🌞 Welcome to June 2025 – Reliance Retreats Monthly Newsletter 🌳
Dear Homeowners and Partners,
We hope this message finds you well as we step into the vibrant summer month of June! It’s been an incredibly full and active May across the resort, with bookings surging, operations in full swing, and a host of exciting developments behind the scenes. As always, thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the Reliance Retreats community.
Let’s dive into everything that’s happened over the past month and give you a glimpse into what’s ahead…
🌿 Resort Activity and Property Updates
May was one of our busiest months yet in terms of bookings and on-site activity. With the brighter days and bank holiday weekends, we saw a huge influx of families, couples and groups making the most of the surroundings. The team has been working tirelessly to keep things running smoothly, and we’re thrilled with the feedback from guests.
We’re also proud to announce that Lodge 2, Acorn Lodge, officially went live last month and has already had a strong start with excellent occupancy levels. This property has proven popular for its peaceful views and homely design, and guests have commented positively on its layout and setting.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to confirm that Lodge 18 (Tor View) will be going live in July. This is shaping up to be a particularly special addition to our portfolio, offering panoramic views over the countryside and a sleek, modern interior designed to appeal to families and luxury-seekers alike. Expect more news and visuals on Tor View very soon!
🤝 Strategic Partnership Progress – Sykes Cottages
We’ve made great progress in our ongoing partnership with Sykes Cottages this past month. Since launching with them in August 2024, we’ve already secured 55 bookings – a clear indicator that the relationship is bearing fruit.
In May, we held in-depth meetings with Sykes’ senior team to explore how we can enhance the quality of bookings and increase our reach. One key outcome is the plan to push some of our properties on niche advertising platforms they partner with, allowing us to access more targeted audiences – such as pet-friendly getaways, large group retreats, and countryside escapes.
Our relationship with Sykes continues to grow in strength and we are confident this collaboration will generate significant value over the long term.
🌐 Airbnb – SEO & Visibility Enhancements
We’ve also been working hard with Airbnb to refine our listings and improve SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) – which directly impacts how visible our properties are on their platform.
Following a collaborative meeting with several Airbnb stakeholders, we’ve begun a full review of our property profiles, titles, and descriptions. We’re adjusting content and imagery in line with best practice to ensure our listings surface more effectively in searches.
We’re pleased to report that these early efforts are already paying off: between 30th May and 1st June, we received four bookings via Airbnb – a positive sign that these refinements are making a difference.
🏨 Booking.com – Streamlined Payments and SEO Boost
Historically, we handled guest payments directly for Booking.com reservations. While this gave us control, it significantly increased the workload for our operations team. Payment issues, declined cards, and delays created frustration for both us and our guests.
After reviewing this setup, we made the decision to return payment handling to Booking.com themselves. This has multiple benefits:
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It reduces our operational burden by ensuring payments are processed and confirmed before arrival.
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It improves guest experience, as Booking.com provides streamlined, user-friendly payment systems.
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Most importantly, it enhances our SEO strength on Booking.com’s platform. Listings where Booking.com handles payments are prioritised higher in search results compared to self-managed listings.
This change was implemented in late May, and we are already seeing signs of improved booking flow. We’re hopeful this trend will continue over the next few weeks.
💳 Finance Update – Payment Mapping Resolved
One notable hiccup in May involved a payment processing issue linked to our credit card handler, Holiday Rent Payments. It came to our attention when preparing owner payments that the client account balance was unusually low. After an investigation, we found that guest payouts had been redirected in error.
To clarify: all guest income is paid into a protected client account. From this account, we deduct supplier bills (as shown on your invoice) and our agreed commission. This ensures all guest funds are safeguarded and handled transparently.
The issue was identified and resolved within 48 hours, and we’ve verified that all properties now have the correct account mapping for future payouts. Please rest assured that we continue to monitor this process closely to avoid similar problems.
As always, it is from the monthly commission that the business operates – covering operational costs, staffing, and overheads. This model ensures that guest income is fully protected while allowing us to maintain high service standards.
📊 Bookings Performance
For a detailed breakdown of the month’s performance, please review our Holiday Home Owner Report for May 2025 here:
🔗 May Owner Report – Reliance Retreats
You’ll find insights on:
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Property-specific booking numbers
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Revenue figures
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Average occupancy rates
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Guest feedback summary
As always, if you have any questions or would like a bespoke report for your individual property, please reach out and we’d be happy to provide this.
🎥 Advertising & Video Content
Jason has been hard at work developing a new resort-wide promotional video to highlight everything Reliance Retreats has to offer. This 2½-minute video features panoramic views, lifestyle scenes, and local highlights – all set to the upbeat and uplifting track ‘Living the Good Life’, which we’ve licensed for promotional use.
Once final edits are complete, the video will be added to our official blog and media hub and used across social media, Airbnb, Sykes, and Booking.com profiles.
Looking ahead, Jason will also be working on property-specific videos, allowing us to showcase each lodge in more depth. These videos will enhance our marketing toolkit and offer potential guests a richer, more immersive experience before they book.
👥 Staffing Spotlight – Amy’s Impact
It’s hard to believe that Amy has only been part of the team for four months. She has already become an invaluable asset to the business, impressing guests, homeowners, and suppliers with her professionalism, efficiency, and no-nonsense approach.
Amy’s ability to juggle the complexities of our day-to-day operations – from supplier coordination to guest issues – has helped us maintain the high standards Reliance Retreats is known for. She’s also helped smooth over a few challenging moments with clarity and confidence.
We’re delighted to have her onboard and look forward to seeing how she continues to shape our service in the coming months.
💼 Investment Opportunity – Wheel Farm, North Devon
We’re pleased to share an investment opportunity that may be of interest to some of our homeowners or network contacts.
One of our long-standing customers is in the process of purchasing Wheel Farm, a well-established holiday complex in North Devon. They are seeking both short- and long-term investors to join the venture.
Key features of the Wheel Farm development include:
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5-Bedroom Detached Farmhouse
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9 Self-Catering Cottages
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Heated Indoor Swimming Pool & Sauna
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Over 7 Acres of Private Gardens & Grounds
This is a versatile site with significant potential for both short-term return and long-term capital growth. For further information or a brochure, please contact:
📞 Colin Davidson
📧 colin.davison@cranleys.co.uk
📱 +44 07999 900000
🌐 Wheel Farm Listing – Stags Estate Agents
☀️ Looking Ahead to Summer
With summer now in full swing, we anticipate a further spike in bookings across all platforms. School holidays and warmer weather typically lead to high occupancy, and we are already seeing strong forward bookings for June, July, and August.
Please remember to:
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Keep your property calendar updated if you wish to use your lodge privately.
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Let us know about any maintenance issues early, so we can resolve them before new guests arrive.
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Share your own feedback and suggestions with us – we love hearing from you!
🌟 And Finally…
As always, we are deeply grateful for your partnership, support, and trust in Reliance Retreats. We’re committed to providing the highest standards of service – both to our owners and our guests – and we are constantly evolving to ensure we remain ahead of the curve.
We’ll leave you with a quote that feels particularly apt as we dive into the summer season:
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
– Robert Collier
Wishing you all a sunny, successful June 🌻