Will my ice-cream melt before I finish it?

London, September 2010. Sadly, that's not always the case, and this week a major UK national newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, reported yet another rash of fraudulent advertisements of privately owned holiday villas and apartments to rent.

Many people have spent hundreds, or even thousands of pounds on a holiday villa, only to discover that it did not exist, or its identity had been stolen from a genuine property.

Combining a rigorous accreditation process with a dedicated team of hands-on industry experts, YourHolidayMatters validates holiday property owners and their accommodation (rental and B&B).

Some of the discussion going on within the private holiday rental industry has been centred around the need for regulation. The practicalities of achieving this worldwide are virtually insurmountable. One solution which goes some way towards reassuring the holidaymaker that their long awaited break is unlikely to go belly up is that of verification.

Schemes have been introduced by a handful of holiday property listing sites who are prepared to perform some basic checks on the owner's behalf prior to accepting their advertisement.

But as anyone who has been on holiday will agree, holidays can be ruined in other ways ....

.... you arrive, the property awaits you - but it's not what you expected:

• the photos are better than the reality;

• there's a block of flats going up next door;

• the pool is murky;

• the refrigerator breaks down and it's 4 days before it's repaired.

Verification is all-well-and-good therefore, but not the be-all-and-end-all! Your Holiday Matters believes that it is owners who create the environment, owners who meet your needs after arrival, and owners who thereby determine the quality of your holiday experience.

Only those owners identified as truly caring about their guests and offering exemplary customer service are approved by the Your Holiday Matters team.

Once approved, successful holiday property owners may use the Your Holiday Matters Seal of Approval on their marketing materials. This Seal of Approval, shown on the left, provides an instantly recognisable symbol of reliability and quality, allowing holidaymakers to rent with confidence.


• For the holidaymaker, the Your Holiday Matters Seal of Approval offers a stress-free and unique holiday experience;

• For the property owner, the Your Holiday Matters Seal of Approval provides a significant competitive advantage, helping to attract and convert enquiries into bookings.

For more detailed information about the accreditation process or any other queries regarding the company, visit YourHolidayMatters.com.