The Journey

Goldnest Property Management has undergone a transformative journey, expanding its operations from managing 30 properties in 2021 to overseeing a portfolio of 200 high-end properties across multiple markets today. This rapid growth is a testament to Goldnest’s forward-thinking approach and its commitment to revolutionizing the property management industry.

Fueled by a vision of building a tech-enabled, data-driven property management company, Goldnest has strategically invested in advanced technologies and innovative solutions. This focus on leveraging technology and data has allowed the company to enhance operational efficiency, deliver superior guest experiences, and drive profitability for property owners.

Goldnest’s success is rooted in its ability to adapt and scale, embracing digital advancements to stay ahead in a competitive market. By continuously evolving its technology stack and integrating cutting-edge tools, Goldnest is setting new standards for property management and positioning itself as a leader in the industry of the future.

What’s Unique about Goldnest Property Management?

Goldnest stands out for its innovative vision of balancing technology with a personal touch in short-term rentals, seamlessly integrating these elements into their operations. The company has developed an in-house “connective tissue,” a comprehensive system that integrates all necessary tools for an optimal short-term rental operation and guest experience. This integration minimizes the need for extensive human involvement while maintaining a high standard of hospitality.

Goldnest’s approach effectively addresses the common challenge of fragmented hospitality technology by unifying various operational aspects into a cohesive platform. This “connective tissue” ensures that technology supports rather than disrupts the guest experience, providing streamlined operations that enhance efficiency without sacrificing the personal touch that high-end hospitality demands.

By balancing advanced automation with thoughtful human interaction, Goldnest not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures that each guest receives a personalized and memorable experience. This innovative strategy positions Goldnest as a leader in the industry, demonstrating how technology and personal service can work harmoniously to achieve excellence in short-term rental management.

The Role of Enso Connect: Digital Guest Experience

Enso Connect’s AI-powered guest experience platform plays a pivotal role in Goldnest’s technology ecosystem, streamlining guest communications, remote access, upsells, payments, and more through “if this then that” smart automation and AI.

How They Made It: Live Chat 

As part of the partnership, Enso Connect and Goldnest Property Managementwill co-host a live webinar on May 29th at 10am EST, sharing insights on leveraging technology to build a future-proof short-term rental management company.

About Goldnest Property Management 

Goldnest is a boutique property management company transforming short-term rental experience in Texas. Founded 7 years ago, the company manages over 200 luxury properties in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

With over 20,000 five-star reviews, Goldnest excels in comprehensive property management using advanced Prop-Tech analytics to maximize returns. Their cutting-edge technology and meticulous attention to detail ensure exceptional owner and guest experience in the Texas market.

Find us on: Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or website:  https://goldnest.co/ 

About Enso Connect

Enso Connect is an AI-powered guest experience platform that empowers short-term rental professionals and hoteliers to digitize and monetize guest experience. The company’s solutions leverage AI, smart home integrations, data and “If This Then That” automations to personalize and simplify guest interactions from inquiry to check-out and beyond.

Find us on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube or website: https://ensoconnect.com/

McGowan Scott Properties, a unique digitally-run vacation home, deeply rooted in the local community

A real estate agent, tech consultant and avid world traveler, Taylor Scott has been managing a unique property in Chautauqua, NY for the last two years. Together with her husband, Taylor has created a hospitality business, committed to a remarkable vacation experience available to all.

During their travels, the couple stayed at various Airbnb and VRBO properties, dreaming about hotel-like service in these rentals. These adventures inspired the idea of their own property company, providing a great experience and connecting to the local community. They plan to expand their portfolio and build a rental management company, a property management business, leaving up to high guest expectations.

Taylor and her small team are focused on providing a truly remarkable rental experience, leaving a long-lasting impression. At the same time they envision making vacation in Chautauqua available to more travelers by keeping the rates at a lower cost.

The business model: beyond selling space

Taylor’s vision of immersive experience and affordable pricing leans a lot on ancillary rental income. McGowan Scott Properties is much more than a place to stay, it’s a gateway to Upstate New York. Such vacation homes open up the area to new visitors, who spend money on experiences, supporting the local community and making life-long memories.

The company has agreements with local businesses, getting a cut every time guests buy products or services. Taylor calls it ”a triple win”. “Guests get to experience the best of Chautauqua, businesses get exposure to new audiences and we enjoy the passive income.”

Taylor Scott’s ancillary revenue strategy is built on organically integrating upsells into the guest journey. They offer personalized add-ons to meet the guests’ needs exactly when they need those products and services.

