Welcome to Behind the Stays — a podcast that shares the stories behind your favorite boutique hotels, short-term rentals, and hospitality brands and the hosts, operators, and entrepreneurs who’ve brought them to life. Every Tuesday and Friday you’ll meet the military veterans, retired flight attendants, tech entrepreneurs, school teachers, single moms, hoteliers, and real estate investors who are all, in their unique ways, shaping the future of travel and hospitality. Discover how these visionaries — from all over the world — have built stunning landscape hotels in the mountains, designed bohemian bungalows on the beach, erected eclectic off-grid and nature-immersed escapes, and so much more. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Behind the States is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance.
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Get ready to meet Amy Corbett Co-Founder of All Belong Co — a collective of short term rentals based in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Amy and her husband Marc have a rich story. The couple has been married for over twenty years and have two amazing children through the gift of adoption.
After working in campus ministry for 17 years, they left salaries and financial stability and even their community behind in order to go “all in” on their life-long side hobby of renovating houses until they could figure out what was next.
They started their first Airbnb in 2018 and the couple was instantly hooked. It became clear that creating these welcoming spaces where anyone could belong was not just a mission, but a calling for their family. They were made for this.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Amy and her family, who often feel as though there aren’t enough places where they truly “fit”, built a budding short-term-rental empire that focuses on crafting welcoming spaces not just where people can stay, but where they can truly belong.
Learn more about Amy and the All Belong Co story by visiting their website or following her on Instagram.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe, for free, here.
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
In just a moment you’ll meet Navid Safabakhsh, the creator of Safa Farms — a boutique eco-hotel featuring a collection of cabins outside of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Navid is a serial entrepreneur.
He founded an agency that helped build products for companies like eBay, Comcast, and LinkedIn before founding a company called Placeit which was a design and mockup tool for creatives that he’d eventually sell to Envato — the leading marketplace for creative assets.
After spending several years building his various businesses, Navid wanted to work on a different kind of project — a project that felt more like play and less like work and somehow conjoined hospitality with sustainability.
Tune in to hear the impressive story of how Navid designed an adventurous farm escape in harmony with the environment and ecosystem around it.
You can book your stay at Safa Farms here and follow them on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
In just a moment you’ll meet Kayla Stormont — the creator of The Apex Cabin in Big Bear, California.
When Kayla would go to a toy store or jewelry shop as a kid, and ask her mom for a trinket or a pair of earrings, her mom wouldn’t often say, “No, I’m not buying you that, you could make that yourself.”
And while she didn’t know it at the time, this encouragement would serve her well as an adult.
As a native of the Island of Hawaii, Kayla has always loved the mountains. So when she visited Big Bear for the first time after moving to LA, she knew she needed to find a way to acquire a mountain home.
Tune in to hear the story of how Kayla went from cutting drywall in a Lowe's parking lot on a Friday night to transforming a historic, 1960s A-Frame into a contemporary modern escape.
Book your stay at The Apex Cabin here and follow The Apex on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
In just a moment you’ll meet Kelly Cronin — the creator of Cronin's Castles, which is a new collection of unique short-term rentals.
Kelly has always loved to travel and refers to herself as a professional travel hacker — she once scored an $11 Southwest flight from Wisconsin to Puerto Rico!
By the time she visited all 50 states, Kelly had fallen in love with too many places…and she began to brainstorm ideas for how she might ensure that she return to some of her favorites.
And that’s when she started seriously looking into acquiring unique tiny homes that she could transform into short-term rentals.
And before long, she bought a home in Vieques, Puerto Rico…and then one in Alaska…and then another in Utah…oh, and this was all over the course of one year…while she was still living thousands of miles away from all locations in Wisconsin.
Tune in to hear the delightful story of how Kelly transformed her dream of owning a little part of the places she loves most into a reality — a reality which guests from around the world can also enjoy.
Learn more about Kelly's vision — and book one of her stays — by visiting the links below:
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
In just a moment, you’ll meet Annie Sloane — Co-Founder and CEO of The Host Co.
Have you ever been in an Airbnb and wished you could buy one of the coffee mugs, rugs, or pieces of artwork from the home?
Or perhaps wished you could order some groceries ahead of time so that you arrive to a fully-stocked fridge upon check-in?
Well, thanks to The Host Co., you now can!
Annie was an early adopter of Airbnb — she remembers when you used to have to hand cash to your host upon arrival to pay for your stay!
After working as a writer for Lucasfilm, a producer for HGTV, and a creative director at both Facebook and Twitter, Annie began thinking about doing something new.
Around this time, she reconnected with Mikel Hubbard, a former colleague from HGTV. Annie and Mikel helped launch and direct a myriad of popular HGTV shows like Curb Appeal, Landscape Smart, Color Splash, Find Your Style, and Design to Sell — so they knew a thing or two about real estate.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Annie and Mikel are building the mini-bar, concierge, and gift shop for your Airbnb.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Annie Sloane.
