Italian Vacation Villas Profiled by Major Travel Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 28, 2009) -- Italian Vacation Villas, a villa rental company that focuses solely on Italy, was selected for an interview and extensive Profile on a prominent travel website, SlowEurope.com. The SlowEurope website recommends top European vacation rental agencies as a resource for travelers. Italian Vacation Villas and its owners, Martin Wenick and Alice Tetelman, were featured on the site, as they "use their contacts, knowledge of the country, and fluency in the language to ensure that their offerings are top quality." The Profile calls the company's properties "some of the most interesting vacation rental properties available on the market," and provides examples in several price ranges.

According to a recent Harris Poll, Italy remains a top destination for American travelers, despite a decline in 2009 associated with the global economic recession. Wenick and Tetelman have noted more interest in reservations for the 2010 season, although it is still early in the booking season. They point out that "a weekly rental is often a very economical way to spend a vacation. Using the property as a base for day trips avoids the need for frequent moves, and provides a wonderful opportunity to experience daily Italian life."

The SlowEurope Profile emphasizes Wenick and Tetelman's commitment to outstanding service for clients. "They place heavy emphasis on personal service" and "…they prefer to personally assist clients in selecting their vacation property to help them avoid being overwhelmed by choice….It is this personal approach that has built
their reputation."

"Martin and Alice want to ensure the entire trip is a success, starting of course with the accommodations," the Profile continues. "They will offer up suggestions for reputable suppliers for rental cars and travel insurance, and mine their Rolodex to arrange in-villa cooks, local tour guides and cooking classes. They can put clients in touch with the right people for winery visits or special occasion dinners, or even destination wedding services." In the Profile, Wenick and Tetelman provide a few of their favorite restaurants, shops and a few personal choices for villa rentals in Tuscany.

Italian Vacation Villas represents several well-established Italian vacation home management agencies, and carefully selected private estates and private owners, totaling more than 450 properties. Wenick and Tetelman have personally visited all of the properties they offer during their frequent inspection trips to Italy.

Italian Vacation Villas has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Bon Appetit, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Washingtonian magazine, Real Simple Travel, USA Today, The Washington Post Sunday travel section and Rudymaxa.com. The company draws clients from throughout North America.

Wenick and Tetelman started the company in 1999 after retiring from long careers in the public sector. Martin Wenick was a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State, including a four-year assignment in Rome.

Alice Tetelman had a career in the Washington political and policy world. The couple launched the company because of a love for Italy, knowledge of the country, and a desire to have an entrepreneurial "second career."

To read more, visit the Italian Vacation Villas News page at www.villasitalia.com.

About Italian Vacation Villas

Italian Vacation Villas represents several well-established Italian vacation home management agencies, and carefully selected private estates and private owners, totaling over 450 properties. The company focuses on personalized service to clients: matching clients’ interests to available properties in the selection process and giving advice on trip planning, sightseeing, restaurants, transportation and other needs. Tetelman and Wenick have extensive personal contacts in Italy and the ability to get needed information on a wide range of issues. They have lived in Italy and traveled there regularly for more than 30 years.

Wenick and Tetelman started the company in 1999 after retiring from long careers in the public sector. Martin Wenick, who is fluent in Italian, was a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State for 28 years, including a four-year assignment in Rome. Alice Tetelman had a 38-year career in the Washington political and policy world. The couple launched the company because of a love for Italy, knowledge of the country, and a desire to have an entrepreneurial “second career.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Alice Tetelman
202/333-6247

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