Guests can explore the surroundings with rental micro mobility options, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, available in-house. Water lovers can hop on a boat trip, departing right from the deck anytime they want.

There is even a little pop-up closet store in one of the rooms, displaying cosmetics and clothing items from local brands.

Guests can book and pay online for all add-ons in the vacation home, in just a few clicks. The guest communication in rental units is mostly digital. However, when people have questions, they can always talk to Taylor via a phone call or online chat. She can even come by if needed. But most of the time the service is completely contactless with no wait times or delays.

Partnering with local businesses, creators and brands

“We team up with local brands and constantly look for new cool partners to send guests’ satisfaction through the roof”, says Taylor.

The company has affiliate partnerships, allowing to provide a better experience and generate additional income for the business.

“Right now I am pitching brands for partnerships and collaborations”, says Taylor Scott. “In the future we’d love brands to come to us looking to feature their offerings in front of our guests. Something like: “We’ve got a crazy trampoline for the water and we want you to put it at your lake house”.

How tech works for McGowan Scott Properties: step-by step analysis

So how McGowan Scott Properties are using Enso Connect and how it works? Here is the step-by-step analysis of their digital guest journey with Enso Connect best tools, new features and partners.

Conclusion

The future of the hospitality industry is digital. However, technology can be overwhelming and confusing for operators, small and big as one.

Enso Connect makes it easy for Taylor Scott and many other short-term rental professionals to grow their businesses. We help unique hospitality operators scale without ‘growing pains’.

The story of The Laundry Rooms

What started as a single unit above The Laundry Designs studio has rapidly transformed into a high-end extended-stay residential hotel brand, reimagining short-term accommodations. Described as “not a hotel and definitely not your cousin’s Airbnb,” this new hybrid model is reshaping the landscape of Ontario’s rental market by combining the convenience and consistency of hotels with the flexibility and personal touch of short-term rentals.

The concept is designed to offer business travelers, remote workers, and long-term vacationers a unique blend of luxury and home-like comfort. Unlike traditional hotels, these extended-stay units feature stylish, fully equipped living spaces, catering to guests who want more than just a room—they seek a place to live and feel at home, whether for a week or a month.

After the brand’s highly successful debut in Waterloo, launched during the pandemic when the demand for safe, flexible accommodations surged, the company has quickly expanded, rolling out its second location in Hamilton. The brand’s rapid expansion reflects the growing popularity of this hybrid model, which caters to the increasing number of travelers and professionals seeking accommodations that combine the best of both worlds.

Looking ahead, the company has an ambitious growth plan, with at least four more locations planned across Ontario. This expansion will solidify its presence in key markets, introducing its high-end extended-stay experience to more cities and reinforcing its position as a leader in the evolving short-term rental industry.

The Laundry Rooms’ vision of high-tech, light touch hotel

The Laundry Rooms’ vision is to marry the two worlds of luxury hotels and short-term rentals. Their accommodations are bright and vibrant and are located in secondary cities, where there aren’t a lot of cool places to stay. 

Brand’s accommodations are in amenity-rich buildings in central, walkable and public transit-accessible locations near employment, entertainment, education and health hubs.

Guests enjoy fully furnished residential suites with full stacked kitchens along hotel-like services and amenities. The design-forward “hometels” feature swimming pools, gyms, yoga studios, co-working spaces, a ground-floor restaurant and a coming-soon rooftop patio.

The Laundry Rooms is a technology-driven business, incorporating tech solutions to digitize and personalize guest interactions and create efficiencies.  The company is using Mews property management software and the Enso Connect integration for guest experience management.    

Discussing The Laundry Rooms’ digital guest experience

We sat down with Matthew Opferkuch, CEO and Founder, and Nicole Rodger, Marketing & Communications Coordinator of The Laundry Rooms, to gain insight into how the evolution of hospitality inspired their innovative hybrid lodging concept and how technology plays a key role in bringing it to life. The Laundry Rooms have carved out a unique space in the accommodation industry by blending the personalized experience of short-term rentals with the high-end consistency and convenience of hotels.

During our conversation, Matthew and Nicole shared how they identified a gap in the market for travelers who wanted more than just a traditional hotel stay, but with greater reliability than a standard Airbnb. “The idea was born out of the changing expectations of guests,” Matthew explained. “People want the flexibility and home-like atmosphere of a short-term rental but with the professionalism, service, and quality assurance of a hotel.”

