How ThinkVilla Grew to be a Greek Luxury Villa Leader with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy

Achieving Leadership in Luxury Villa Rentals

ThinkVilla always had a clear vision for their business: to become Greece’s leading luxury villa rental agency. Yet, before partnering with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy in 2020 and Avantio in 2023, the company faced obstacles that stood in the way of their growth.

As ThinkVilla expanded from a boutique collection in Crete to a leader in the Greek villa rental market, scaling their operations marked a key point for the company. How could they grow their property portfolio across Greece, while staying on top of daily operations and maintaining their unique essence?

With a mission to deliver “style, comfort, and personalized service” to their guests, ThinkVilla’s turning point came through strategic partnerships—Homes & Villas broadened their market reach, while Avantio’s property management system streamlined operations. These collaborations allowed ThinkVilla to grow, increase bookings, and enhance guest satisfaction while preserving their signature personalized service.

Discover how these alliances fueled their sustainable success and find out what’s next for ThinkVilla!

Achieving Impressive Growth: ThinkVilla’s Success in Expanding Luxury Villa Rentals

Before their strategic partnerships, ThinkVilla struggled to scale operations while maintaining high-quality service and managing bookings efficiently. With limited visibility, expanding their portfolio of 250+ luxury villas without compromising personalized guest experiences was challenging.

Partnering with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy boosted ThinkVilla’s brand reach. It attracted new homeowners and expanded their portfolio in key areas like the Cyclades and Ionian Islands. Access to over 200 million Marriott Bonvoy members and valuable market insights also strengthened ThinkVilla’s position in the luxury travel market, particularly among high-end Elite Marriott Bonvoy members.

Through targeted marketing campaigns, inclusion in curated collections, and placements in social media and email campaigns, ThinkVilla increased its visibility. New Greek destinations were showcased to affluent travelers seeking luxury accommodations.

Meanwhile, Avantio’s technology gave ThinkVilla useful data for smarter pricing and buying properties. Software tools like Beyond Pricing and Key Data helped them improve pricing in real time. They could adapt to market changes and find the best properties to expand into.

This approach helped them grow and kept ThinkVilla competitive. It secured their place as a top luxury villa rental agency in Greece.

How Avantio Helped ThinkVilla Manage 370+ Properties

With a small team of twelve employees managing over 270 luxury villas, ThinkVilla’s daily operations were time-consuming. Tasks like guest check-ins, scheduling maintenance, and guest communication were mostly manual and spread across different systems. This led to delays and occasional inconsistencies in service.

That’s when ThinkVilla partnered with Avantio. Since 2023, Avantio’s property management system has automated most routine tasks, including booking confirmations, guest messaging, and maintenance tracking. Integration with Avantio’s Channel Manager enabled real-time syncing, reducing manual input and minimizing errors.

Creating Memorable Guest Experiences: ThinkVilla’s Approach to Luxury Service

As ThinkVilla grew, maintaining its bespoke guest service became increasingly challenging. The team personally contacts each Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy guest to ensure a positive experience. But as demand rose, it became harder to keep up without adding to their workload. International guests also introduced language barriers, complicating communication.

Through partnerships with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy and Avantio, ThinkVilla gained tools to continue delivering exceptional service. Marriott’s 90+ years of operational expertise provided their team with best practices, sales techniques, and customer engagement strategies. Avantio’s guest communication tools automated personalized messages, and its multilingual capabilities ensured smooth communication, regardless of the guest’s language or the number of properties booked.

Finding Success Through the Power of Partnerships

ThinkVilla’s success shows that growth isn’t just about overcoming challenges—it’s about finding the right partners to fuel your vision. With Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, ThinkVilla expanded its luxury villa portfolio in Greece, focusing on quality over quantity.

As a small, dedicated team, Avantio was the perfect solution for simplifying operations and customizing communication. This allowed ThinkVilla to focus on what matters most: providing exceptional guest experiences

Together, Avantio and Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy empowered ThinkVilla to not only meet but exceed its goals, solidifying its place as a leading vacation rental agency in Greece.

ThinkVilla’s Future in the Mediterranean Market

ThinkVilla has a steady growth plan and is ready for further expansion. Now, with a team of 22, they can continue to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences. Building on their success in Greece, they aim to enter the South Mediterranean, bringing their luxury villa expertise and 5-star service to Italy, Croatia, and Turkey, with future goals in France and Spain.