Coffee Talks with Susannah Peddie from StayGainesville: AirBNB

Susannah tells the story of the ups and downs of entrepreneurship in the AirBNB / VRBO / Property Management space. Quang's goal with Coffee Talks is to help students learn that entrepreneurship is not a smooth ride, but to hang in there and learn to pivot.

Our story is a tale of relentless adaptability in response to the ever-changing market landscape. Following the 2008 housing market collapse, Susannah transformed adversity into opportunity: she transformed properties that were struggling to secure long-term renters into fully furnished, short-term rental units. The strategic location of these condos, situated directly across the street from Shands UF Health Hospital, played a crucial role in this pivot.

Susannah didn’t stop there; she broadened her horizons, extending her property offerings to encompass the downtown area and the vicinity of the University of Florida campus. She also diversified the selection, ensuring a wide range of sizes and price points to accommodate everyone’s needs. In partnership with her StayGainesville colleagues, Susannah added two historic inns in the downtown area to her portfolio, providing unique event spaces, classes, and options for single-night stays.

Throughout this journey, Susannah has cultivated an outstanding team, placing a paramount emphasis on customer service excellence. We are excited about the opportunity to welcome you to Gainesville and ensure you have a memorable experience.

Learn how Susannah evolved her company to adapt to an ever-changing business environment. And acquired 2 historic Inns in the process (The Camellia Rose Inn and The Laurel Oak Inn).

Book your stay with StayGainesville.

Thank you to Afternoon Roasting, Santa Fe CEID, GTEC, StartGNV, Starter Space, and Seven Ashes Productions.

An inspiring exchange of creative and entrepreneurial minds in our community paired with coffee courtesy of Afternoon Roasting.

Coffee Talks is a weekly series of engaging conversations among the business and creative community brought to you by Santa Fe CIED, GTEC, StartGNV, Starter Space and Seven Ashes Productions. Expect focused talks, curated roundtable discussions, and a chance to network and engage with the people driving changes in Gainesville.