Seaside Vacations is Looking for a Business Development Manager on the Outer Banks

Posted on December 29, 2011

Seaside Vacations - www.OuterBanksVacations.com

Seaside Vacations has spent the last 20 years bringing friends and families together to experience meaningful and relaxing vacations on the Outer Banks. We are currently seeking candidates for a position in Business Development who likes to work hard, meet great people, build relationships, and have some fun while doing it!

The Business Development Manager’s principle responsibility is to develop relationships with vacation rental home owners and bring quality homes into our vacation rental program through prospecting; to consult with owners on ways to increase their occupancy; and to develop and maintain referral relationships with REALTORS®, builders, vendors, and home owners.

Support duties include developing informational materials with the Marketing Department, managing our contact management system, developing an enrollment campaign, producing rental projections and lead generation sources.

Job Requirements
The candidate should possess a previous track record in sales with an understanding of the vacation rental environment. A current North Carolina Real Estate broker’s license is a legal requirement of this position. Self-motivation, strong organizational, written, verbal and presentation skills are a must. The work schedule will be flexible, and will include evenings and weekends. A desire to develop and maintain professional relationships is key. Must pass a criminal background and drug test.

Responsibilities include, but will not be limited to, the following:

Develop knowledge base to generate rental projections for new prospects as well as the Sales Department.
Develop a referral network from outside sales agents, contractors, insurance agents, mortgage brokers, etc.
Meet with prospects in person and by phone.
Monitor and respond to building permits and sales transfers.
Develop a complete familiarity with Seaside Vacations’ contract documents, business practices, policies and procedures, and competitive environment.
Develop direct mail campaigns with detailed follow-up.
Develop sales presentation for one-on-one selling encounters.
Develop GoTo meeting presentation for remote selling encounter.
Network with sales agents to retain and recruit new homeowners involved in the sales process.

Compensation
Base salary plus commission/bonus

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and resume to calmoney@seasiderealty.com

More Couples Say “I Do” to the Outer Banks

Posted on November 8, 2011

Every little girl dreams of their wedding day, dressing up in a beautiful white gown, walking down the aisle to the perfect man, and basically just being a real princess for one day. Although this idea has never seemed to fade, the big to-do of a wedding has gone down, and the popularity of “destination weddings” is at an all time high. Today’s brides are cutting their guest list and combining vacations with the big event. In many cases, bride and groom will book one or more vacation homes for the wedding party and family during a week-long stay at the resort. Several event homes on the Outer Banks have been built for just that purpose.

The wedding season is longer and more businesses are offering services. About ten years ago, there were only about 40 vendors that catered to weddings on the Outer Banks, in both Dare and Currituck counties. Now there are more than 300 vendors in our area. The wedding industry is huge to the Outer Banks and is great for our local economy. Beach weddings can range from $15,000 to $100,000, depending on the bride and groom’s budget.

Hope Quade Anderson, who married on the beach last year, said she budgeted $25,000 for a “simple but elegant wedding.” The price included a week’s stay for the bridal party and family members at an 18-bedroom oceanfront home and a catered dinner by Ocean Boulevard in Kitty Hawk for 80 guests. She believes a little goes a long way in such a beautiful place.

The tourism department recently launched a new wedding website that lists 78 Currituck vendors for everything from photography to catering. The website offers tips for planning a wedding and allows a couple to create their own mini-website. With so many options and the perfect setting for a small but beautiful wedding, many couples from all around the country are saying “I-Do” to the OBX. For more information on Seaside Vacations event homes, or planning an Outer Banks wedding visit our website.

Spotlight on the OBX: Nags Head

Posted on September 19, 2011

Outer Banks: Nags Head Welcome Sign

Time for another edition of our “Spotlight on the OBX” video series. I’m a huge fan of these videos; 1., because it gets us out of the office to enjoy gorgeous days on the Outer Banks, but mainly because it gives us a chance to share some insight with you, our guests, about the people, places, and things that we love about the OBX.

Today we are going to continue our tours of OBX towns with a quick tour of Nags Head. Let’s shine the “Spotlight” on Nags Head, shall we?

A little Nags Head history to start: Legend states that early inhabitants of the area tied lanterns to the necks of horses and led the horses up and down the beach after dark to lure merchant ships. Sailors who saw the lights would mistake them for lights from ships and decide to come closer to shore. When they did, they would run aground and Nags Head residents would pillage the ship’s cargo.

Shipwrecks, pirates, pillaging…so Outer Banks.

Nags Head, North Carolina is often used synonymously with the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Strange, isn’t it? Do you know anyone that still says “I’m going to Nags Head” when they are really going to Duck? There are still some highway signs in Virginia that use Nags Head rather than the Outer Banks for directional purposes. Perhaps because it was the most popular OBX destination for so long?

