Vacation rental behemoth HomeAway has launched a luxury rental portal today, allowing travelers to browse and book more high-end properties beyond the standard offerings.
The new product, Luxury Rentals by HomeAway, features over 800 luxury properties in 40 countries around the world. The properties range from the villas to expansive estates with access to a gourmet kitchen and a private yacht.
Each property has been individually vetted, verified and approved by Andrew Harper, the independent luxury travel specialist.
As publishers of the Hideaway Report, Andrew Harper provides a more holistic, third-party verification that drops an additional layer onto the selections that ensures exclusivity and reputation.
Each listing is evaluated on a 75-point scale exclusively developed for HomeAway, which rates price, services, location, and amenities - down to the thread count on the sheets.
Announcing the new product, HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples, points to the growth of the luxury segment:
“We created Luxury Rentals from HomeAway as the ultimate resource for the growing number of travelers looking to stay in truly exceptional vacation accommodations. Over time, we expect it to become the largest global resource for finding luxury rentals from both individual owners and high-end property managers.”
The luxury market is growing increasingly robust, dubbed the fastest growing segment in travel by Companies & Markets' "2012 Luxury Travel Report." The report claims a trillion dollars of sales in North America alone.
In addition, Andrew Harper's annual reader survey this year showed increased travel intent by 33 percent of luxury vacationers in 2014.
Browse HomeAway's new luxury offering here.