{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F50b35872-62f0-464e-a982-d1075586b8ba","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"How Kerri Gibson Said Goodbye to the Corner Office\u2014and Hello to 70% Direct Bookings","description":"What if the career you\u2019d worked decades to build was the very thing holding you back from the life you actually wanted?\n\nIn this episode, I sit down with Kerri Gibson, a former CPA who built a thriving hospitality empire in Quebec. After 22 years in tax and accounting software, Kerri\u2019s breaking point became her breakthrough when a simple house flip spiraled into seven renovated ski chalets\u2014and eventually a full-scale motel transformation.\nKerri opens up about the toll of burnout and the moments she missed with family because work always came first. She shares how she and partner Philip navigated the tricky shift from colleagues to business partners to spouses working side by side, and how a few uncomfortable conversations ultimately strengthened both their relationship and their business.\nMost impressively, Kerri has achieved what many hospitality owners dream of: 70% direct bookings through her own website\u2014without relying on OTAs. She walks us through the exact strategies she built from the ground up, plus how she infused their signature \u201chygge\u201d concept into a roadside motel, transforming it into a place where guests connect and create lasting memories.\nPacked with real-world advice and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck\u2014whether you\u2019re plotting your escape from corporate life or striving to build a hospitality business that truly reflects your values.\n\nHIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:\n\n\n[01:16] A short introduction about our guest Kerri Gibson and how she got into the world of short-term rentals\n[03:27] Kerri shares her journey from from CPA to tech leader in tax and accounting software\n[06:28] Kerri\u2019s breaking point that pushed her to leave the corporate world\n[13:20] Kerri reveals her two-question strategy for making big decisions without a support system\n[21:06] Kerri recounts her journey from renovating distressed chalets to revitalizing a roadside motel\u00a0\n[25:39]\u00a0 Kerri outlines her vision to reinvent the roadside motel experience through Scandinavian-inspired design and communal spaces\n[30:17] The challenges and growth that come from defining roles when running a business with a spouse\n[38:04] How Kerri shifted from relying entirely on OTAs to achieving 70% direct bookings\n[45:15] The power of starting early with a strategy and evolving it over time\n[48:08] Kerri talks about her self-taught marketing journey and how she strategically brought in outside expertise\n[52:39] The lightning round\u00a0\n\nGolden Nuggets:\n\n\n\u2022 \u201cFind coziness, comfort and the simplicity of the small moments of life surrounded by those that you love the most.\u201d\n\u2022 \u201cI had to learn to find space for him to be a part of the business and flourish. And as we've defined, find our swim lanes, which is super important. It's allowed us to find, like these great things that go in sync together. You know, the Ying and the Yang.\u201d\n\u2022 \u201cNever, ever, ever build your house on someone else's land, no matter how small you are.\u201d\n\u2022 \u201cYou have to create the strategy, then go implement the strategy. But without that strategy-first approach, it's just like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping that something works.\u201d\n\u2022 \u201cThere's nothing you can't do, or nothing you can't be, there's only what you're willing to work for.\u201d\n\n\nThis episode is brought to you by \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Lodgify\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060!\n\n\ud83d\udc49 Use the code STRSH20 at checkout for 20% off any yearly plan and start owning your bookings today.\n\n\ud83d\udd17 \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Visit Lodgify.com\n\nLet\u2019s Connect!\n\nLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kerri-gibson-cpaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerri_reinventedEnjoyed the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/980d6a48-fbe3-44fb-a1f4-f8c0714e3fc1/the-str-sisterhood-cover-art.jpg"}