Today we’d like to introduce you to Noelle Champagne and Tom Evental.
Hi Noelle and Tom, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started The Guesthouse Collection in 2017 as a project meant to elevate the traditional vacation rental experience through experiential design and hotel-like guest service. We saw a gap in the market. Even though South Florida already had plenty of homes for rent, not many were unique. Guests didn’t just want to stay in someone’s home with a couple of pictures of turtles, Ikea furniture, a mediocre cleaning, and minimal supplies. They wanted unique accommodations, lighting fast communication, sparkling clean spaces, and hosts who could show them the best of the city.
Together, we have extensive experience in real estate, property management, hospitality, retail, design, and construction so it seemed like the right fit given our combined skill set. We decided to start by designing The Captain’s Quarters which gave a nod to the prevalent boating community here in Fort Lauderdale. The raw structure itself was nothing special and honestly, it lacks the traditional amenities that make a good vacation rental like a pool or hot tub, but it was immersive and fun and travelers gravitated to the whimsical design. The rest, as they say, is history.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s such a labor-intensive business and despite what you read, managing short-term rentals is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s great to leverage other real estate investments if you don’t have the money to invest in real estate yourself but if you want to do it right, it means taking a very hands-on approach with quality and consistency at the forefront of your efforts.
Although we feel now we have it down to a bit of a science, there is no shortage of surprises and new challenges every day. You are essentially available 24/7 for your guests and there is a constant influx of changing/ shifting regulations, naughty renters, fraud, and high-stress/time-sensitive situations. If you arm yourself with the right tools these things get easier to deal with over time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We specialize in elevating the experience of staying in an Airbnb. There are many property management companies to choose from in South Florida. The reason we can differentiate ourselves from everyone else is by creating spaces that emphasized design, comfort, value, and hospitality.
The short-term rental market has lost a ton of interest from guests who have been burnt by inconsistent hosts in the past. It’s a bit of a double edge sword on our side because it allows us to stand out but also, it drives people away from the space that want more reliable and consistent service from the place they choose to stay. And honestly, we get it, that’s why we created The Guesthouse Collection in the first place. We recommend only booking with super hosts (Airbnb), premier partners (VRBO), and highly rated hosts.
Extra touches, lightning-fast communication, and quickly executed maintenance requests go a long way in this business. Today there at 40% more Airbnbs in Fort Lauderdale than there were last year at this time. A successful, income-generating short-term rental must stand out.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
There are a ton of influencers in the space that are great teachers and mentors. We don’t suggest listening to one only, but listening to them all and choosing what resonates with you and your business.
There are many different ways to approach and structure that can be successful such as arbitrage or shared-profit. It’s more about what your formula is and how you can apply that to the market that you’re in. This is also a great way to network with people that are in the STR space and share tips and tricks. We highly recommend joining a Facebook group, communicating with other hosts on social media, and connecting with people locally that can help you offer more value to your guests.
Also, pay close attention to what people are criticizing about the market you are in. You’ll learn more about how to close that gap when you regularly intake the negative with the positive. Sometimes you’ll learn more from a couple on YouTube that made a video about why they stopped staying in Airbnbs than some self-proclaimed long-time hosting guru with 10 tips on how to “hack the algorithm.”
Also, never miss the opportunity to network with your guests directly during their stay. Send them personal messages addressing the reason they are staying. If you see they are traveling with kids, send them your guide on kid-friendly activities in the area. Here for a bachelorette? I’m popping those ring-shaped floats in the pool and directing you to the celebration bin full of decor in the closet.
Traveling with an infant? That pack-n-play and high-chair are set up and ready for you upon arrival. They are your biggest advocates and loyal, return-guests are the absolute best. Show them that you care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theguesthousecollection.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theguesthousecollection?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theguesthousecollection?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguesthousecollection/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GuestCollection?t=G9nIXhSWnzMNqR9S_Y3njg&s=09
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-guesthouse-collection
- Other: https://www.airbnb.com/users/148612689/listings?user_id=148612689&s=2
Image Credits
Maxson Media @maxson.media and Adam Parker @adamparkerart
