Meet the Entrepreneurs Who Convinced 4,000+ Homeowners of the World’s Finest 1% of Homes to Lend Them their Keys
Then, StayOne‘s Founders Convinced Mandarin Oriental To Open Their Door to Them After Only 2 Years in Business.
Investment bankers Jorge Munoz and Thomas Bennett owned beautiful homes that sat for much of the year unoccupied because of their busy work travel schedules. They thought of making money renting their homes by using existing home rental platforms, but had heard of so many concerning stories from guests and renters that they were hesitant. Then, they thought — what if there was a platform that had an exclusive membership and extra security checks?
So, after testing an idea they had with a long vacation to Costa Rica, they left their jobs as Managing Directors for Barclays Asia and, in 2018, launched the exclusive membership platform of StayOne, creating a vetted community of like-minded travelers and implementing higher standards and security checkpoints.
They’ve since gained the trust of 4,000 like-minded homeowners — who own the finest 1% of vacation homes in more than 70 countries — to share their keys and become members of StayOne. These homeowners were wooed by their checkpoints, including:
- StayOne individually handpicks every home in their portfolio
- All the homeowners are known personally
- Each home has to pass a 300-point quality check to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards
- All potential renters are vetted so that owners can welcome guests with confidence
Mandarin Oriental was so impressed with the safe and exclusive platform Munoz and Bennett created, they invested in StayOne in 2020. Then, in 2022 they partnered with StayOne to create Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes and unique experiences.
StayOne features a curated collection of one-of-a-kind homes whether it’s an architectural masterpiece in Palm Springs or a 10-bedroom villa on a private beach in the Greek islands. They strive to offer a distinctive selection of properties globally which meet a range of personal tastes and preferences, including:
About Stay One Degree
Launched in 2018 with just the co-founders’ two homes, the company now offers more than 3,500 properties in over 250 destinations. Stay One Degree brings together a like-minded community of owners and renters of the finest vacation homes. Each home undergoes a rigorous vetting process while all interested parties are carefully verified to maintain the community of like-minded luxury travelers, giving many owners the confidence to rent their homes for the first time. Many of the exquisite homes are unavailable elsewhere. The clientele benefits from this inside access and enjoy preferential rates, exclusive rewards and personal local recommendations.
TweetAbout the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
Related Posts
Exploring the Exquisite Tradition of Carnival in Brazil: A Luxurious Celebration of Samba, Culture, and History →
What is a Dab Pen: How They Work & How Do You Use One Effectively →
U.S. Virgin Islands Unveils St. Thomas Carnival Village Performance Line-up →
