Behind the Stays

From HGTV Producer to STR-Tech Start Up Founder — Meet Annie Sloan

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. 

How They Built a Luxurious, Eco-Friendly Escape in the Canadian Forest — The Hinter Story.

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. 

How They Built a Tiny Cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains

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. 

 

From Serving in Afghanistan to Hosting on Airbnb: Meet the Founders of Seasons‘ Yield Farm

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.

 

How She Transformed a Horse Barn into an Enchanting California Airbnb Retreat

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. 

How They Launched an Airbnb Glamping Resort for Under $700

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.

How to Build a Modern Mountain Home That Stands Out on Airbnb

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.

How They Built Bespoke Airbnbs to Help Fund Their Goat Dairy: The Story Behind Big Picture Farm

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. 

How to Transform a Backyard Shed into a Luxury Airbnb Cottage

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.

How to Design a Luxury Airbnb in Harmony with Nature

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/