As one of the most developed cities on the Outer Banks, Nags Head is a wonderful place for vacation living. But don’t let the “most developed cities” moniker fool you. OBX “development” is far from built-up. There is still plenty of empty space to roam, lots of natural habitat, and a hefty dose of amazing history. Plus, amazing restaurants, Jockey’s Ridge, shopping, lighthouses, fishing, etc. just a short drive (or walk) away.

Known for its pristine beaches, Nags Head is also home to many attractions including the east coast’s largest sand dune, shops, restaurants, night life, water sports and more.

In my humble opinion, Nags Head packs the best bang for the buck. When I talk with guests who are new to the Outer Banks and are not sure where to stay, I generally refer them to Nags Head. Nags Head has a great Outer Banks feel, but still offers plenty of great activities to keep people busy.

As the Nags Head Guide says, “A Nags Head vacation experience offers a blend of the old with the new. Visitors still can revel in timeworn traditions while enjoying a host of modern-day comforts.”

Enjoy the tour…

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 9.2.11 – Recovering from Hurricane Irene

Posted on September 2, 2011

9.2.11 - Perfect OBX Fall Weather

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, September 2, 2011.

This video was shot at the Hayman St. beach access in Kill Devil Hills at 9:00 AM.

Happy September, happy Friday. It’s a gorgeous day, and the northern OBX beaches are wide open for business.

Corolla through Nags Head is open and ready to go; beaches, businesses, attractions, and vacation rental homes. We pulled our entire team together to inspect and clean all of our homes this week following Hurricane Irene, and we are happy to report that our homes our in great shape. With the exception of a few minor maintenance issues, our homes are up and ready, including almost all of our pools. We started welcoming guests back as early Monday, and we are looking forward to welcoming guests this weekend.

And it couldn’t be a better time of year to be here! September and October on the Outer Banks is amazing…perfect conditions. The five day forecast shows bright sun with temps at 80 during the day and 70 at night. The water temp is 75 degrees, and the beaches are pretty empty. In addition, prices for vacation rental homes drop significantly in September. Truly the best time of year to be on the OBX.

As a side note, if you have kids back in school, it still could be a great time to come to the Outer Banks. Not sure if this is the same for every state, but in North Carolina, we can take education vacations that do not count as absent days. You need to give notice to the school and explain the educational activities, but it is a great opportunity to enjoy a vacation and learn along the way.

And the OBX is a perfect spot for an educational vacation. We partnered with www.HomeSchool.com this year, and they have given us their “Seal of Approval.” There is an endless amount of great educational opportunities on the OBX…art, history, nature.

But I digress, back to the report. Unfortunately, no surf to report. An east wind is beating up the swell we have, but Sunday and Monday are looking very good. Swell will be with us throughout next week, but the wind won’t be matching up much…just Sunday and Monday at this point.

Swell could be growing significantly by the end of next week. This could be due to the dreaded “H” word! We’ve had enough already, and it’s way too early to tell the path, but Hurricane Katia is out in the Atlantic and moving west. The projections look like it could stay out to sea, so hopefully it just sends us awesome waves. We’ll keep an eye on it.

OBX fishing is heating up again. Still no reports offshore. The fleet has to get their boats back in the water after Hurricane Irene, and Oregon Inlet needs to repair their damages from Irene. Hopefully they’ll be driving again soon. But the piers, bridges, surf, and Sound are getting consistent again with a wide variety of fish (fall OBX fishing is great!) – spot, croaker, pompano, blue fish, speckled trout, and even some puppy drums (no keepers yet).

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

Spotlight on the OBX: The Currituck Club

Posted on July 22, 2011

Outer Banks - Currituck Club

The Outer Banks offers some amazing communities, but keeping them all straight can be a challenge. To help, from time to time, we’ll shine the “Spotlight” on some of these communities to give you an up close look.

For today’s installment of the “Spotlight on the OBX,” we’re going to focus on one of the biggest and best, the Currituck Club. The Currituck Club is located on the Northern Outer Banks near historic Corolla. It is a gated community located between the beautiful, unspoiled, northern Outer Banks beaches and the famous Currituck Sound.

In my latest trip to the Currituck Club, I was pleasantly reminded of the amount of gorgeous homes in this gated community. It had been a while since I had visited the neighborhood and I was truly taken back by the number of beautifully constructed houses.

Not only is The Currituck Club an exclusive private neighborhood, but it is also home to an awarding winning Rees Jones Golf Course. Aside from being recognized as one of the “Top 25 Courses in North Carolina,” the Currituck Club also houses seven tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, kiddie playground, fitness center, bike trails, lawn games, beach shuttle and more.

