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PLUS CULTURE FOODSPACEESCAPESCHOOLPROPERTY

A-list stars

Michelin stars

Stellar gifts

Unique portraits ofDaniel Day-Lewis,Samuel L Jackson,

Michael Palin and more

Where they’re shining

Something for everyone

Chris Tarrant

Helen Moore

Franny Armstrong

Cocktails

As I see it

Acclaimed faux furrier

World-changing filmmaker

A taste of glamour

The Region’s Premium PublicationWinter 2016 | Issue 15 | £4.50

This autumn, Unique Home Stays celebrated 15 years of providing exclusive, luxury accommodation to discerning travellers from the UK and beyond.

To share this momentous occasion, staff and property owners gathered at the company’s newest property, a 19th century former Cornish engine house, aptly named The Stack (above), for an evening of merriment. The

‘Goldrush’ theme was inspired by the Unique Home Stays gold crown logo, and everyone who came brought their own glitz and sparkle to the party.

Guests were eager to explore the highly unusual addition to the portfolio and, armed with a glass of bubbles, embarked on a tour of the five-floor property.

The rustic interior has been enlivened with a stylish mix of statement features including a stunning hemp chandelier suspended over the three sets of stairs, a golden mirror standing from floor to ceiling in the bathroom, and the wild boar head keeping watch in the kitchen. The Stack was the talk of the party. Interior designer Jess Clark summed it up: “Whether guests arrive during the day and are taken aback by the rolling hill setting, or after dark, when the amazing building that is The Stack is illuminated, there’s a real sense of anticipation as you approach.”

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The evening was filled with live music, there were canapés and a boat bar full of Prosecco, all topped off with a finale of fireworks. The party, much like the ethos of the business, utilised a local chef from Sargies Cornish Kitchen, Newquay-based photographers Noakes and Dicioccio, and live music by local artist Joel Hurworth. There was an immense sense of pride from all, and director Sarah Stanley described what the 15 years meant to her: “Having evolved from a one-person, small front room business to a committed team of staff and owners alike, while I’m as immersed in the company as I was back when we began, I have to thank the creative and passionate team around me who have all contributed into making Unique Home Stays the company it is today. It’s so rewarding to get feedback from owners and clients alike; whether it’s potential new owners wanting to come on board, to customers holidaying with us for the first time, to like-minded companies looking to partner with us. I do feel extremely lucky and excited for the future.”

Having set up the business with an authentic ‘homestay’ in mind, inspired by her global travels staying at hosted properties, Sarah’s ‘Unique Home Stays B&B’ beginnings evolved to focus purely on self-catered stays, driven by a demand by city folk wanting to take exclusive hire of some of the UK’s most unique and characterful private homes.

What has remained at the forefront of the business is the ‘unique’ element; properties that reflect the owners’ personal taste when it comes to style. While guests expect the very best quality when it comes to the basics – from linen quality to mattress comfort – they are very much looking for hotel alternatives when it comes to interior décor; for properties that are as interesting and quirky inside as they are in terms of setting. Unique Home Stays very much encourage guests to live like a local, promoting the best of local businesses, including farm shops, family-run restaurants and hidden gem attractions. As part of the on-boarding process, Unique Home Stays works closely with every new property owner, collating ‘insider’ information into a detailed property guide to ensure that guests have a truly authentic experience.

Whilst the growth of the property portfolio is on-going, this is never at the expense of compromising on quality, thanks to a very selective membership process. The company’s dedicated Property Finding Team plays a key role in sourcing the next showstoppers to join the portfolio, Clare Towl describes what she looks for: “When it comes to the selection process for new members, we know immediately if the property has wow factor, and if it doesn’t, it’s probably not the one for us. There’s no formula, no prescriptive list of what we’re looking for, but in order for us to be able to demand the tariffs that we can, we’re unable to compromise in terms of ‘special’. Our clients have amazing homes themselves and are often looking for an escape from the everyday

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Kitchen of The Stack, Cornwall

Sarah Stanley

The evening was filled with live music, there were canapés and a boat bar full of Prosecco,

all topped off with a finale of fireworks

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The Secret Holt, Dartmoor, Devon

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Delphin, Porthleven, Cornwall

Rydon, Teign Valley, Devon

when they holiday with us, whether that’s staying in the likes of an architecturally interesting engine house or a rustic beach hut.”

Due to the exclusive nature of the homes that the company markets, you cannot book a Unique Home Stays property elsewhere. The high quality of each property within the portfolio permits healthy tariffs, but also year-round bookings, meaning that income exceeds owners’ expectations, even when factoring the 25% plus VAT commission that the company charges. Add in exceptional photography that Unique Home Stays offers, a dedicated client advisory team offering a bespoke concierge-style service, plus a team of in-house marketing specialists who generate features in publications ranging from Elle Decoration to The Sunday Times… and you have a winning formula for success.

Occupancy levels within the portfolio speak for themselves and the case studies opposite offer an example of how making use of the ‘sharing economy’ and marketing your home through Unique Home Stays can result in a thriving source of income.

Unique Home Stays very much encourage guests to live like a local, promoting the best of local businesses, including farm shops, family-run restaurants and hidden gem attractions.

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CASE STUDY ONE Sleeps 2A secluded woodland location in Devon• Luxury woodland cabin• One double bedroom and a day bedroom• Eclectic with fairy-tale interior• Two dogs welcome• Private parking• Babies in arms welcome• Log-burning fire• Perfect for couples• WiFi

The Crucials: (Achieved 2016)• Level of Occupancy: 87%• Gross Revenue in Excess of: £47,100

CASE STUDY TWO Sleeps 20A country retreat in Somerset• Luxury 16th century fashionable modern-rustic

manor• Ten super, king-size zip-and-link bedrooms• Three family bathrooms and four en-suite bathrooms• Eco-friendly enhancements• Children and babies are very welcome• Two dogs welcome• 15m indoor pool, fire pit, entertainment room

The Crucials: (Achieved 2016)• Level of Occupancy: 65%• Gross Revenue in Excess of: £249,505

CASE STUDY THREE Sleeps twoA cliff-top location in Cornwall• Luxury self-catering beach cabin • One king-size double bedroom• One walk-in shower room, heated outdoor shower

for rinsing sandy toes• Eco-friendly enhancements and hot tub• Babes-in-arms only• Two small dogs welcome• Open-plan sitting, dining and kitchen

The Crucials: (Achieved 2016)• Level of Occupancy: 80%• Gross Revenue in Excess of: £116,225

Those figures aside, Unique Home Stays provides one of the best examples of how to retain that all-important personal touch, while continually striving to offer the next ultimate escape. Most property owners meet and greet the guests themselves, or utilise a local housekeeper ‘in the know’ about the local area. Every party receives a luxury welcome hamper along with local produce on arrival (meaning you can whip up some eggs on toast after that long journey!) and the company also provides digital property guides bespoke to each property, including advice on all the best hidden gem local attractions, farm shops and independent restaurants to visit during your unique escape.

Visit uniquehomestays.com for an inspiring selection of luxury

holiday homes, or get in touch if you have or know of a property

bursting with the potential– there’ll be a hefty reward up for grabs!

Rydon, Teign Valley, Devon

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