San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals News

Link: http://www.sandiegosunsetvacationrentals.com/html/gym.htm

SAN DIEGO—Free fitness center access has been added to the list of guest services provided by San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals, President Will Holland announced. “When people are traveling, they often want to continue their exercise regimen, or even start a new one, and free daily access to a fitness center is something they really appreciate,” Holland explained.


Guests staying at any of San Diego Sunset’s more than 50 Mission Beach/Pacific Beach area vacation rentals can use the Powerhouse Gym, located at 4150 Mission Blvd, in the Promenade Shopping Center. The gym is centrally located and within walking distance of the areas vacation rentals, Holland noted. The location also provides plenty of free parking for those who prefer to drive to the gym, he said.


San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals is the only area company to offer free gym access to its guests, according to Holland. “Since we opened our doors nearly three years ago, we have strived to be different and better than our competitors,” he said. “This is one more way we set ourselves apart from other vacation rental companies.”


The 14,000 square-foot facility has a complete cardio center, with entertainment. For the weight lifter, there are traditional weight machines, plus a large free weight room. Free group classes, including yoga, Pilates and aerobics are also included in what is available to San Diego Sunset guests, Holland said.


“When I have traveled, I wanted to work out while on the road, the nice hotels I stayed in usually charged an additional per day fee to use the gym,” Holland said. “That really bothered me that I was paying a high price for a hotel room, then had to pay extra to use the gym, and was charged again if I needed to use the business center. What was that huge hotel bill all about?”


Holland took the lessons he learned while traveling for business and set out to build a vacation rental company that would provide what people want, without charging extra for it. “Why should people pay for their accommodations, then have to pay more to work out?”


The Powerhouse Gym is open from 5a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 5 am to 10 p.m. on Friday; and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Seven days a week, the staff is on hand to help vacationers become familiar with the equipment. “The friendly atmosphere eliminates any anxiety over being in an unfamiliar gym,” Holland said. “There is no longer any reason to skip the gym while you are vacationing in Mission Beach.”


by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—A leader in innovation in the local vacation rental industry, San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals has gone green, relying on clean air vehicles for the bulk of its business, President Will Holland announced today.

San Diego Sunset has turned to zero-emission electric vehicles and bicycles to take care of the day-today business of the vacation rental company, he said. A bright yellow electric GEM vehicle with the San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals logos, an electric Segway transporter, and a fleet of bicycles take Holland and his employees up and down the 4-mile stretch of Mission Boulevard, where the company’s 50+ vacation rentals are located.

“It made a lot of sense for a lot of reasons,” Holland said. “We want to keep the ocean air clean and reduce the use of polluting combustible engines as much as possible.” He said that the frequent but short trips required for upkeep of the vacation rentals burned a lot of gas and gave off plenty of pollution. “We probably reduced our fuel usage by about 85 percent,” he said.

The four-seater GEM car will go at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and will travel up to 30 miles on a single charge from a standard 110-volt outlet. “We estimate the cost for electricity is about 15 percent of what we would be paying for gas at today’s prices,” Holland said. “But the reduction in gas emissions is the real pay-off.” The GEM car is limited to streets with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, so it is perfect for around Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, but it can’t go on freeways or expressways.

Segways are two-wheeled personal mobility vehicles that are also battery powered. Like the GEM vehicle, the Segway plugs into a standard 110-outlet. It can travel up to about 24 miles on a single charge with a maximum speed of about 12 miles per hour. Unlike the GEM, it can cruise along Ocean Front Walk or Bay Walk and park almost anywhere. “It only costs about 10 cents to charge the battery,” Holland said. “We just leave it plugged in so it’s ready to go when we have an errand to run.”

The company’s pledge to increase its use of zero emissions vehicles extends to its contract work crews as well. “We encourage our maintenance and cleaning crews get around on bicycles, rather than cars,” Holland said. “It’s good for the environment, it’s good for the worker’s health and it’s good for our bottom line. There is a huge savings, not only in gas, but in time and energy wasted just trying to find a parking place,” he said. “Parking is at a premium in the area and bicycles can be locked up anywhere.”

