EU-wide association gives voice to the short-term rental industry and aims to raise standards

February 2015 – HomeAway, the world’s largest marketplace for vacation rentals, has joined the European Holiday Home Association (EHHA), the organisation established to give a voice to the growing short-term rental industry, demonstrating its commitment to providing property owners with an international platform.

EHHA was founded in 2013 by some of the biggest holiday rental industry players in Europe. Its membership consists of managers’ associations, trade associations, and National and International companies operating in the European Union.

HomeAway Government Relations Director, Matthew Curtis, said: “The vacation rentals sector is booming with one in four European travellers staying in a vacation rental over the past year. Holiday home beds now outnumber hotel beds in Europe and, as the sector continues to expand, it is vital that property owners are able to identify and address challenges as they arise”.

He added: “HomeAway is committed to protect the interests of our customers and to defend their right to rent their properties. To complement our efforts at regional and national levels we need to address the challenges of the industry at a European level by gathering national associations and companies together to share experience and expertise, and by engaging in conversations with European stakeholders and legislators in order to support regulation that is fair, enforceable and easy to comply with. EHHA provides HomeAway with the perfect opportunity to achieve these goals”.

The EHHA’s objectives are to provide a unified voice in the tourism debate; to maintain and improve the quality of the services and consumer confidence; and to work with authorities that want to regulate short-term stays in major European cities or want to promote the vacation rental industry to generate more tourism. Key to the EHHA is the desire to promote projects which will ensure the highest quality standards and consumer protection.

Carlos Villaro Lassen, Secretary General of EHHA, said: “Changing travellers behavior has resulted in a vacation rental being a key part of travel buying decision making today but many legislators in Europe do not appreciate the potential of using the existing capacityto meet tourists’ demand for accommodation. The industry contributes to the success of the sector in Europe through private houses, through managers and portals, indirectly benefiting local shops, restaurants, transport sector and tourist attractions”.

He added: “We are delighted that HomeAway has joined the Association and taken a place on our Board of Directors”.

Today, the European rental market of vacation rentals represents more than 20 million beds for rent and 20 billion euros a year in revenue*, and is still growing according to a PhoCusWright study.In 2011, 42 million European adults stayed in a rented holiday home.

For more information on HomeAway go to www.homeaway.com

*Data from EHHA.