Our History
ONCE UPON A TIME
In 2007, Gabi conceived the idea for a holiday letting agency centred on personalised service, meticulous attention, genuine care, and boundless energy, forming our business plan’s cornerstone.
OUR STORY
Since August 2022, 13 Pier Street in Ventnor has been home to the inviting H.Q. of Mermaid Holidays. Inside, amongst the comfy armchairs and freshly poured coffee, you’ll find mother and son team Gabriella Gor and 27-year-old Andor, offering outstanding Isle of Wight holiday lettings with an unparalleled level of service.
Although you'd never know it, Mermaid Holidays came from very humble beginnings, originating back in 2007 when Gabi, a former beauty store manager from the Hungarian city of Keskemét, took on her first Island cleaning job. "It was a holiday home in Shanklin, Gabi explains, "and it took me an hour to walk there with a backpack full of cleaning products. At the end of the work, I'd earned just £20, but from day one, people noticed my high standards and immaculate finishes."
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
Although you'd never know it, Mermaid Holidays came from very humble beginnings, originating back in 2007 when Gabi, a former beauty store manager from the Hungarian city of Keskemét, took on her first Island cleaning job. "It was a holiday home in Shanklin, Gabi explains, "and it took me an hour to walk there with a backpack full of cleaning products. At the end of the work, I'd earned just £20, but from day one, people noticed my high standards and immaculate finishes."
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
15 Amazing years
Although you'd never know it, Mermaid Holidays came from very humble beginnings, originating back in 2007 when Gabi, a former beauty store manager from the Hungarian city of Keskemét, took on her first Island cleaning job. "It was a holiday home in Shanklin, Gabi explains, "and it took me an hour to walk there with a backpack full of cleaning products. At the end of the work, I'd earned just £20, but from day one, people noticed my high standards and immaculate finishes."
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
Although you'd never know it, Mermaid Holidays came from very humble beginnings, originating back in 2007 when Gabi, a former beauty store manager from the Hungarian city of Keskemét, took on her first Island cleaning job. "It was a holiday home in Shanklin, Gabi explains, "and it took me an hour to walk there with a backpack full of cleaning products. At the end of the work, I'd earned just £20, but from day one, people noticed my high standards and immaculate finishes."
Soon, Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. "During this time, I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing," Gabi told us. "I saw their hidden fees, lack of customer care, and how they didn't know anything about the Island." So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm - Mermaid Holidays IOW - which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.
"At Mermaid Holidays IOW, we believe in offering more for less.' Andor explains, "Our commission is a mere 5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 15 to 20%. We don't burden our owners with setup fees and allow them the freedom to use their property as they please. Our team is always on standby, ready to assist guests 24/7, ensuring their comfort and peace of mind, even in the most unexpected situations."
Among their current 4- and 5-star properties, you'll find 'The Wight Riviera' in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, and a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. "As we grow, Gabi adds, "we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners. We have plans to expand, but one thing's for sure: we'll never compromise on quality."
- Style of Wight magazine January edition
