Newsletters

Bill Gates' Favorite Burger Joint

Published on 12/01/10 by May, William Victor — Over the decades there have been numerous stories here in the Northwest U.S. about how the favorite restaurant of Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, was an old fashioned burger stand not far from Microsoft's campus. You might like it too.... read more

Nothing Beats Chateau Chocolate Cake

Published on 10/01/10 by May, William Victor — Years ago when I operated an advertising agency we sure thought we worked long and hard. Not to reveal my age, but I remember when we had to "spec" type, courier the details to a type setter and then wait days while it was set and returned to us. We then had to paste the galleys onto art board along with photos or other art to arrange the desired final ad.... read more

Labor Day 2010 - Another Flea Market Bonanza

Published on 09/09/10 by May, William Victor — Well it was another great Flea Market this Labor Day weekend in Packwood. Hundreds of vendors from all over the Northwest and some from across the US and Canada. Unofficial estimates are that there may have been 10,000 people on Saturday - but hey who's counting.... read more

Mother Giant Radio Station Trounced Websites

Published on 05/01/10 by May, William Victor — Prior to the lodging industry, I had a perfectly normal life in the media and advertising industry. I worked at radio stations and publications, owned an advertising agency and then started, invested and managed some publications and a radio station.... read more

Drive to Sunbanks Resort in Central Washington State

Published on 03/15/10 by Taylor, Penny L. — Warm weather took me on a drive to Central Washington state, to little known Banks Lake and SunBanks Resort. Toasty hot in summer it boasts warm warm water unlike most big lake resorts.... read more

Become a Vacation Rental Angel

Published on 03/01/10 by May, William Victor — Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offe... read more

Snoqualmie Pass Real Estate, Mortgage, and Economy

Published on 12/14/09 by Wolter, Thomas — KEEPING ON KEEPING ON - For the fourth week in a row the markets moved sideways, with one index slightly up, one a bit down and the third flat. Recently, there haven't been any extreme weekly market moves in the indexes, up or down. Investors aren't quite ready to believe things are as good as some ... read more

Everything Robert Fulgham Learned in Kindergarten

Published on 11/01/09 by May, William Victor — I stumbled onto an Internet posting the other day that told me it has been twenty years since Robert Fulgham wroteEverything I Really Need to Know I Learned in kindergarten.... read more

Remembering the "Thank You" Game

Published on 09/01/09 by May, William Victor — Surprises are great. And thank you's are best. In an industry like property management that requires attention to detail, constant supervision and reconciliation of occasionally conflicting goals between guests and owners it is too easy to forget the little personal things that make life worth liv... read more

World's First Vacation Rental Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Published on 03/18/09 by May, William Victor — The every increasing cost of advertising on the mammoth impersonal vacation rental listing websites has spawned innovation. On April 6th, the Vacation Rental Industry Association, with the help of Plumbob Publishing is unveiling the first every Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals. T... read more

HomeAway's Pillaging of Vacation Rentals

Published on 01/21/09 by May, William Victor — Somebody has to say it I suppose. The era of vacation rental home ownership has been taken over by people hell bent on dominating the industry and sucking the profit out of it from all other participants. For the last 10 years or so the market for vacation rentals has grown faster then any other ki... read more

Google Shoots Itself in the Advertising Foot

Published on 01/17/09 by May, William Victor — I can remember the first time I used Google. Up pops the browser there sits a simple single line search box. Type in what you are looking for and get some results. Or use that I'm Feeling Lucky button which is still the dumbest thing they've ever done. I can't imagine why they hold ont... read more

Why You Can't Shoot Vacation Rentals with a Camera

Published on 01/15/09 by Romain, Joseph — Well of course you can. Today everyone has a camera or two or three. They've moved up from the decades old Brownies to Polaroids to click and shoot and now into the world of digital and now to sophisticated digital cameras with large formats (pixels) and self correcting shooting. So h... read more

Lotus Hale Hawaiin Villa Vs. Poipu Grand Hyatt Hotel

Published on 01/09/09 by May, William Victor — The Grand Hyatt at Poipu Kauai Hawaii is a real gem. If you want beauty and pampering this is your place - provided you want to a small room, high prices, less privacy and a hike to everything you might want to do. For just about $400 per night you get one of the 602 motel 6 size rooms. Better appo... read more

Lau Lau for Christmas Dinner

Published on 12/22/03 by May, William Victor — It was six years ago on Christmas day. My then eight year old son and I were snorkeling about 40 yards off shore at Poipu Beach Kauai. Having taken weekly swimming lessons since he was just 9 months old Taylor felt safe swimming with me out and around a point in hopes of seeing one of the endangered... read more

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