Diving right in
Martina Pennell and Andrew McLauchlan bought McLauchlan Manor in Clarence and moved from Calgary to operate it as part of career change
Airbnbs and VRBO vacation rentals have surged in popularity in recent years. The disruptive industry presents the appeal of unique or unconventional accommodations as an alternative to traditional hotel options, which often pride themselves on homogenous consistency.
For those who run Airbnbs, the allure of the businesses lies in the opportunity to inject personality and to customize accommodations to suit a new market of travellers.
With choices to share units in urban centres, experience the luxury of glamorous homes, or escape into a remote wilderness cabin, there are possibilities to suit every taste or requirement.
PASSION, PERSONALITY AND CLEANLINESS
Lauri Flaquer of Milton runs the Airbnb Oasis on the Mersey. She said she believes the secret to success is in the ability to inject personality into the property.
“People want something different than what they have at home,” she says.
Her ideal guest is someone seeking peace, relaxation and calm.
“They come because they want to escape from their hectic lives in the city. We designed our place specifically with these busy people in mind,” explains Flaquer. “This experience begins with the guest looking at the photos, to the welcome message I send them, throughout their stay and to the comments after the review.”
Marlene Gallant, who owns Airbnbs in Englishtown, adds she cannot underestimate the appeal of hot tubs and beautiful views. She also mentions that she places importance on a guarantee of presenting a clean, organized listing. In fact, it’s likely the factor that ensures repeat visitors.
She emphasizes the maintenance of all aspects of the property — from the grounds to the decor, furniture and overall cleanliness of the space.
“The buildings are impeccable,” she says. “I get a lot of repeat business as a result.”
NOT AS EASY AS YOU MAY THINK
Hospitality is not an industry for the faint of heart. For some, creating an enticing Airbnb is all-consuming.
Martina Pennell and Andrew McLauchlan leaped into their business, McLauchlan Manor in Clarence, when they were seeking a joint venture into which they could funnel a mutual love and passion.
Relocating from Calgary, the pair approaches their accommodations as a lifestyle, not just a business.
“We knew we wanted something different, something more, so we said goodbye to our careers, our family and friends, bought a 100-yearyoung, 4,000-square-foot home, sight unseen, in an unfamiliar province and dove directly into renovations and business planning. We absolutely, 100 per cent love it and we hope that our guests feel that pride when they enter our home,” says Pennell.
This business is also a family affair for Belinda Riles who runs the Airbnb Donnie’s House on Isle Madame with her husband, son, daughter and her daughter’s fianceé. Riles notes their passion about the history and family connection to their Airbnb translates seamlessly into a dedication to their property.
“This passion and pride makes it easy to promote it to others,” says Riles. “We are honest in our listing about what to expect from the property and we personally reach out to each guest that books to discuss their needs and our services.”
She adds they test the space themselves to ensure that it remains up to their standards.
SANITIZATION AND FUN STAYCATIONS
Unsurprisingly, COVID’s impacts extend into the realm of Airbnbs; however, local accommodations now hold the previously unforeseen appeal of providing a safe, clean space for those who might need to quarantine near home.
“Sanitizing must be diligent,” emphasizes Gallant. “I was always vigilant with the cleaning, but we obviously had to take it up several notches.”
She notes that isolation bookings were common early in the pandemic, but these days staycations are what hold appeal for many guests from within the province and within Atlantic Canada.
While travellers used to vacation abroad, many are now taking advantage of the unique accommodations available at home.
“People want to stay closer to home, yet the need to get away is even greater than before. We’re meeting those needs by providing something unique. It feels like they’re away but they’re really only under two hours from home,” Flaquer said.
As is the case with many industries, business practices will be guided by government regulations.
“Just as all business owners are doing right now, we will continue to watch for province guidelines and listen to the feedback from our guests in order to ensure their safety. Satisfaction is our top priority,” says Pennell.
COMPLEMENTING NOT COMPETING
Some critics of vacation rentals like Airbnbs and VRBO view alternative accommodations as competing with traditional hotels or bed and breakfast options, but Riles believes there are many similarities to the cottage-rental industry, which has existed for many years. The online booking platform simply offers a more secure way for guests to reserve their space and plan their trips.
“I believe the Airbnb industry complements traditional tourism accommodations. Speaking from the perspective of a whole home Airbnb, we offer something different than traditional hotels and bed and breakfasts by providing selfcontained accommodations that are often pet-friendly and have larger capacity for more guests,” says Riles.
In fact, Pennell and McLaughlin approached the opening of their space with the intention of upholding values learned from traditional tourism, with the special flavour of East Coast hospitality added to the mix.
“Although we offer bed and breakfast-style accommodations where guests already have a more personal experience with us as hosts, we also offer full house rentals, where we make ourselves scarce,” explains Pennell. “We really wanted to greet each and every guest personally with a welcoming smile, instead of leaving a key and guidebook. Although this system does work for others, for us it truly is about making our guests feel at home in our home and having that in-person connection, even if just for a moment.”