History
1980
Launch of Ardennes Relais. The origin of the @Leisure Group lies in this organisation. Ardennes Relais focused 100% on the Belgian Ardennes. In the beginning, there were only six holiday accommodations available that were rented out primarily within a network of family and friends.
1987
The name Ardennes Relais was changed to EuroRelais in 1987, when Dutch holiday homes were added to the portfolio.
Establishment of Belvilla in the Netherlands
1995
EuroRelais expands with portfolio of accommodations in France, Flanders and holiday parks.
1997
Great Britain is added to the EuroRelais portfolio.
Thomas Cook and the Europeesche Verzekering Maatschappij (Dutch travel insurer) acquire a minority interest of 20% each in Belvilla.
1999
EuroRelais.nl is one of the first travel organisations to offer an online booking website.
December
Thomas Cook expands its interest in Belvilla to 80%.
2000
Leasure Invest, later known as the @Leisure Group, becomes a shareholder of EuroRelais.
2002
EuroRelais adds holiday accommodations in Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
EuroRelais actively targets German holidaymakers.
2003
Casamundo is established and offers 50,000 holiday accommodations on behalf of 5 different partners.
EuroRelais adds holiday accommodations in Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany and Portugal.
EuroRelais.nl is nominated for the WebWinkel Awards (Dutch Home Shopping Association).
2004
Home Shopping Association Awards: Belvilla.nl proclaimed and EuroRelais nominated for ‘Best Travel Website’.
May
Croatia is added as the newest EuroRelais destination.
2005
EuroRelais celebrates 25 years of operation.
Thomas Cook sells Belvilla shares to new investor.
EuroRelais brochure is nominated for the ‘Best Catalogue' in the Home Shopping Association Awards.
Belvilla.nl website is nominated for the ‘Best Travel Website’ in the Home Shopping Association Awards.
May
EuroRelais.nl shows holiday accommodation ratings from its guests.
EuroRelais cave dwellings are nominated by El Pais, the largest newspaper in Spain, as one of the 10 most original and distinctive accommodations in Andalusia.
December
EuroRelais adds the destinations of Turkey and Denmark.
Leasure Invest becomes the 100% owner of EuroRelais.
2006
January
EuroRelais actively targets the Italian and Spanish holiday markets.
March
EuroRelais.nl shows holiday accommodations in Google Maps.
Belvilla acquires Housing International, later known as Jules Villas. Housing International is specialised in the rental of luxury holiday homes on Ibiza since 1994.
2007
January
Leasure Invest becomes the owner of Belvilla.
The Belvilla brand celebrates 20 years.
March
EuroRelais.nl shows 360° and video imagery of holiday accommodations.
EuroRelais.nl is nominated for the WebWinkel Awards (Dutch Home Shopping Association).
Leasure Invest introduces the CityTripsEurope brand
August
Belvilla.nl offers a speech enable function
Casamundo offers 100,000 holiday accommodations.
November
Belvilla introduces Live chat online function.
December
Belvilla.nl is nominated for the ‘Usability Award’.
2008
January
Belvilla becomes the international holiday home brand for Leasure Invest, thereby assuming the role of EuroRelais. Belvilla focuses on the origin markets of Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. EuroRelais only remains active in the Benelux region.
April
Belvilla also becomes active in Poland. Casamundo active in the UK and France.
EuroRelais and Belvilla launch city trips.
Casamundo offers 150,000 holiday accommodations.
July
EuroRelais and Belvilla offer holiday homes for visitors with a physical impairment.
August
Casamundo offers customer management services online.
December
The name Leasure Invest is changed to the @Leisure Group.
EuroRelais.nl introduces ‘draw personal search area’ in Google Maps.
The @Leisure Group takes over all ILS brands, including www.Chalets.nl and www.Villaworld.nl.
2009
January
Opening of Belvilla office in Cologne.
February
The @Leisure Group acquires VillaTour.
March
Housing International is given a new name: Jules Villas. Jules Villas offers more service by, among other things, working with 'local heroes' to meet specific specific guest desires. As a result, the @Leisure Group enters the high-end luxury sector. Jules Villas now also offers destinations outside of Ibiza.
Start of new media campaign for Belvilla in the Netherlands, starring Marc and Nathalie Radio spots are launched.
Casamundo.nl goes online.
EuroRelais.nl rated 'best in test' by the Consumers’ Association, followed immediately by Belvilla.nl.
Greece is added as the newest destination.
October
www.eurorelais.nl proclaimed the ‘Best Travel Website’ by the Travelution travel magazine.
November
EuroRelais brand breaks new ground as a holiday portal, administered from the Heerhugowaard office. The Benelux area is actively offered. Belvilla is to be marketed from the Eindhoven office from now on.
December
Casamundo.pl goes online.
the @Leisure Group acquires a majority interest in Casamundo...
Italian Casamundo website goes live.
Casamundo scores 1.53 (good) in customer satisfaction and service quality by the TÜV Saarland- Prüfsiegel.
Casamundo displays customer ratings on site and integrates Google Maps.
2010
30 years of knowledge and experience within the @Leisure Group.
EuroRelais adds the portfolios of holiday accommodations from Interhome, Interchalet, Wolters TUI, Dancenter, Holiday Home and Travelhorizon. Booking.com hotels are also offered on the site.
January
Belvilla launches a massive television campaign on Dutch television.
Casamundo advertises on television in Germany.
‘Swimming’ TV commercial by Belvilla nominated for Gouden Loeki.
EuroRelais launches www.eurorelais.fr in France.
March
Travelution travel magazine nominates Belvilla’s campaign for the ‘Campaign of the Year 2010’.
April
the @Leisure Group reintroduces the Ardennes Relais brand, the leading holiday home specialist in the Ardennes, with a local support office in Coo.
June
Casamundo allows rental car bookings through its site.
July
@Leisure NH acquires I-Rent in Javea, the provider of a software package that allows homeowners and local agents to manage accommodations and publish them online.
October
The @Leisure Group acquires 100% of shares in Casamundo.
November
@Leisure NH launches www.chalets.nl, a website specialising solely in winter sports.
Casamundo.cz goes online.
December
Indonesia and Curacao are the latest destinations added to EuroRelais .
2011
January
EuroRelais.nl launches a TV commercial on Dutch television.
February
Casamundo advertises on billboards in Baden Würtemberg
Belvilla website is nominated for the ‘Travel Website of the Year’ by Travelution travel magazine.
@Leisure launches www.vakantieparkenineuropa.nl, a website specialising in holiday park bookings.
Casamundo.sk goes online. Casamundo offers accommodations from 130 holiday home providers.
March
EuroRelais.be proclaimed by Testaankoop (Belgian Consumers' Association) to be the 'Best Website for Booking Holiday Homes'.
EuroRelais launches www.Eurorelais.de in Germany.
June
@Leisure opens an office in Amsterdam, where I-Rent activities are to be coordinated from now on. The holding also establishes itself in Amsterdam and closes the office in Heerhugowaard. The EuroRelais brand is managed from Hamburg from now on.
Casamundo rated best in test in ‘Getested.de’ in a comparison with other holiday home portals.
December
Casamundo receives the rarely awarded “very good“ rating from TÜV Saarland- Prüfsiegel (quality seal).
2012
January
@Leisure Group takes over pureholidayhomes.com Ltd, one of the leading platforms in the UK
Belvilla airs its first TV ad in Flanders