In just one year, Dineen and Michael Peters, owners of the River Ridge Cabin, have made a name for themselves in the short-term rental industry by creating unique and memorable guest experiences. In this interview, we chat with Dineen and Michael about what they find most rewarding about their career, their favorite rental property, and their “pro-tip” for creating a standout rental. Plus, they spill the beans on their favorite HostGPO purchase! So grab a cup of coffee and join us as we get to know the hosts behind River Ridge Cabin.

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

We have owned our cabin for one year. We started our real estate journey by renovating two fixer-upper properties and immediately fell in love with the strategy and creativity that goes into crafting a thoughtfully-designed space.

What do you find most rewarding about your career?

We love staying in rental properties when we travel and we have channeled all that we have learned into designing truly special and memorable experiences for our guests and their families.

From white noise machines by each bed to ensure a restful night’s sleep to a nature scavenger hunt specially designed for our littlest guests– we believe that no detail is too small to be considered.

Nothing is more rewarding than hearing that a visit to our property has helped our guests to connect more deeply with their fellow guests while unplugging and enjoying some restorative time in Vermont’s Green Mountains.

What is your favorite rental property you have and why do you love it?

River Ridge is currently our primary rental property, but we are looking forward to future projects! 

What’s the craziest story you have from hosting?

Thankfully, we have not had any truly crazy stories so far. River Ridge Cabin is nestled in the woods of Vermont, so we get our fair share of wildlife around the property. We’ve had a black bear sighting on our hill, a squirrel that temporarily made its way into our garage, and woodpeckers trying to peck a hole in the cabin. 

Fortunately, we have not had any damage and feel that the wildlife sightings kind of add to the fun of the experience!

What’s one “pro-tip” you’d be willing to pass on to the community?

We recommend using one’s own travel experiences to inform the curation of your properties. A restorative night’s rest and the ability to prepare a nice meal are at the heart of our favorite travel experiences, so it was especially important to us to invest in high-quality mattresses, bedding, and cookware for our guests. 

We feel that quality shows and that is the more sustainable choice. And we’re pleased that this has translated into positive feedback from our guests, with many of them following up after their stays to request links to items they used during their visits.

What’s the most recent item that you can remember that you’ve ordered from HostGPO?

We’re huge fans of Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Sheets and down comforters! We can’t think of a more relaxing place for our guests to rest their heads after a day of skiing, mountain biking, or curling up by the wood stove. Waking in the light-filled cabin and easing into your day wrapped in cloud-like Brooklinen is truly a dream.

What would you tell others about whether to join HostGPO?

We learned of HostGPO mid-way through designing our cabin rental, and we just wish that we had discovered it sooner! The savings have enabled us to furnish our property with our favorite brands so that we can provide a high-end experience for our guests. Joining HostGPO is the very first thing that I recommend to other hosts.

Looking for more? Read about How to Get Rid of Leftover Guest Smells.