Technology is central to the seamless guest experience at The Laundry Rooms. From digital check-ins to smart in-room technology, guests can enjoy a high level of convenience without sacrificing the personal touch. “Our tech stack allows us to automate much of the guest interaction process, making it frictionless,” Nicole added. “Guests can access their rooms via their smartphones, request services, and even find local recommendations right at their fingertips—all through a fully integrated platform.”

We also discussed the key components of The Laundry Rooms brand success. The combination of stylish, fully furnished units, strategic locations in urban centers, and a commitment to providing a unique and luxurious stay has set the brand apart in the rapidly evolving hospitality landscape. Additionally, partnerships with local businesses and services have enhanced the guest experience by offering curated, insider experiences.

Looking ahead, Matthew and Nicole are excited about the brand’s expansion plans. With a successful launch in Waterloo and Hamilton, the future looks bright. “We’re just getting started,” Matthew remarked. “Our goal is to expand to at least four more cities in the near future, all while staying true to our vision of offering premium, flexible accommodations that redefine the guest experience.”

As they continue to grow, The Laundry Rooms are poised to become a major player in the hybrid lodging market, combining hospitality, technology, and local flair to meet the needs of modern travelers.

What is the hybrid accommodation concept of The Laundry Rooms?

When we founded the company in 2019, we really wanted to take advantage of everything that is great about residential apartments and hotels, and marry the two. 

We apply all of the brand standards you’d expect in a great hotel, like Four Seasons, Marriott, Ritz Carlton, so that there is a consistency in service and quality across our entire platform.

We hire professional hoteliers who manage and operate our buildings. 

On the other hand, we also provide all of the benefits of short-term rentals.

In our Hamilton location you’ve got 800 square-feet suites that include in-suite full kitchens and laundry facilities. Plenty of space to work and relax and feel at home away from home. 

We apply our brand standards across the entire platform so our guests can rest assured they’ll find the same service and the same level of amenities in any of The Laundry Rooms locations.

And that’s where we’ve really carved out a nice little niche.

What challenges do you face as modern hoteliers in a post-pandemic world?

There are three main challenges all hospitality operators face in a post-pandemic world:

• labor is really tight
• costs have gone up significantly 
• and our guests’ expectations are extremely high. Much higher than they were pre-pandemic.

How do you balance the conflicting areas of labor shortage, high costs and growing guest expectations in hospitality?

Technology and digital guest experience is the answer to all three of these challenges. 

We incorporate “light touch” management, allowing guests to minimize interactions with staff if they choose, including remote check-in, keyless entry, virtual concierge and on-demand housekeeping services.

We don’t have a concierge or front desk agent, standing at a desk eight hours a day, just waiting for the guest. There is only one team member who greets our guests on arrival, and then for the balance of their stay. Guests use Enso Connect’s capabilities to converse with that one employee, who can juggle both concierge, front desk, and housekeeping when necessary.

So we’re becoming much more efficient than a conventional hotel ever would have been.

At the Laundry Rooms our team members are all former Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton luxury hotel employees. We’re accustomed to providing an extremely high level of service. In our case however, we do it with roughly 10% of the staff of a conventional hotel. And Enso Connect plays a really significant part in that.

It’s a single platform, a unified communication tool that effectively allows us to leverage all of that technology and provide those same levels of service with a significant reduction in employee count.

What was the process of choosing the right guest experience tech solution that fits your business? 

Initially when we were looking for a tech solution, to be completely honest we were really just looking for something to help us out with our door hardware. 

That’s when we landed upon Enso Connect, which took it to a completely different level. Enso really is a one-stop-shop for the guest experience. From pre-arrival, check-in, check out and everything in-between.

We can provide our guests via the Boarding Pass, with everything they need to know about, not just our building, but everything around the neighborhood. The best place to get a coffee, the best place to get your haircut, where to walk your dog – all in one simple web-based guest app.

How does your team benefit from using the Enso Connect guest experience platform? 

Not only does Enso Connect elevate the guest experience, but it also streamlines our experience. Our team is able to do everything – all in one platform, from communicating to setting up automations, marketing and so much more.

Enso Connect’s automation and customization capabilities allow us to create automated flows tailored to the needs of our business. For example, we don’t have to manually verify guests or send them to different softwares to complete the process. The flow is included in the Boarding Pass, allowing us to control the steps and avoid tedious situations or human error.  

How was the onboarding and implementation process with Enso Connect?  

Onboarding with Enso Connect was quite simple. It was an easy program to get used to. If I had any questions I could reach out and ask, but I found it pretty simple to navigate around myself. 

I was able to set up a lot of things on my own. It all worked pretty seamlessly.