May Company Newsletter

🌞 May Company Newsletter – A Sunny Update for Our Valued Property Owners

As the warm weather finally graces us (and long may it last!), we wanted to take a moment to share an update on all things Devon Holidays — from bookings and finance to exciting additions, guest trends, and company developments.

📈 Bookings Continue to Soar

We’re delighted to share that booking levels remain strong, reflecting the continued popularity of your beautiful lodges.

  • In April 2025 alone, we saw a 49.2% increase in bookings compared to April 2024.

  • From January to the end of April 2025, we’ve secured 32.7% more bookings — that’s 420 additional stays — than during the same period last year.

  • Impressively, we’ve already taken 49.3% of the total bookings from what was a record-breaking 2024!

This steady growth is testament to the quality of the lodges and the exceptional service we provide together.

🔍 Where Bookings Are Coming From

The majority of our bookings are being driven by Booking.com, Sykes Cottages, and Airbnb. These platforms remain key to our success — and as such, maintaining high guest review scores is crucial.

A huge thank you to Amy for her daily guest care (and chin-tickling, where necessary!), and to all our owners for your continued efforts in keeping your properties in excellent condition. Amy, along with Shireen and Lucy, will continue to flag any property concerns directly with you, offering helpful solutions and options wherever possible.

🏡 Changes to the Lodge Portfolio

While we’ve seen a small reduction in property numbers this year, there’s plenty of positive movement too.

  • Two properties at Tempars and one at The Brambles have been sold to new owners.

  • One of our longstanding owners has traded in three lodges at Belvedere Heights in exchange for a new four-bed lodge on our five-year deal. We wish them every success in their new chapter.

This does mean we’re six properties down compared to last year — but the upside is that this frees up bookings for remaining owners.

On the brighter side, we’ve added four FANTASTIC lodges to our portfolio:

  • Three stylish A-frame three-beds (yes, with built-in saunas — which are making a comeback in guest requests).

  • A large and luxurious property on Woodland View, which joined us in January.

💷 Finance Update – Transparency and Timing

A few owners have asked for clarification on payment timings, so here’s a quick overview of how things work:

  • After a guest departs, cleaners attend the same day, and we pay their invoices on the following Friday.

  • If any maintenance is required (as flagged by Amy, guests, or cleaners), we settle those charges within the same week.

  • We receive guest payments:

    • 14 days after departure for most platforms

    • Or, in the case of Sykes, on the 25th of each month

Sykes currently represents over 51% of our total bookings, we are more dependent on their monthly payment cycle. As such, monthly owner statements and payouts now take place on the 26th of each month (or the nearest working day). This explains any perceived delays — rest assured, you’re still receiving your full monthly earnings.

On the maintenance front, we’ve moved away from using Steve Barton, which has significantly reduced risk and improved value for money. Our new contractor, Mark, is highly qualified, reliable, and more cost-effective — with a team covering all trades, ensuring swift response and quality workmanship.

We also want to reassure you that all marketing and advertising costs (including £8 + VAT per lodge per month for Sykes, and around £2,000 annually with Visit South Devon) come out of the commission we earn — not from you directly. These investments are made with the goal of driving bookings and promoting your properties across various platforms.

🧾 Scope of Work – What’s Included in Our Commission

Your 20% commission goes a long way — covering not only Amy’s wages, but also the broader scope of guest and owner services. These include:

  • Managing guest enquiries across Booking.com, Airbnb, Sykes, Facebook, WhatsApp, and email

  • Overseeing the full guest journey — aiming for 5-star reviews and glowing feedback

  • Handling payments and credit control

  • Coordinating feedback and maintenance

  • Managing safety certification and compliance

  • Assisting with owner bookings, billing queries, and SuperControl

  • Running paid advertising (Visit South Devon, Facebook, Google)

  • Rolling out future pricing (currently working at least 16 months ahead)

Our team works tirelessly to deliver a premium service — and we love what we do.

Please note: For owner bookings, if you’d like us to support your family or friends bookings directly (including sending welcome instructions, key safe details, Wi-Fi info etc.), we can do so for a small admin fee of £25.

🍽️ In the Kitchen – Airfryers are In!

Move over slow cookers — air fryers are the new guest favourite! Several lodges have introduced dual-zone air fryers, and the feedback has been fantastic. They’re energy-efficient, easy to clean, and increasingly expected by guests.

Current top choices:

 

Tower’s compact design is particularly well-suited for limited kitchen space — and many guests are choosing lodges based on these small but impactful features.

🚀 Looking Ahead

Thanks to staffing enhancements earlier this year, Devon Holidays is now even better equipped to respond quickly to guest queries and resolve concerns. This proactive approach is already leading to improved reviews and happier guests.

We’ve also:

  • Strengthened our relationship with Sykes, including tighter booking validation

  • Expanded our reach through Visit South Devon

  • Grown our social media presence, with Amy now managing our TikTok and Facebook pages — keep an eye out for some fantastic new content!

📌 In Summary

 

  • Bookings are up nearly 50% year-on-year — with strong performance continuing into the summer.

  • We’ve streamlined maintenance, improved cash flow management, and continued investing in marketing.

  • Guest trends (like saunas and air fryers) are shaping how we enhance the lodges.

  • Our team is working hard to drive bookings, manage reviews, and maintain property standards.

  • We remain committed to transparency, growth, and making things easier for you, our valued property owners.

 

  • Grown our social media presence, with Amy now managing our TikTok and Facebook pages — keep an eye out for some fantastic new content!

💭 Final Thought

 

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not stayed well in Devon.”

— (With apologies to Virginia Woolf, but we think she’d approve.)

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and trust.

Team Devon Holidays 🌿