Vacation rental agency to serve Cannon Beach
Published 5:00 pm Saturday, May 31, 2008
Oregon Beach Vacations has opened an office in midtown Cannon Beach to serve part-time residents who want to rent out their homes, and visitors who want a coastal experience.
The Lincoln City-based company offers 149 homes from Seaside to Yachats. Three are in Cannon Beach, with several more available soon, said Abby Carroll, operations manager.
“We had a great demand for this area, as well as Seaside, Astoria and Rockaway Beach,” Carroll said. “So far, the response has been great; we even have a waiting list.”
Although Cannon Beach has an ordinance that regulates short-term rentals, it is “easy to accommodate,” Carroll said.
Before homes are accepted for rental, they must meet the company’s standards, Carroll said. Everything must be in good working order and the home must be well-maintained. Services for homeowners include marketing, housekeeping and maintenance, a security inspection after each departure, strict rental agreements with guests and professionally laundered bed linens.
Visitors can choose homes that are within walking distance to the beach or those with ocean views. Guest services include grocery shopping and delivery, special-occasion deliveries, welcome baskets and area attraction packages.
A minimum seven-day stay is required in homes within Cannon Beach’s city limits, but there are homes that have shorter minimum stays outside Cannon Beach, Carroll said. Special packages are offered on some homes, she added.
More Oregon tourists are expected to visit the coast this year because of rising gas prices, Carroll said.
“They’re not going to drive from Portland north to Washington or south to California. For most people, the Oregon Coast is only one tank of gas away.”
Carroll and reservation specialist Tamie Johnson tell those who haven’t been to Cannon Beach that there is “lots to do, lots of places to eat and shop, and there’s easy beach access.”
Johnson was born in Seaside and lived in Elsie. She remembers working at the original Cannon Beach Bakery as a teenager and often recognizes grown-ups in town as the youngsters she used to serve at the bakery.
Although there are other property management businesses in town, Carroll, who has worked in the travel and lodging industry for 10 years, said she welcomes the “friendly competition.”
“We want to be good neighbors. It’s a thriving tourism community, and there are enough houses for all,” she said.
Oregon Beach Vacation Rentals
Address: 2135 S. Hemlock St.
Phone: (800) 723-2383, ext.208
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Web site: oregonbeachvacations.com
