Interhome has been the vacation rental specialist in France and Europe since 1965. 35,000 houses, apartments and chalets for vacations by the sea, in the mountains, in the countryside or in the city. There’s something to suit every taste. Interhome is renowned for the quality of its accommodation, carefully selected and managed by its agencies. A vacation rental with Interhome guarantees a quality stay.
How does Interhome fit in with the growing number of vacation rental platforms?
Let’s meet Sarah Meyer, Sales and Marketing Director.
1 – Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the history of Interhome?
Interhome was founded in London in 1965 by two Swiss tourism pioneers. The idea was to make cold beds in resorts profitable by marketing them to travelers who wanted to spend individual vacations in total privacy, without staying in a hotel or using camping, caravanning or club accommodation.
It’s as relevant today as it’s ever been!
Today, Interhome manages and markets more than 35,000 rentals in 27 countries (mainly in Europe) on behalf of owners looking to make the most of their second homes.
My current position allows me to stay close to the Group’s strategy and teams in Switzerland, while working on the French market. It’s a very important market for both owners and customers, and very different from the others in Europe! How exciting!
2 – What makes you stand out from the competition? Like Airbnb, for example.
Interhome is not a matchmaking platform, it’s much more LOL!
Our status as a travel agent allows us to market our offer in France and abroad, in B2B and B2C!
Thanks to its status as a real estate agent, we offer a full or partial management service to thousands of owners who want to make the most of their property.
On the customer side, Interhome welcomes and accompanies holidaymakers throughout their stay: on-site reception in our 200 agencies or local partners, 24/7 hotline. We also offer additional services: linen, wifi, cot, stroller, etc.
Travel agency, real estate agency and concierge service: Interhome masters the entire system, to the utmost satisfaction of owners and holidaymakers alike. Each property is checked and inspected by our teams to ensure the utmost peace of mind, both for owners who are often away, and for customers wishing to stay in a quality-certified rental property.
3 – Sustainability is one of Interhome’s main concerns. Can you tell us about it?
Indeed, our Swiss parent company is very sensitive to the future of the planet and very committed to local, quality tourism. We are also signatories to the Glasgow agreements, and are aiming for carbon neutrality for our agencies by 2024. What’s more, we are also raising awareness of our eco-responsibility approach among all our employees, partners, owners and holidaymakers.
4 – Have you noticed any change in your travelers’ purchasing behavior since the crisis?
Demand for vacation rentals continues to grow, in line with the results of the study we carried out with IFOP on French tourism habits and expectations.
The winter season exceeded all our expectations!
Now that the constraints associated with the health crisis have eased even further, more and more French people are moving abroad.
France is still the big winner, but Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Croatia are regaining ground. It’s all very encouraging!
5 – Why choose Travel-Insight for your digital communications?
The vacation rental market has been booming for the past ten years, with a sharp acceleration due to the pandemic.
Many new business models have emerged over the last few years, so we need to adapt our communication and strategy on social networks. The Travel-Insight teams seemed to be just what we needed!
6 – Do you have any plans for 2022?
The list is almost too long LOL! Among the most important:
- Opening new branches in France and elsewhere in Europe
- Rebranding our local branches
Throughout the year, Interhome is proud to support numerous sporting and cultural events in France, both nationally and locally, through its 41 branches. Our involvement in local life and our roots in the resorts are part of our development strategy and are bearing fruit.
7 – What message would you like to convey to French tourism professionals and travelers?
Vacation rentals are an exciting, dynamic and constantly evolving market (and this is just the beginning)! It’s also a great alternative for local tourism, free of constraints and accessible to all.
This category will eventually find its place in the tourism industry! I certainly hope so!
8 – The final word?
Make the most of summer and book your vacation rental, a simple way to get together with your family and tribe and share real moments of conviviality!