The company still has one SUV, but reserves it for trips away from the Pacific Beach and Mission Beach area, where faster speeds are required and when larger cargo area is needed. “There are times when we have to pick up supplies and building materials and the GEM car and Segway won’t do the job because of the limited speeds, limited range and limited carrying capacity,” Holland explained. “But we depend on the SUV less and less and the zero-emission modes of transportation more and more.”

by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—With a goal of economically meeting the needs of vacation rental guests, San Diego Vacation Rental Company broke with tradition and became the first local company to offer free access to bicycles, boogey boards, horseshoe sets and nursery needs.

“Our guests pay for their accommodations and they shouldn’t have to pay extra for the things that make a beach vacation fun,” said San Diego Sunset President Will Holland. “It was a no-brainer to offer these items to our guests.”
The company, which manages more than 50 Mission Beach and Pacific Beach area vacation rental units, allows families to reserve bicycles for a ride along the beach, boogey boards for some fun in the surf and horseshoe sets for some beach competition.

“We have a lot of families with small children who need cribs, high chairs, strollers and booster seats, but don’t want to haul all those things from home,” Holland explained. “We have them here for our guests to use for free.” San Diego Sunset doesn’t just keep one or two of each recreational or nursery item on hand, but plenty to meet the needs of its guests, according to Holland. “All a guest has to do is reserve the nursery items they need when they make their rental reservations and those nursery items will be waiting for them when they check in.” The bicycles and boogey boards can be reserved up to a day in advance, he said.

“One of the reasons that a vacation rental is such an economical choice is that the accommodations include everything you need for a great beach vacation,” said Holland. “Full kitchens allow you to prepare your own meals, so you save on the cost of eating out. Free recreational rentals and nursery rentals, only add to the savings you enjoy by staying in one of our residences.”

Holland developed his plan for San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals by considering what he expected, but often didn’t get while traveling. “Too often, I would pay a high price for accommodations, then end up paying even more for some simple needs,” he said. “I want my guests to feel like they have everything they need for a great vacation without spending a lot more money.”

by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—San Diego native and Occidental College graduate Amanda Caperino has been named customer service manager of San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals, announced President Will Holland.

“As our business has grown, we have found it necessary to hire a qualified, motivated person to handle customer service,” said Holland in making the announcement. “We have built our business on providing the best service in the local vacation rental industry, and Amanda will help us continue to achieve that goal.”

Caperino, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, has previous experience in customer service as manager of a Cold Stone Creamery. “I see this as an opportunity to be on the ground floor of a fast-growing, outstanding company,” she said. “It is really great that they started with only two properties three years ago and now manage more than 50. They have become a major force in the local vacation rental industry and I am excited that I will be a part of their continued growth.”

According to Holland, Caperino will be in charge of the day-to-day contact with guests and owners. “Her great people skills will go a long way toward ensuring our guests and owners have the best possible experience.”

Caperino started at Cold Stone at the age of 16 and worked her way up to manager, where she dealt with customer relations and handled every aspect of running a business, from bookkeeping and employee management, to ensuring customer satisfaction.

“We are very excited that Caperino chose San Diego Sunset and will be a part of our continued growth in the vacation rental market,” Holland said.

by Suzanne M. Perez

SAN DIEGO—In an effort to give the best possible experience to guests, while keeping the costs down for property owners, San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals has contracted with Specialty Textile Services of Chula Vista to provide linens for its 50-plus units, President Will Holland announced.

“For our guests, it means professionally cleaned and pressed sheets of the same similar to what they would find at a high-end hotel,” Holland explained. “The towels are of the same high quality.”

For the owners, contracting with a linen service eliminates the need to continually purchase and replace linens and towels as they get worn or stained according to Holland. “It is cost-effective and efficient,” he added. “There is no extra charge to owners for this service, and, in the long run, it will save them money.”

San Diego Sunset Vacation Rentals, located at 3748 Mission Blvd., San Diego, opened three years ago with a goal of being the best in the business, Holland said. “We were the first company to offer free bike, body board and horse shoe rentals, as well as a business center for free use by your guests,” he added. “We now also offer our guests free access to a full-service fitness center. We continue to lead the market in innovative ways of providing added value to our guests and our property owners.”

by Suzanne M. Perez