We’re so pumped about our conversation with Caroline Ramos. Caroline is a Founder and CEO and is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Caroline below.
Hi Caroline, so great to have you join us again. For folks who might have missed our earlier conversations, can you please take a minute to briefly introduce yourself?
Caroline Ramos is the Founder and CEO of Host & Keep, LLC. Inspired by her own real estate investments that she converted to short term rentals in 2019, Caroline decided to offer management services to friends and family. After learning the growth and revenue potential that could be made, Caroline decided to purchase more properties, renovate, design them and see how far she could increase their returns. All this, while working full time in the Hospitality Industry, as Director of Sales for Panache Events. After a few months, she realized the potential in front of her and started her own unique company and brand, Host & Keep. Within the first year Caroline was able to grow the company to manage a portfolio of 50 properties, all unique in some way. Interior design, concierge and overall guest experience have always been at the forefront of her brand.
Her professional background in Corporate America groomed her in the areas of expertise needed in the industry. She was a Business executive with a proven track record in creating, leading and executing strategies to generate revenue, profitability and efficiency. Her career was focused in the Marketing and Hospitality Industry for 13 years. She worked at global companies like Unilever, and Matomy Media Group, as well local hospitality companies like Party Rental where she led the marketing strategy, executing over 55,000 events every year, from the Met Gala to the US Open. Her passion for real estate was always there and she holds a real estate license in both Florida and New Jersey, initially to facilitate her own investments. Her family is well known for construction and development in New Jersey, which exposed her to value-add real estate models from a very young age, setting the stage for this growing interest.
Caroline is design minded and goal driven with a valuable blend of business development, creativity and marketing experience. She is used to building successful teams and revamping entire departments within companies to align towards growth, IPO or acquisition. With an entrepreneurial mindset, pairing sales, marketing, real estate and hospitality, Caroline and her team have been able to scale Host & Keep and lead the company towards expansion with international territories in the road map.
Caroline is also inspired by art and design, she is exploring this hobby and applying it to custom home construction. She is currently building her first home of this kind, ground up having worked with the architects for Ferrari cars. The project is called Legion Park Villa and it’s in the Upper East Side of Miami. It has a vacation rental unit in the design, to seamlessly incorporate the income generating component without sacrificing experience or aesthetic. The project is inspired by modern Japanese elements and Minimalism.
What are some of the challenges you face as a Vacation Rental Firm?
Operations and scale are a constant challenge in this business. At the end of the day we need to think like an investor, while thinking like a guest and thinking like a property manager in order to make all the prices work- it’s not easy but the team enjoys and welcomes the challenge!
Why do you find Vacation Rental Management to be such a need?
Vacation rental management is like property management on steroids. Its very difficult to do. Our owners on average value their time at $65 an hour. To give you an idea, managing a vacation rental taesup an average of 8 hours a week. I dont know of any client of mine that would like to dedicate that amount of their time to short term rental management, per property! We have an economy of scale and tight operations and systems that allow us to manage more efficiently and at a higher standard than a self managed asset.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Sales, design and team management. I love buildings systems and processes to be more efficient, seeing spaces transform and meeting with investors to discuss new projects.
What are some goals you have for the business over the next 2-5 years?
In 2023 we want to focus on expansion, being compliant to regulation, stronger occupancy, better guest experience, deeper density in the current markets and a strong team giving them what they need to grow. We’re hiring a few new positions and putting everything right back into this company we love and believe in so much.
If your day to day was a movie, what movie would it be and why?
Everything, everywhere all at once.
Thank you so much again for sharing all of this with us. Before we go, can you share with our readers how they can connect with you, learn more or show support?
www.hostandkeep.com Book a stay with us with a special offer STAYHERE10 for 10% off
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hostandkeep.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOSTANDKEEP
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/host-and-keep-vacation-rental-investments-management/?viewAsMember=true
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/host-and-keep-miami-2
