Put your farm accommodation on-line

By FWi staff

OWNERS of holiday lets and bed-and-breakfast businesses can now use a new website to help fill vacancies and boost incomes.

Last Minute Cottages aims to provide farmers and others offering accommodation with an effective advertising platform for late-availability bookings.

The business is run by partners in the Brecon Beacons and rural Devon, areas hit hard by foot-and-mouth.

“Many owners of holiday accommodation and indeed our partnership have been personally affected by the outbreak.

“We are all looking at effective ways to rebuild our businesses,” says partner Jill Nielson.

Spur-of-the-moment breaks are also becoming big business, she adds.

“Most owners, at some time of the year, will have vacancies they would like to see filled.”

Through Last Minute Cottages, owners across the UK can advertise vacancies for up to six weeks ahead.

The site is updated constantly, and each entry includes a photo of the property and a brief description, as well as price and location.

Members pay an annual fee of 100 per property and 10 for each subsequent one owned. There is no limit on the number of times each can be featured in the site.