort Orlando (both part of Rentyl Resorts) are reliable choices.

The Florida Keys are a popular choice for beach-loving Brits, and multigenerational families visiting should consider the Islands of Islamorada resort, which opened last year and is home to 30 beach houses sleeping up to 10 guests each across four bedrooms.

Florida also boasts plenty of options for clients seeking a lesser-known experience for their coastal villa break. “Places like north-west Florida are often overlooked and very much undiscovered by the UK and Ireland markets,” says Visit Florida’s Pace. “You can find luxury rentals in places such as South Walton County or more affordable options in Panama City Beach – both locations offer mile upon mile of pristine, uncrowded beaches.”

Also in the north-west is Anna Maria Island, a great spot for private holiday homes best suited to clients seeking a relaxing stay away from the hustle and bustle. It’s home to everything from one-bedroom cottages to 10-bedroom villas, with the majority available to book through USAirtours.

“Many villas on the island are newly renovated and all are no more than a couple of blocks from the beach,” says Kelly Clark, chief marketing officer at Bradenton Area CVB, who highlights Waterline Resort as a unique place to stay. “Opened in 2017, it has units with fully fitted kitchens but there’s also a restaurant on-site, so guests can enjoy the comforts of self-catering while having a full-service restaurant on their doorstep.”