Meet Jessica Grundt and Paul Parmenter, co-hosts of Alpenglow Cabin—a serene rental in Broken Bow, OK, inspired by the hues of the sunrise over the mountains. Surrounded by a network of ATV, hiking, and biking trails, and just a short drive from Broken Bow Lake, this cozy retreat has a thoughtfully curated interior and luxury amenities. They have crafted a space that invites guests to unwind and reconnect with nature while enjoying all the comforts of a modern getaway. See how HostGPO has played a role in bringing their vision for this tranquil haven to life and why they believe it's a must-have for any host.

How long have you been in the short-term rental industry, and how did you get started?

We started our STR journey about a year ago, and Alpenglow Cabin is our first rental property. We had been interested in building our real estate portfolio for several years and have spent the last couple of years researching STRs and various nearby markets. We finally pulled the trigger last year with Alpenglow Cabin in Broken Bow, OK.

What inspired you to choose Broken Bow for your first rental property?

We live in Dallas, TX, and during COVID, we made several trips up to Broken Bow, OK to escape the city and get into nature. We loved the area, so it was naturally one of the first markets we researched when looking into our first short-term rental property. 

How do you ensure your guests have a unique and memorable experience?

Our vision for the cabin was to create a warm, welcoming ambiance where visitors can feel at home, but also provide luxury amenities for an unforgettable experience. Being nature lovers ourselves, we wanted the cabin design to reflect the serenity of the outdoors, combined with a modern aesthetic. 

You completed this project with our design partnerships program. What was the most significant benefit of going through the program?

We utilized the partnership with the Williams-Sonoma design program to help pick out some of the foundational design elements and furniture. From there, we worked together to find design pieces that blended utility and aesthetic for our short-term rental. In addition to these resources, the group purchasing organization allows for phenomenal pricing across multiple brands. This allowed us to mix and match items directly from the HostGPO website while having access to wholesale (or better) prices.

What do you love the most about being a host?

We love being able to curate memorable experiences for our guests. Whether they seek a relaxing retreat or an adventurous weekend, we aim for our cabin to be the ideal base for their stay.

Can you share a particular moment or guest review that made all your hard work worth it?

We take great pride in our cabin and work hard to make every stay worthy of a five-star review. We love it when our guests provide unprompted feedback about the amenities and cabin design. One of my favorite moments was when a guest loved our living room design so much that she wanted to know the sources of several pieces of furniture and rugs.

What are three tips for other hosts?

1. Invest in a good cleaner: We are willing to pay more for a high-quality, reliable cleaner. There are few things worse than having a bad review for cleanliness.
2. Know your market: This will help tailor your STR design and amenities to suit your demographic. For example, our market is largely comprised of families; as such, we made sure to have a full arcade/game room and a playground set with outdoor games
3. Remember this is a hospitality business: In addition to being a prompt, responsive host, guests appreciate small touches like personalized recommendations. For example, one couple rented our cabin for their honeymoon after they were married. As a thank you, we sent them a small, complimentary charcuterie board. 

What are your favorite products that you’ve purchased through HostGPO and why?

We have enjoyed everything we ordered through HostGPO, honestly. We ordered most of our furniture from either Pottery Barn or West Elm and I appreciate that these brands are able to blend quality products with affordable pricing. For some of our smaller design elements, such as rugs and lamps, we were grateful for our HostGPO coordinator Jen's recommendation to check out RugsUSA. I wouldn't have considered looking there for lamps, but their selection is excellent and features lamps that look much more expensive than they actually are.

Why do you love HostGPO?

Again, I really appreciate that the group purchasing organization allows for wholesale or better pricing across multiple, well-known brands. HostGPO serves a one-stop shop for furniture, design accessories, and even toiletries. The brands are varied across style and pricing, so there is something for everyone's taste and budget. Lastly, HostGPO's coordinators were always very responsive and helpful throughout the entire process. I highly recommend HostGPO for anyone's STR needs, whether veteran renters or newcomers like us!

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