As the summer vacation rental season on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket is now in full throttle, booking rates continue to make a strong comeback from a slow start to the season a few months ago, according to new data released by WeNeedaVacation.com.

Vacation rental firm WeNeedaVacation.com has announced that vacation rental bookings on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are making a steady climb as the summer season moves into high gear.

Courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, here are some facts about the tourists who visit Cape Cod and the Islands.

Amid the worst economy in memory, the Cape Cod tourism industry is approaching the 2009 season with anxiety tempered by optimism. “If you allow yourself to look at the future as half empty, it will become so. You will fulfill that attitude,” says Mark Novota, managing partner of the Wequassett Resort & Golf Club.

A young entrepreneur seeks his fortune on Cape Cod

The Red Pheasant Inn is a 30-year-old fixture in Dennis Village, serving some of the finest food on Cape Cod. But patrons – both loyal and new – may not realize what it takes to sustain that excellence.

In his early 30s, Matthew Carrick has come home to Dennis to build his financial future in the most traditional of Cape Cod industries – boating.

Cape Cod and other resort areas of New England can find opportunities in record high oil prices, along with a weak dollar and slowing economy.

Cape Business spoke with new CEO of the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce, Deborah Converse.

Cape Cod’s largest town sees opportunity in arts, culture, mixed-use development and professional services focused around nearby water amenities

Once held back by restrictive town zoning and strict county regulation, Barnstable is beginning to attract smart growth downtown

Growing village-style destinations ignite intense competition as downtown Hyannis pushes to reinvent itself around its harbor

A new performing arts center could make Barnstable a cultural hub for the region

It’s never been a more competitive time for those who want to rent their house. To get the best price and make your tenants happy, consider these tips offered by Joan and Jeff Talmadge of WeNeedaVacation.com, which lists more than 3,000 Cape and Islands vacation rentals.

While Cape Cod is a destination that many people travel to, its residents also travel from the Cape to a variety of locales, domestically and internationally.

When it comes to Yarmouth’s historical offerings, Duncan Oliver wants more people to realize how much Yarmouth’s past can enhance its future.

Six years + $700,000 + thousands of hours of community sweat equity = the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Don’t forget to add vision, love, dedication and a dash of the Quixotic.

with Wendy Northcross, CEO, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and Rachel Roginsky, principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group

She is among the wave of corporate émigrés enriching the Cape. Along with her husband, Dianne Langeland has joined thousands of 45- to 65-year-olds who are saying “enough” to big-business stress and “yes” to quality of life.