We recently spent some time with the lovely Rachel Alday, who along with her husband Rob, owns Park City based Abode Luxury Rentals. We asked her a few questions to learn more about their thriving business, the gorgeous properties they represent and get some advice for people looking for luxury mountain rentals. We are beyond proud to feature Abode as a founding and very first member of The Scout Guide Park City.

TSG: Tell us the history of Abode

RA: It all started almost 15 years ago, after we had met, fallen in love (with each other of course but also with this amazing mountain town & community!), married and became immersed in the real estate world. Rob initially started out his career in real estate, and we became second homeowners ourselves which began our experience working with other property management companies, but in the role of homeowners. We were shocked and overwhelmed at management companies’ mediocre results, quality of service and excessive fees. They were investor-focused rather than owner & guest-focused and were growing too fast to keep up with the caliber of service, care and sophistication required for such exceptional properties. So, we set out to create a new experience that focused on taking the homeowner’s perspective and keeping their interests top of mind, creating all around exceptional experiences for homeowners and guests alike who want to maximize their time and immerse themselves in the mountain lifestyle that we hold so dear and are passionate about sharing! 

It all started with us sitting at our coffee table, handwriting invitations to join our portfolio… We started small and stayed focused on our values and have continued to grow steadily, thoughtfully and at our own pace, to the point where we now manage almost 200 homes between Park City & Jackson Hole without ever losing sight of the goal to nurture true partnerships and individualized service to every client! It always has been and always will be a family business that puts a personal touch on everything that we do. We are also excited to have recently added Sun Valley to our portfolio of luxury homes.

TSG: What sets you apart from other luxury rental/property management companies in PC?

RA: We’re family owned and locally operated – we like to think of ourselves as sort of a mom & pop shop, which we feel is increasingly rare in the market. We present a true boutique luxury rental portfolio with the highest standards of service and quality. We’re very selective with the homes that we add to our collection and ensure that every experience stands up to our promise of luxury on every level. We’re smaller by design and are truly committed to a company culture built around trust, loyalty and lasting relationships not only with homeowners and guests but especially between our team members. We all have each other’s back, many employees that have been with the company for over 5 and even 10 years and we do all that we can to create a space for growth and opportunity.

TSG: You have locations in Park City, Jackson Hole and more recently Sun Valley. How would you say these destinations are similar and  how are they different?

RA: Jackson Hole is more remote and has a bit more extreme weather and terrain which (in general) makes for more rugged, privacy seeking homeowners and guests who demand understated luxury…our Park City team caters to homeowners and guests seeking the kind of luxury experience they can find in their metropolitan home towns but here they require it be served with a side of amazing views, easy ski access, and exceptional après experiences, often around a cozy fireplace.

TSG: Any advice for visitors when looking for a mountain luxury rental? 

RA: Start with how many bedrooms and what sort of space you will need and then narrow your search based on location preferences such as; ski access at Deer Valley or ski/snowboard access to Park City, walkable to Main Street, proximity to summer activities, etc. Next, make sure you specify if you would prefer the property to have a commonly desired amenity such as a hot tub or gas grill, etc. Views are important to a lot of guests. You can then start by searching reputable luxury vacation rental company sites (like abodeluxuryrentals.com), but platforms such as Airbnb & Vrbo can also be great places to start your search and filter by your preferences, browse photos and details of the properties that interest you, and of course you can then book through those sites. You’ll find Abode’s properties there and we get a good amount of bookings through those channels, but when browsing third-party sites, our PRO TIP would be: once you find a property that you love and that suits your needs, check the Airbnb or Vrbo listing to see if the property management company is listed and if you can find their website or contact them directly to inquire or book. Often if you book directly with the company you will save a bit of money in fees AND have a better channel for communication with their team prior to arrival. 

TSG: What is your favorite thing about Park City? 

RA: Our amazing snow and plethora of ski in ski out properties, our insanely underrated summers with cloudless skies and perfect temperatures; awesome live music and outdoor activities all year round AND all of the spectacular small businesses  and strong community culture.

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To contact Abode Luxury Rentals, head to their directory listing here.