A fast-growing Cotswolds holiday home rentals business has moved to bigger premises as it embarks on the next phase of its expansion.
StayCotswold has relocated from an office in Burford, Oxfordshire, to a double-fronted shop in the centre of Stow-on-the-Wold.
The former greetings card shop on Digbeth Street has been fitted out to accommodate StayCotswold’s growing team.
StayCotswold was founded in 2009 by Fergus Mitchell and, in April 2021, a team of professionals with vast experience in the holiday cottages sector acquired the business. Fergus has remained as a director and shareholder.
The team comprises Mat Faraday, Tom Burdett and Tracy Archer. Mat co-founded Character Cottages, which was sold to Pure Cottages Group in 2018. Tom is a former managing director of Character Cottages and Tracy was previously sales and marketing director at Pure Cottages Group.
StayCotswold had just three staff when the trio acquired the business. Following a period of rapid growth, its team has increased in size to 13.
The number of properties in its portfolio has more than doubled from 60 to 140 since the business changed hands, and bookings per property have significantly increased to an average of 50 a year. Booking levels this summer were 13 per cent ahead of the same period in 2021.
StayCotswold’s portfolio includes typical Cotswold cottages, luxurious converted barns, manor houses and farmhouses as well as a burgeoning collection of shepherd’s huts and cabins, which are proving increasingly popular for being closer to the outdoors. The StayCotswold portfolio can cater for two people all the way to groups of up to 28.
Tracy said the Cotswolds are in growing demand for short breaks, especially among people living in the London area seeking an escape to the countryside. The area is also proving a magnet for overseas visitors who want a taste of rural England and are being attracted to the UK by the fall in value of the pound.
“The Cotswolds is an area of outstanding beauty and is also home to a whole range of major attractions and events, including the private members’ club Soho Farmhouse, Daylesford Organic Farm and the Big Feastival music festival,” said Tracy.
“We are looking to add dozens more properties over the coming months to cater for the increased demand, as we believe the market for holiday rentals in the Cotswolds will continue to grow.
“Our experienced team has a friendly, enthusiastic can-do attitude and possess plenty of knowledge about the area, as well as what makes a great property and will sell well, so they are extremely well-placed to offer expert advice.
“As well as expanding the team, we’ve invested in relevant technology to provide a dynamic, variable pricing structure that benefits owners and guests alike, and a fully-optimised website that takes direct bookings for all our properties.
“Alongside this we developed the business branding to reflect the quality of our homes and to bring to life the whole experience of what a holiday in the Cotswolds can offer. Our guests know that their holiday experience will be authentic, and our owners know that their property is in the best local hands.
“We know from our previous experience that a high street location is the optimum place to be for the business.
“Relocating to fantastic new headquarters in the centre of Stow and being so accessible to owners and potential guests makes it a truly exciting time for the business and demonstrates our confidence in our offering and the potential for the brand.”
