This month, FIX Linens is privileged to highlight a spectacular partner property that checks all the boxes in the short-term rental department. Nestled along the banks of the Hocking River in Southeastern, Ohio, Hideaway on the Hocking is a property that seems almost magical. For guests, this scenic get-away offers endless options and adventure, but for the prospective or active host, Hideaway is a property chock full of inspiration. Hosts Brent and Cindy Hayes not only provide an amazing example of how to take a property and create something innovative and inviting, but their management style and technique exhibit how the small things and personal touches can make the biggest difference. From the aesthetic of each of their thoughtfully designed properties, to their immersive website, the Hayes’ could teach a master class on how to win guests and influence the STR market.
A Property with a Heart
The origin story of the Hideaway on Hocking reads a little like a Hallmark movie plot- and we are so here for it! In 2020 the Hayes family was experiencing a perfect storm- COVID was going strong, Brent and Cindy had just sold their business, and Brent’s mother, the family matriarch, was battling cancer. All of these factors lead to the Hayeses spending more time on the family homestead, A 2,500 acre farm in Guysville, Ohio. Through seven generations this farm had endured and served as a safe haven for the family, and in 2020, nearly 150 years later, it became Brent and Cindy’s mission to preserve this land and its heritage by reimagining what it could be. It started with a single cabin and within four years grew into an active retreat with features that unfold like a never-ending story. Now boasting nine properties with more in the works; this property ups the game from a stay over to a full blown experience.
Provide More Than a Stay- Provide an Experience
As host and owner Cindy Hayes states, “Each one (of our properties) is different and unique. All were decorated paying homage to their history and location within the landscape.” Guests who book their stay with the Hayes family can choose to stay in one the beautifully curated river front cabins, all of which have their own special features to appeal to a variety of guests and interests. The Mill, the Bridge and the Falls all pay homage to the natural landscape but also include unique art pieces and luxury features like heated floors and amazing outdoor spaces. Guests looking for something a little more unusual might opt to spend their stay in one of the 5 restored train cabooses- each with their own theme. Their names match their brightly painted exteriors and also hint to the decor and features inside. Guests looking for a larger space with the same historic flair can book The Depot- a restored and transplanted train depot that dates back to 1890. This property is bustling with charm with original wood accents like the ticket windows and a 300 foot covered porch where guests can catch their next nap.
In addition to the main rental properties, the 2,500 acres also includes hiking trails, ponds, a community pavilion and various "hideouts" that provide guests with time and space to take in the views around them and develop a love and appreciation for the property that mirrors that of the family that has called it their stomping grounds for decades. Stitching the whole property together is the Hocking River that attracts wildlife and fosters endless adventures for the lucky guests who book a stay.
All the Small Things
While it may seem Brent and Cindy have embraced the mantra “go big or go home”, this family owned farmland doesn’t just thrive on the features of the property itself. What sets this property apart is the Hayes’ focus on the small details and personal connections- which Cindy says is a huge aspect to consider for new or prospective hosts. “Make a personal connection with your guests whenever possible... ideally before they arrive. Couple this with little details (they REALLY matter and don't cost much more) and look at each guest's stay as an "experience" versus simply a place to sleep, and they will be back. You are now something more than just a name to your guests. They feel they know you and are more likely to take care of your property, give a good review and roll with the inevitable hiccups that come with rentals. The "experience" can simply be the detail you put into making it feel homey and getting ahead of any questions they may have. If you invest the extra time to do these simple things at the beginning, they pay off exponentially in the long run”. We see these ideals woven throughout the property in the carefully selected and curated finishes, furnishings, and decor. Even as a relatively young operation, Cindy reports that they have a high percentage of rebookings and attributes this to treating their guests like family from check in to check out. “Again, I think it goes back to being more than a “Host" on paper but putting a face or even just a voice to the name. Ideally, Hideaway will be a place that our guests look forward to visiting annually”.
Staying Versatile, Visible and Visionary
While Cindy and Brent do utilize AIRBNB for bookings, they also maintain their own website. With easy navigation, eye-catching graphics, and envy-inducing photos of their expansive property, Hideaway on the Hocking’s site is what guests need and what hosts should try to achieve. This site is a one stop shop where guests can not only book their stay, they can learn about the property’s trails and natural features and add over 20 different experiences that range in price and scope. There is something for everyone; from guided meditation, to private concerts and even a chance to churn your own homemade icecream, all of the offerings can be booked through the site and have been selected by the Hayes’ to help their guests fall in love with The Hideaway and to connect with nature and each other. We loved the whimsical map included on the site that looks like it was ripped out of the end pages of a storybook and would leave any guest with the urge to experience and explore what the Hideaway has to offer. “Guests are able to have a quiet experience or travel with family and friends, each with their own lodging, but community spaces to gather. Hideaway is just that ... a hideaway ... a place to escape the busyness of everyday life, slow down, appreciate your surroundings, and get a great night's sleep.”
Teaming with Success
Another element of short term rental hosting that the Hayes family seems to have mastered is how to manage multiple properties and all the work that goes into them. From check-ins to turnovers to maintenance and customer service, managing this resort style property seems like it would take an army- and this is somewhat true. Cindy expressed that a challenge for their business and one that many new property owners may experience is figuring out how to run daily operations. Most hosts find that running a STR business is difficult to do alone, and the quicker you find a trustworthy team to help you along the way, the more successful your business will become and the happier your guests will be. “At the beginning, you don't know what the issues will be but having a team that you have developed relationships with, ones who you can count on, who know what to do and how to do it in line with your brand is priceless. It's not easy and takes time to do, but it is a real blessing when you find these people who you know will handle whatever problems come up.”
Hideaway on the Hocking is not just a testament to a family that has worked hard to achieve a goal and a dream, but it is also a property that sets a high standard for the industry. Ever changing and growing, the Hayes family and their team has constructed a property and a business from the ground up that exhibits what happens if you take a short term rental to the next level. FIX Linens is so proud to team up with such amazing people who have developed a brand that offers the very best of everything to their guests and the STR community.
Want to find out more? Check out the website.
https://hideawayonthehocking.com
Want to check out how you can take your STR property to the next level? Visit us at fixlinens.com or on our socials to learn more about FIX Linens and to see how you can up your hosting game.
Written by: Cary Ballard - Freelance Writer for FIX Linens
* all images courtesy of https://hideawayonthehocking.com