Amala Vacation Rental Solutions

05/02/2024

https://www.vicnews.com/news/new-short-term-rental-rules-will-hurt-tourism-bc-business-owner-7352356

New provincial rules restricting short-term rentals to principal residence now in effect

04/09/2024

It's official: Our CEO (Chief Everything Officer), Angela, will stand up today with others and tell the province, "We will not stay silent as you take our livelihoods, our home, and our work-family away from us."

🙌🏼*HEAR HEAR* 👏🏼

“The night is darkest before the dawn.”

Here's a throwback memory from April 9th, 2020, just a few weeks after we opened our doors. I (Ryan) walked away from the shop that day, not believing we would ever open again.

Per usual… Angela had other ideas in mind; who knew then that she would single-handedly put AirLobby on her back, march through shutdowns, travel restrictions, and vandalism with ZERO government subsidies, and come out on top?!

With May 1st rapidly approaching and the STR industry in BC staring down another extinction-level event, I know one lady who isn’t blinking!

So it feels appropriate that on the 4-year anniversary of the day we shut our doors, we would declare to the City and the BC Government that WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!

We played by your rules.

We paid your fees.

We got your licences.

We jumped through your hoops.

No more…. See you in court.

03/14/2024

🥧 Happy National Pi Day! 🎉
Today, we celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi) and indulge in some delicious pie! Whether you're a math enthusiast or just love a good slice of pie, today is the perfect excuse to treat yourself at one of our favorite spots: Victoria Pie Co., Qv Cafe & Bakery, Saltchuck Pie Company or Dutch Bakery & Diner.

🥧✨

03/02/2024

🎉 Happy National Old Stuff Day! 🎉

Let's celebrate the charm of yesteryears with a stroll down memory lane in Victoria! Explore the city's hidden treasures at our vintage and thrift shops: Vintage After Death, Upstairs, Brica Brac Salvage or The Faraway.

🕰️👒🛋️

02/24/2024

🎉 Happy National Tortilla Chip Day! 🎉

Today, we're celebrating one of our favorite snacks - the humble tortilla chip! Whether you're dipping them in salsa, guacamole, or queso, we hope you'll join us in indulging in this crunchy, salty treat from one of our favorite spots in Victoria: La Taquisa, Cafe Mexico, Tacofino Victoria or Taco Justice.

02/22/2024

🍹 Happy National Margarita Day! 🍹

Cheers to the ultimate excuse to indulge in some tangy, refreshing goodness! Whether you like it on the rocks, frozen, or flavored, today's the day to celebrate this iconic cocktail from one of our favorite spots in Victoria: Little Jumbo, Cactus Club Cafe, Cafe Mexico or Boomtown.

🎉🍹

02/21/2024

🎉Happy National Sticky Bun Day!🎉

Today is the perfect excuse to indulge in these treats, whether you bake them yourself or pick up a freshly baked batch from one of our favorite places: Fern Cafe Bakery, Cinnaholic, Sally Bun or Working Culture Bread.

🍴😋

02/20/2024

🎉 Happy National Muffin Day! 🎉

Let's celebrate this delicious occasion by indulging in some freshly baked muffins at Crust Bakery, WildFire Organic Bakery and Cafe, Bean Around the World Coffees or Habit Coffee.

🧁🏆

02/17/2024

Don't miss out on the FREE Family-Friendly fun at the VMF Winter Arts festival this weekend in downtown Victoria! 🎨

Enjoy live performances, sculptures, mind-blowing projection mapping, immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences, and captivating storytelling for all ages! See you there! 🎭🖼️🎶

2024 WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL February 16 - 19, 2024 | VICTORIA February 22 - 27, 2024 | VANCOUVERWinter Arts Festival is a celebration of light, art, and storytelling, featuring sculptures, projection mapping, augmented reality (AR), and live performances. FOLLOW AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES...

02/13/2024

Wiping lawfully opperators off the board without so much as consultation is NOT a Canada I want to be apart of.
Consider Learning More.

181 signatures are needed, let’s get there by the end of the day?

01/04/2024

A New Year always evokes so much curiosity about what I want the year to look like. I am so proud of how I've grown and the dreams I've realized in the past 7 years. A big goal in 2023 was about property ownership & I had my eyes set on something special. I wanted to have a little piece of history in Victoria's Oldtown that I could share with folks coming to discover our beautiful city. https://airbnb.com/h/loftylifeonyates I'm a fairly private person and haven't shared this goal with many. But it's one I'm really proud of.

Due to new government regulations, I will not be able to share it as much as I'd like to after May 1, 2024. Friends, if you know someone (or you'd like to enjoy it yourself) reach out. It would be a shame not to keep sharing its quirky magic.

Treehouse Loft in OldTowns Inner Harbour

10/30/2023

As we get ready to celebrate our 4th anniversary this month, we are simultaneously beginning the mourning process. Our beloved AirLobby Bag & Bike Storage has been sentenced to the gallows by the BC NDP with support from the City of Victoria - Local Government in the form of Bill 35. - Ironically enough, a bill we support 90% of.

