Podcasts
VRS411 – Bringing Luxury & Disruption to a Traditional Market – Spotlight on Jayne’s Cottages
It’s a daunting prospect for any new property manager to come into an established market and throw the doors open to a new idea. Jane McCaw did this with Jayne’s Cottages, which after 7 years has built to 300+ properties and is growing daily.
She has done this with a combination of drive, determination, a deep knowledge of her market, and a dedication to providing the highest standards attainable.
The rental market in Ontario, Canada, has followed a similar pattern for decades. Supply waterfront rental cottages to a domestic market in the strong July/August season on a traditional self-catering model. Until recently, it has been the norm for guests to be asked to provide all their own bed linens, and leave the property in an 'as-found' condition, and in fact many managed and independently rented cottages still follow this model, regardless of the price point.
Jayne’s Cottages disrupted this by adopting a ‘We do everything’ strategy from the get-go. While new companies often grow inventory at the start with limited criteria for acceptance, Jayne went in another direction seeking out luxury properties for a discerning worldwide market.
What she offered property owners was a completely hands-off experience, not common in this very rural market.
In this episode Jayne talks about her philosophy behind the success of her company; the challenges she faced – particularly in logistics and staffing, and her goals for the future.
She shares:
- How a booking with a luxury rental company inspired the idea for Jayne’s Cottages
- The first owner acquisitions from a cranberry festival
- The strategies to attract new owners and the ‘We do Everything’ edge
- Her philosophy on the ‘decentralized five-star hotel experience at a cottage’
- The value of media coverage for credibility
- The relationship between PMS and CRM and a novel way of managing the business
- Challenges with staffing and the benefits of hiring from the hotel industry
- Why networking is beneficial and the value of having a mentor
- Her goals for the future of Jayne’s Cottages
Links Mentioned:
Jayne's Cottages
How Jayne’s Luxury Cottages became a top name in real estate rental
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