Splendid Host starts with
a love story.

In the summer of 2021 I fell in love… with a house. My family and I were living in Brooklyn, NY and, like a lot of people, we took advantage of the unexpected shift to remote work to get out of the city. We spent that summer at an Airbnb in Springfield, Vermont, just down the street from a charming yellow house with a blue door, which happened to be for sale. We decided to make an appointment to see it. “Just looking.”

The house was a dream. It was built in 1802 and had been lovingly restored and renovated over the years, but still retained its original charm, including the most gorgeous pine and spruce floors I have ever seen. My partner, Eli, and I made an offer, and Summer Hill House became ours that fall.

We took a few months to furnish and decorate and listed the house on Airbnb to cover the costs of owning a second home. As a longtime Airbnb guest, I had stayed in over 20 properties around the world, so I looked back on my best stays to inspire my hosting style and amenities. In the 2+ years we shared our home on Airbnb, I maintained a perfect five-star rating from day one and earned the distinction of ranking among the top 1% of 7 million listings worldwide, based on ratings, reviews, and availability. 

When we moved to our home Vermont full time in 2024, it was bittersweet (but mostly sweet). I missed hosting and was disappointed to give up something I’d worked so hard to do so well. The wheels started turning: Could I make this a career? After spending over 15 years in B2C product marketing, I was itching for a change and looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in a more creative, less corporate environment. The timing was right. 

I made a list of all ways I could help short term rental owners find their own formula for success, looking back on the challenges, the a-ha moments, and the things I had a natural talent for. I realized I had a unique combination of experience, knowledge, and skills and could offer hosts something that few people can: a one stop shop for STR consulting, marketing, and co-hosting. 

And with that, Splendid Host was born.

— Kate McCarty, Founder of Splendid Host