We have been treated with indifference and, at times, outright hostility by the administration from City Hall and comments from select councillors, despite surviving the Covid lockdowns, serving a real need in the oldtown community, and working to champion sustainable and ethical hosting. From our perspective, they want something other than solutions but are looking for someone they can shift the blame to.

This place is not just a place to go to work but has been home to a diverse group of locals since its opening. At this very moment, 31 people rely on AiLobby for employment. With a rising unemployment rate, these individuals are concerned about what job prospects will be available in the coming year.

Bill 35 was the brainchild of the BC Hotel Association after years of lobbyist efforts and the funding of the now-infamous 'McGill Study.' This bill was put forth by the BC NDP to make it look like they were doing something meaningful about our housing situation. Most of the industry is questioning how Bill 35 will move the needle on housing availability. It appears researchers from that study are asking the same question...

The lead researcher, David Wachsmuth, of the McGill study (Funded by the BC Hotel Association) that was the basis of Bill 35 was quoted in his final statement on a CBC podcast last week as saying, "So short-term rentals are not at the top of that list, and I don't think anybody would claim that they are. The thing that makes them stand out, though, from a policy perspective, is that they're the low-hanging fruit. You know, if you think about… if you want to say… if you say, well, we need to build, you know, tens of thousands of more units of housing, I mean, I 100% agree with that."

We can 100% agree with you there David! Let's build some more houses! Let's blow up the dam of red tape that has relegated some 596 STORIES of buildings to bureaucratic purgatory in Victoria alone.

10/29/2023

This has been a heavy few days as we navigate Hosting in 2024. This morning I received this lovely message from one of our clients that have been with us since the beginning of 2020.

"It's incredibly frustrating as we always did things above board and loved our semi-annual trips to enjoy and work on the suites and explore Victoria with the family. Ali and I have always appreciated you and Ryan and how much effort and passion you put into managing our units and guests. You guys truly built something special and your business was an amazing gift to the City of Victoria (even if local government didn't appreciate it). The city will truly be less special without Amala Vacation Rental Solutions(in its current form) and all it offered. We will be forever grateful for your hard work and sacrifice, especially over the Covid years. I don't know what your plans are moving forward but just wanted to encourage you that even though the AirLobby Bag & Bike Storage couldn't stand up to oppressive government forces you continue to put those skills to good use. (A rental management company in Mexico, USA or Costa Rica comes to mind :D). You did so well in an environment that worked against you. Imagine what you could do somewhere that supports what you are providing! I know whatever you end up doing will be great, as you are an incredible team. Ali and I wish you all the best, and if you do continue with updates and emails, please let us know as we would love to continue to follow you on your journey"

It has been an honour to serve my community, be a place where guests could be welcomed and create a work family I will never forget. We are not done fighting this thing. Stay tuned!

10/24/2023

https://www.bcunitedcaucus.ca/2023/10/david-ebys-condo-flip-capitalized-on-short-term-rental-potential/ #:~:text=Rather%20than%20enacting%20common%2Dsense,housing%20affordability%20in%20North%20America

VICTORIA (October 24, 2023) – Newly uncovered documents have shed further light on David Eby’s condo flipping hypocrisy, revealing that not only did he cash

05/01/2023

Ensuring guests have a fabulous stay is our number one priority! 🥰

Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review Beryl 😊

04/30/2023

Don't you just love the open-brick work in this bathroom 😍

04/29/2023

Seeking a stylish 2-bedroom in Victoria?

The Corazon Sunset has just re-opened it's calendar and is taking bookings for the summer 🥰

Entire apartment in Victoria, Canada. Centrally located in Victoria's downtown, our 2 bedroom executive suite is perfect for both short & long stays. Tasteful, modern design with open c...

04/28/2023

Sneak peak of one of our new units 👀

Coming 🔜

04/27/2023

So lovely to see as the warm weather arrives, Victoria has a buzz and vibrance about it 😊

04/23/2023

😊

04/22/2023

Love it when we use props for a photo shoot 😋

04/21/2023

😂

04/20/2023

The Brick n' Moon looking absolutely fantastic following our turnover teams most recent visit 👏🙌❤️🌙

04/19/2023

We’re looking forward to the return of good weather so our guests can enjoy our patios again 🥰

Only question is, will summer ever arrive?😭

04/18/2023

New unit ...🔜 😁

04/17/2023

Starting today 🦖

A new travelling exhibition produced by the Royal BC Museum! Dig into prehistoric British Columbia and get up close and personal with “Buster”, the Iron Lizard of the Sustut River, and the other dinosaurs that once roamed the province’s highest peaks, densest forests and most remote river basi...

04/13/2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

".... An incredible experience."

Thanks for your kind words Stephanie! If you'd like to see the unit which inspired such a glowing review visit: airbnb.co.uk/rooms/48436967 🙂

04/12/2023

🚕🛥️

04/11/2023

Glad to hear they had a 5 STAR experience 😂

04/10/2023

Thanks for such a lovely review Emily 🥰

If you’re looking for a great place to stay in downtown Victoria, you might want to check out our fabulous studio: www.airbnb.com/rooms/53846832