With so much going on in this residential resort community, there is no need venture too far. You can ride your bike or take the trolley, everywhere you need to go.

Enjoy the tour…

Spotlight on the OBX: Southern Shores

Posted on July 13, 2011

Outer Banks: Southern Shores Map

Cruising through a new area can create that mouse lost in maze effect. Too much stimulus to take it to really discern the unique aspects of the area. The Outer Banks has this affect on visitors all the time. Where am I, what town am I in, what milepost is this, didn’t I just pass that beach access two miles ago?!

We can relate, and we want to offer some assistance. The Outer Banks is comprised of a few different towns, and while the towns may blend together as you drive down Rt 12, they really are quite unique. So, from time to time, we like to shine the “Spotlight on the OBX” towards some of the OBX towns to help you distinguish where your beach cruise has taken you.

This week, we’ll focus on Southern Shores. Located between Duck and Kitty Hawk, is the town of Southern Shores. Comprised of mostly single-family homes, Southern Shores is predominately a quiet residential paradise….hmm…perfect for an OBX vacation?

The beaches in Southern Shores are private, used only by residents and visitors to the area.

There are a variety of rental homes in Southern Shores, from grand oceanfront homes to retro flat-tops.

Southern Shores is home to the Duck Woods Country Club golf course, a semi-private facility. The town also has a wonderful bike path for walkers, joggers and bikers, and it connects to the commercial areas of town.

Let me step aside and allow Chelsea to give you quick tour of Southern Shores…

Reality Television Show Set to Shoot in Corolla

Posted on July 3, 2011

Getting Away Together

Yes we are serious! The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported that a new series “Getting Away Together” on PBS will begin filming in Corolla tomorrow for the 4th of July celebrationat Heritage Park.

The series is going to spotlight vacationers at 13 spots around the country and one of them is the Outer Banks! It will include a week of sightseeing for 17 family members, most of them from Atlanta Georgia.

Currituck and Dare counties split the $97,500 cost of producing, filming and promoting the show as a way of also promoting the Outer Banks. The series is expected to air this Fall on PBS. Yay for reality TV!

Outer Banks Treasures: Jennette’s Pier

Posted on June 17, 2011

When you think about what really makes an Outer Banks treasure it is hard to narrow it down. There are so many unique things here in tbe OBX, that our job will never end in showing you all of the places and things we consider treasures. I had the opportunity today to take a tour of the brand new Jennette’s Pier with Assistant Manager, Daryl Law. All I can say is WOW! Jennette’s Pier is truely an amazing sight to see and couldn’t be described as anything less than an Outer Banks Treasure.

When you first walk up to the pier you will notice the amazing details on the exterior of the facility. Not to mention the beautiful ocean views that surround you. There are chairs and tables out on the side overlooking the ocean, which I thought would be a great place to have a cup of coffee and look out at the water every morning. Turns out some locals had the same idea beacause as I was walking in, those seats were filling up quick!

I don’t want to give away to many details of the inside because I want you to see them all in the tour, but I will say that everything inside was beautiful. From the aquariums (which are still in progress) to the stone and tile work, everything was one of a kind. Enough talking, we have been building up to the opening of Jennette’s for a while now and if you haven’t made it to the Outer Banks yet, here is your exclusive tour of Jennette’s Pier. (Cue opening music)

P.S- If you want a live view of Jennette’s Pier check out our new beach webcam!

Local OBX Spot Voted Top 5 Burgers in NC

Posted on May 31, 2011

Pretty sweet news for the Outer Banks. Our very own Art’s Place was voted one of the top 5 hamburger joints in North Carolina by “Our State” magazine’s June 2011 edition. Art’s Place is a local landmark on the beach road in Kitty Hawk. They have awesome food and are starting open mic Wednesdays from 7-10 pm beginning June 8th. It is a pretty frequent lunch stop for us here at Seaside and we recommend anyone in the area should stop by and try some of their award winning burgers for yourself!

Thanks for reporting the great news OBXsurfinfo! To read more about Art’s Place check out the article or visit their facebook page.

Outer Banks Makes Dr.Beach’s Best Beaches in America

Posted on May 27, 2011

Looks like the Outer Banks has done it again! Dr. Beach, the beach expert names the OBX as one of the best beaches in America noting its great board surfing, lighthouses, and historic fishing villages.

Here is the list of the top 10 beaches across the U.S:

1. Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida
2. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
3. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
4. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
5. Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
6. St. George Island State Park, Florida panhandle
7. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina
8. Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
9. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park on Oahu, Hawaii
10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida