67 - Carrie Donaldson on the pivotal role that nurturing community plays in any successful hosting practice
Description
Carrie Donaldson has come full circle in her life more than a handful of times.
Having spent a couple of decades in the tourism, events and marketing sector, in Tasmania, Victoria and internationally, she has a masterful grasp on the various factors that need to come together to make a destination ‘sing’ to prospective travellers. She also knows how vital it is to involve and consult local communities in the process.
Flash forward to 5 or so years ago, when Carrie, her husband Luis and their teenage son found themselves with a small portfolio of properties on Yorta Yorta country in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria.
Having recently embarked on Sarah Andrews’ Hosting Masterclass, she went on “level up” two of these properties into phenomenally successful short-term rentals, with the second of the two – the captivating Storekeeper’s House in the Victorian township of Tatura – going on to feature on the June, 2022 cover of Country Style magazine.
More recently, in response to floods that have permeated that same region, she opened up both properties to displaced local community members to take refuge in, a decision made in alignment with her ethos that what you give to your local region as a host or business owner, you ultimately get back.
Carrie has long been on my wishlist of podcast guests and it was a real honour and a privilege to chat with her last week. Please enjoy.