Vacation Rental Business Network Uses Grouvia to Manage Group

March 8, 2010

A recent addition to the Grouvia family is a small community vacation rental network in the popular tourist town of Colonial Beach, Virginia.

The Colonial Beach Cottage Owners Association (a.k.a. CBCOA) has recently joined Grouvia to help manage their network’s business. At their quarterly board meeting last week, Grouvia was introduced as the new online tool the CBCOA will use to help streamline their event planning and communications needs.  The addition was met with much enthusiasm by the board members.

Glenda Chiarello, the CBCOA’s treasurer and owner of Marina Sunset Cottage, is optimistic about Grouvia’s future.  “I think Grouvia is an excellent tool for group management, and the CBCOA will see a lot of benefit from using it.  It seems to have many features that will help automate some of the time-consuming tasks we are doing manually now.  Since we’re all volunteers, anything that can save us time is very valuable.”

One unexpected benefit is the ability for the association to collect payments online via Grouvia.  The CBCOA publishes a cottage directory every year, the cost of which is partially subsidized by local businesses who pay a fee to be included in the booklet.  The directory is distributed through the local chamber and at many shops and restaurants in the town, as well as through other tourism channels throughout Virginia.

Grouvia’s event management feature was used to create a deadline event for advertising commitments.  Advertisers can use the online reservation feature to commit to their ad and pay for it online.  The Grouvia reservation initiates an automated notification to the board members who are responsible for handling the brochure design and printing.

Lisa Pecunia, Grouvia’s designer and company founder is especially excited about the addition of CBCOA as a member of the growing Grouvia family.  “They have found a unique use for Grouvia which we hadn’t thought of.  People are very resourceful, and the CBCOA’s creativity in finding a way to make this work for them is very powerful.  Grouvia was built with a very flexible interface, and this new use is an indicator that Grouvia will be useful in all sorts of ways that are yet to be discovered.”

Since Grouvia is a relative newcomer on the scene, the company hopes the word will spread among other vacation rental communities in tourist towns across the country.

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Posted by Lisa Pecunia

A New Year’s Toast To Yourself

December 28, 2009

Grouvia’s Topic of the Week is called “New Year’s Toasts: A Five-Step Formula for the Perfect New Year’s Toast” by Joanna Fuchs.  We found it on a free article directory, as we do all our weekly topics.

It was written in 2005 (I hope she doesn’t mind that we changed the dates to post it) and contains a timeless bit of advice to help folks write a poignant, if not wholly memorable, New Year’s toast.  And it also contains a lesson for all of us, even if we aren’t giving a toast this year.

What the advice boils down to is simply this: Be Appreciative.

Here are the things Joanna points out that we should all remember to appreciate, as we move from the old year to the new:

  • Lessons learned
  • Fortunate or memorable events
  • Our friends and family
  • What we have that others don’t
  • A hopeful future

Hear hear, Joanna.  Thank you for reminding us.

We should appreciate these things all year long — especially right after a hectic holiday season, as we gear up to Spring and face all the possibilities for good times ahead.

So let’s try to pause for a few minutes and think about the past year, and wonder about the year ahead.  Let’s ask ourselves: What will we do this year to make a difference in someone else’s life?  To have a positive influence?  To lift someone’s spirits or help them get through a tough time?

How will I try to improve myself?  What next step can I take to get that promotion or start that small business I always wanted?  Will I try to lose weight or quit smoking?  Do I want to just get a little less aggravated at the too-long red light or supermarket check-out line?

Whatever it is, it’s unique to each of us … a special gift we can each give to ourself.

A toast to us… Happy New Year!

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Posted by Lisa Pecunia

Three Simple Rules for a Successful Small Group Event

July 18, 2009

Organizing and executing a successful group outing is not difficult.  Yes, it takes time but if you follow a few simple rules you will have a good event plan in place with a minimum of fuss.

Simple Rule Number One:  PEOPLE CAN’T READ YOUR MIND

You must be explicit about what you expect your attendees to do.  Tell them exactly where to meet you, what you look like (or what sign you’ll be standing under or whatever), what day, what date, and what time.  If it’s a meet and leave, tell them what time to be there and what time the group is leaving.  Give them your cell phone number to call you if they have a problem finding the location.  Tell them what to bring and what to wear.  Tell them if there’s a cost involved and when it’s due and how to pay it.

Simple Rule Number Two:  PEOPLE FORGET, SO REMIND THEM

If you have to change the plan, even a little bit, tell the group.  Also, remind them about the event, remind them about your cell number, tell them to call you if they have questions.  Send them directions, even GPS coordinates.  Remind them a week in advance and then again a couple of days in advance.  Tell them how excited you are about the event, and that you’re looking forward to meeting them.

Simple Rule Number Three:  REWARD YOUR ATTENDEES

Show up to your event in advance — try to be the first one there.  Welcome people as they arrive, introduce yourself, thank them for coming.  Be social, have a good time, mingle, and try to talk to everyone if possible.  Ask people if they are having fun.  Take pictures of groups of people talking, laughing, smiling.  After the event send them all a thank you email and tell them you are looking forward to seeing them at the next event.  Post your pictures within a few days, and send everyone a link.

Good events are what will keep people coming back.  They will also start bringing their friends, and soon enough, people will start hearing about your group and how great it is to be a member.  Whether it’s a social event or a professional meeting or a charitable cause, a positive experience is the best measure of success.

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Posted by Lisa Pecunia