Learn more about The Host Co. by visiting their website at www.TheHost.co or by following them on Instagram @thehostcompany.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
In just a moment, you’ll meet Emily Padan — co-creator and co-owner of Hinter Company.
A few years ago, Emily left her career as a school teacher in Montreal to pursue entrepreneurship full time with her now husband, Mauricio.
The creative couple had a vision for building a luxurious, eco-friendly escape in the Canadian forest.
Over the next couple of years, Emily and Mauricio wrestled tirelessly with the question “what would it look like to create spaces that integrate art, nature, community, and sustainability?”
Their answer to that question proved to be Hinter. Hinter spaces are inspired by cabins in the Norwegian mountains. They use Japanese design cues and a minimalist philosophy, so, yes, they are absolutely stunning.
Every interior space is carefully crafted with a strong emphasis on what matters most to Emily and Mauricio - comfort and nature.
Tune in to hear how these entrepreneurs first brought Hinter to life in 2018, how they’ve scaled to one of the most desirable places to stay in North America, and get a sneak peak for what they have in store next.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Emily Padan.
You can book your stay at Hinter here and follow Hinter Company on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
Wednesday Dec 29, 2021
Wednesday Dec 29, 2021
In just a moment, you’ll meet Tim and Cindi Spaulding — the builders, designers, and hosts of Salamander Ridge — a charming tiny cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Tim and Cindi, along with their three children, love the outdoors — the Spaulding family are avid campers, hikers, creek walkers, and trail runners.
One afternoon, after Cindi had contracted a bad case of poison ivy, the family decided to go on a creek walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains right near the Appalachian Trail.
While wading through the stream, the couple noticed a property for sale up on the mountainside. The 2.5 acre lot was stunning, but upon further investigation they realized that a sale was already pending.
Being the optimists they are, Tim and Cindi decided to call the realtor to see if there was any chance the seller might entertain another offer…and, as luck would have it, the seller was interested.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Tim and Cindi brought Salamander Ridge, one of Airbnb’s highest-rated escapes for outdoor enthusiasts, to life.
You can book The Salamander Ridge on Airbnb and follow them on Instagram here.
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
In just a moment, you’ll meet Daniel and Fawn Shear, the founders of Seasons' Yield Farm.
Daniel, like his father before him, served in the military after graduating from college. During his first deployment to Afghanistan, his wife Fawn mailed him a book by Chad Robertson titled Tartine — a book of sourdough bread baking and recipes, but also a compelling story of one couple’s journey building a business around their passion for bread.
Daniel had always enjoyed baking, so after a second deployment, and long stretches of separation, Daniel and Fawn began seriously thinking about what it would look like to work together as a family, on a farm in a home-based food-service business.
And it was this dream that ultimately led these entrepreneurs to start the budding empire that is Seasons' Yield Farm.
Tune in to hear the enchanting story of how Daniel and Fawn started selling meat and veggies, then became a CSA, and ultimately chose to go all in on the bread and hospitality business…and yes, their gorgeous, top-rated Airbnb sits right above their bespoke, bakery and cafe.
You can book your stay at The Bread Barn here.
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
In just a moment you’ll meet Michaela Carozza, the creator and host of one of Carmel Valley’s top-rated Airbnbs.
Michaela had been in the market for a property in Carmel Valley for many years. She loved the diversity of beauty that the central California coast offered, but needed to find a place with both a main house and a second property that she could use as a rental for some supplementary income.
So, in 2011, when a 5 acre plot of land with a house and a horse barn on top of a hill became available, Michaela knew she had to jump at the opportunity. Both properties needed a lot of work, but over the course of several years, Michaela and her partner Micha poured their blood, sweat, tears, and love into transforming the horse barn into an enchanting retreat...one they’ve now shared with over 300 guests from all around the world.
Tune in to hear the story of how Michaela brought the rustic retreat that she calls the Valley Eden Barn to life.
You can book your stay at Valley Eden Barn on Airbnb, or with Michaela and Micha directly on their website.
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
In just a moment you’ll meet Alla and Garrett Hohn — the creators of The Hohnstead, which is a mini-glamping resort featuring a collection of tiny cabins about 20 minutes from Missoula, Montana.
Garrett’s father had always dreamed of buying a plot of land that the whole extended family could enjoy, so when he stumbled upon over 100 acres of untouched Montana forest for sale, he knew it was time to pull the trigger.
So, he called Garrett and Alla who were living in South Korea and asked if they “were in” — and, “in” they were.
The following summer, the couple built a small, rustic structure with recycled materials on the property that they dubbed “The Shanty”, and it wasn’t long before Alla asked Garrett and the rest of the family a question that would change their lives forever, “what if we listed the Shanty on Airbnb?”
Everyone thought she was crazy!
Tune in to hear the compelling story of how the Hohn family built an incredibly unique oasis of tiny cabins that hundreds of guests from all over the world have since come to enjoy.
Book your stay at The Hohnstead here.