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 Nov 03, 2021
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
In just a moment, you’ll meet Andrew and Bianca — founders of the Serenity Hill Group, a growing collection of luxury Airbnb escapes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Andrew and Bianca live in Boston, and while they love all that the city has to offer, their hearts have always found peace in the mountains.
Andrew grew up hiking, skiing, and vacationing in the White Mountains and dreamed of one day buying his own home in the area.
As luck would have it, one day, the seemingly perfect opportunity presented itself — a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home tucked away on a private 2-acre lot surrounded by tall pines and the crisp White Mountain air.
But, the home needed a lot of work. So Andrew, Bianca, and their families spent the next year transforming the home into an incredibly beautiful, modern escape from the city.
And while the couple had intended to make this place their permanent home, their circumstances changed and they decided to list the space on Airbnb.
Tune in to hear the story of how Andrew and Bianca learned how to build, design, and furnish Serenity Hill House and how they decided when it was time to open up their SECOND Airbnb, The Rosewood, just a couple of towns away.
Book your stay at the Serenity Hill House or The Rosewood! You can also follow Serenity Hill Group on Instagram @SerenityHillGroup.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
In just a moment you’ll meet Louisa Conrad, Co-Founder of Big Picture Farm. Big Picture Farm is a Vermont farmstead goat dairy and confectionery whose award-winning caramels have won over a dozen national awards...and while these candies are undeniably decadent, there is more to Big Picture than just the goat dairy…
After leaving their careers in academia, Louisa and her husband Lucas founded the farm in 2010. Their vision was to help their customers understand the rich context that surrounds the milk, cheese, and candies produced on the farm. They aspired to tell consumers the story behind the food in hopes that they might, well, understand the “big picture” of how, what, and who made the treats they consumed.
But Lousia and Lucas dreamed of taking things a step further...what if they could invite folks to experience the dairy? Could this be a vehicle through which they might expand their mission and help underwrite the cost of their Animal-Welfare-Approved farm?
Tune in to hear the story behind how Louisa and her husband Lucas built three bespoke residences on the farm that they now rent out on Airbnb.
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
In just a moment you’ll meet Maris LeBlanc and JR Amantea, the creators of The Little House of Essex — a chic cottage near the Connecticut River in the most quintessential of quintessential New England towns.
Maris has spent her career in real estate — mostly brokering luxury, waterfront homes along the Connecticut Shoreline. When she met her now husband, JR, he was living in New York working in finance, but his real passion lay in curating and managing classic and exotic cars.
Maris encouraged JR to go all in on his passion and, soon after, he left New York, moved to Essex, Connecticut and started GT Motor Cars — a boutique vintage and exotic car dealership, and collection management company.
And it was here in Essex where Maris and JR bought a beautiful, oversized ranch-style home which included a shed-like structure behind it. And while JR had hoped to transform this shed-like structure into a bachelor’s pad, Maris had bigger ambitions...tune in to hear the wonderful story behind the building of The Little House of Essex.
You can book your stay at The Little House of Essex here.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
In just a moment you’ll meet Laura Gentry and Carollani Sandberg — the creators of The Sagecliff Satori, a luxurious Airbnb cabin in Quincy, Washington.
Laura and Carollani are what you might call “experience optimizers”. They love to travel, try new restaurants, and explore off the beaten paths, but can’t help but do so with a critical eye. They often ask each other, “what would you do differently if you owned this space?” or “how might you enhance this experience to make it even more memorable?”
Carollani had decided that it was time to sell her townhouse and explore the possibility of a new rental property -- one that she and her family could use for short term rentals.
One afternoon, Laura and Carollani were having lunch with a few friends who worked in real estate investments and the bunch started chatting about up and coming neighborhoods in and around the greater Seattle area, but none of these areas particularly compelled Laura and Carollani.
Right before lunch wrapped up, one of their friends casually mentioned a new development out in Quincy, Washington — about 2.5 hours east of Seattle. This development was to feature a collective of luxury condos that overlooked the Columbia River Gorge.
And, while they didn’t know it at the time, that moment was the genesis of what would become The Sagecliffe Satori. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Laura and Carollani brought one of the most incredible and magical stays available on the Airbnb platform to life.
Book Your Stay: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34682157
Follow the Stay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecliffesatori
Follow the Stay on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagecliffe/
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
In a minute, you’ll meet Valerie Malone — Creator and Founder of Quill Decor, a design consultancy that specializes in short-term rentals.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
They met at a Starbucks.
Amber was working as a barista and Tyler had just moved from Utah to Tennessee. They didn't know it at the time, but just a few years later they would not only be life partners but business partners as well.
The story behind the vision and building of the Little River Tiny House — one of the highest-rated Airbnbs in all of Tennessee — is nothing short of a miracle.
Amber and Tyler Woodruff were rich with dreams, but poor in cash. Through a series of serendipitous events, the Woodruff's were able to purchase their dream home in Maryville, Tennessee — on a property that was large enough for a second home (a second tiny home that is).
Tune in to this episode of Behind the Stays to hear the remarkable story of how a young family designed, built, and promoted their first Airbnb on little more than a wing and a prayer.
You can find Amber on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/littlerivertinyhouse/
And book the Little River Tiny House here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44588661
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Meet Katie Denton — a mother of three small children and a lifelong lover of travel and fine hospitality.
On this episode of Behind the Stays, Katie shares the origin story of Bees Nees Getaways — a boutique rental home collection she founded with a focus on unique and dreamy experiences in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Northern Neck of Virginia — and explains her vision and process for cultivating spaces that aren't just beautiful, but are conducive to the creation of memories.
Katie's properties include The Treehouse and The Cottage — which can be booked directly on Airbnb and you can view photos of these beautiful homes by following Bees Nees Getaways on Instagram.
Bees Nees was named for a very special home on Gibson Island, on the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland, and the family that filled its rooms every summer.
The Patterson family made great memories within those walls and along the waters of the Bay. They loved a party, they loved to sail and they loved spending quality time with family. Even though the Pattersons no longer own the original Bees Nees retreat, they have kept up the rich tradition of family togetherness.
Learn more about Katie, her family, her story, and the future of Bees Nees Getaways by tuning in to this week's episode of Behind the Stays.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Suzie has spent most of her life working at the intersection of travel and customer service.
She traveled the world as a flight attendant for many years, before deciding to become a full-time Airbnb host.
But there's so much more to her story...
My wife and I stayed at this impeccably clean and serene cottage on Suzie and Neal’s stunning property for two weeks and instantly fell in love with this calming and beautifully inviting and decorated space.
The love, care, and thought poured into this place is unmatched. We found everything we might need and then some to make dinner prep feel like a French chef’s dream.
And, when we didn’t want to cook, Suzie’s recommendations never disappointed. But, what made this place even more magical — besides the sweet smell of lavender wafting through the air, or the crisp linens on the bed, or even the fresh cut flowers that greeted us on the kitchen table...(oh aaaaand did I mention the chic decor and rustic fire pit?) — was Suzie and Neal’s kind and warm hospitality, which made our stay truly feel like home.
If joy were a place, it would undoubtedly be The Sparrow’s Nest. Enjoy the show!
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Hey friends — hope you enjoyed today’s show! If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in! So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Alright, all — see you next time...