About Killington Mountain Homes
Founded by tech industry veteran Holly George, Killington Mountain Homes grew from a single second home in Vermont into a thriving short-term rental business managing over 70 high-performing properties. After exiting her previous company through a successful private equity acquisition, Holly applied her entrepreneurial acumen to hospitality—building a business rooted in exceptional guest experiences, operational control, and data-driven growth.
With a team that includes in-house cleaners, a dedicated laundromat, and a reputation for consistent 5-star stays, Killington Mountain Homes has differentiated itself in the Vermont market through quality and professionalism. Now, by leveraging StayFi and Hostaway, they’re scaling with purpose—doubling their direct bookings year-over-year and setting ambitious growth targets for the future.
“You always want as much control of your own business as you can have. And direct meetings allows us to do that.”
— Holly George, Killington Mountain Homes
Key Results
- Direct booking rate increased from 5.23% to 9.69% in one year
- 7,830+ guest emails collected for direct marketing
- Q1 revenue grew from $1.61M to $2.66M YoY
- No guest complaints after implementing StayFi splash pages
- Improved network stability and coverage in condo units via StayFi
Size
Killington Mountain Homes 70+ active properties under management with plans to scale to 150+
Location
Killington, Vermont
StayFi Tools Activated
Owning the Guest Relationship with StayFi
When Holly first discovered StayFi at a Vermont STR Alliance trade show, she immediately saw the potential to collect guest data. While there were early concerns about guest friction, the team moved forward and hasn’t looked back.
“It took us a while because I was all for it. I was like, we can capture all the emails. Ultimately, we knew the database would be so valuable.”
Today, StayFi powers their guest WiFi and marketing engine. They’ve captured over 7,800 unique guest emails, which they use to run branded campaigns, push early booking incentives, and build long-term guest loyalty. Holly notes that StayFi’s splash pages have become a seamless part of the guest journey, providing a first branded touchpoint and highlighting local resources.
“We’re going to rely on the StayFi database to blast out offers. Book early now for the best selection. Book direct for the best prices.”
Why StayFi?
Streamlining Growth with Hostaway
As Killington Mountain Homes scaled their portfolio, their existing PMS could no longer keep up with the operational complexity and pace of growth. They needed a platform built for high-performing teams, one that could support automation, streamline communication, and enhance owner transparency. Hostaway emerged as the clear choice for their Property Management System, offering seamless integrations, robust features, and a powerful owner portal that made scaling not only possible but sustainable.
“We were just having trouble scaling with our old PMS. Hostaway gave us the functionality we needed to keep up with growth and serve both guests and owners better.”
Today, Hostaway serves as their central operating system—streamlining messaging, automating pre-arrival data collection, and improving owner visibility. With dozens of owners to manage, the Hostaway owner portal has become a game-changer, improving transparency and building trust.
Designed specifically for scaling property managers, Hostaway supports every layer of operations, from automation to owner reporting, helping teams like Killington grow without limits.
Why Hostaway?
Results That Speak for Themselves
Revenue & Occupancy Growth
Q1 2024: $1.61M
Q1 2025: $2.66M
Increase: Over $1 million YoY
Guest Email Collection
Total: 7,830+
Used for branded campaigns, seasonal offers, repeat booking incentives
Network Stability
StayFi’s network redundancy ensures consistent WiFi—especially in condos where devices back each other up
Direct Booking Growth
Direct bookings increased from 5.23% to 9.69% YoY
Future campaigns will focus on exclusive direct pricing and early bird promotions
Operating at a Higher Standard
Killington Mountain Homes stands out through full operational ownership, from cleaning to laundry to guest service.
“We have our own laundromat. We have our own linens. We have our own cleaners. We feel like that really differentiates us.”
This hands-on model has fueled their near-perfect 4.95-star average and set them apart from local competitors. Many new clients have come through guests who later became property investors—proof that a great stay leads to business growth.
Leveraging Our Team to Maintain High Ratings
Lessons in Scaling
The path to 70+ units wasn’t always smooth. Holly emphasizes the importance of building systems, not silos.
“It’s just hard because you grow so fast. So you try to do everything yourself… then you abdicate too much and get to a crisis point.”
To prevent that, she recommends:
- Documented SOPs
- Repeatable training
- Delegating with purpose
She also credits books like Buy Back Your Time, Traction, and E-Myth for helping navigate growing pains and stay focused on sustainable growth.
What’s Next for Killington Mountain Homes?
Killington Mountain Homes is already working toward their next set of milestones:
- Scale to 150+ properties
- Launch a new direct booking website (with ICND)
- Offer upsells and stay add-ons
- Expand seasonal marketing campaigns through StayFi
Their goal? Drive more revenue per stay and own the guest journey end-to-end.
Final Thoughts from Holly
“I think we were always interested in doing direct bookings just to own the relationship. And in our particular market, you know, we get a lot of repeat guests.”
Holly and her team see direct bookings not just as a trend but as a strategic advantage. It enables stronger guest relationships, higher margins, and long-term stability. By combining tech, team, and tenacity, Killington Mountain Homes is proving that you don’t have to choose between growth and guest experience — you can have both.
