Our Member Spotlight series highlights the hosts, managers, and small business owners who make up Washington’s short-term rental community. Each story offers a closer look at the people behind the homes: how they got started, the values that guide their work, and the role responsible short-term rentals play in supporting local economies and communities across the state.
Nick Neville
Mount Rainier National Park Cabins
While many people assume that short term rentals are a recent phenomenon, home owners have been employing this strategy to make ends meet or make their vacation home affordable for decades. Such is the case with STR owner/operator of Mount Rainier National Park Cabins Nick Neville.
“I’m actually a second generation STR owner/operator because my parents had a cabin in Ashford when I was a kid that my dad rented out when our family wasn’t using it,” said Nick.
“My dad ran things ‘old school’ – I remember he had a credit card machine in our spare bedroom and he would fax out contracts to potential guests. Sharing our cabin in Ashford was a part of my life as long as I can remember.”
When Nick, a former first grade teacher, married his wife Rachel, they began saving to buy their own cabin in Ashford. That worked out so well they bought a second cabin. Other cabin owners took note and began asking Nick if he could help them rent out their vacation homes. Today Nick employs a team of 11 and he works full-time operating Mount Rainier National Park Cabins for himself and his clients.
He also devotes considerable time advocating for our industry at the local, county and state levels. Representing Ashford short term rental owners’ interests with elected officials is a priority for him:
“I believe in the ability to oversee one’s own destiny — to build something, work hard, and earn a profit. It’s important that rules don’t change mid-game. I should be able to assume that the rights I had at the start of my business are maintained.”
Nick also supports Ashford by spearheading community improvement projects like the Paradise Estates playground that was closed last year when the aging park became unsafe for children to play on its equipment. Nick and the owners whose properties he operates all chipped in to purchase new playground equipment, then donated their time to install it.
And, Nick works to ensure that he and his STR clients go above-and-beyond to be good neighbors.
“I want our neighbors see a benefit to living next to a short-term rental. For example, when it snows in Ashford, we shovel our neighbors’ driveways in addition to our own.”
This second generation STR owner hopes to one day pass the torch to his 12-year-old son Kelton and 8-year-old daughter McKenzie, who love Ashford as much as their parents and grandparents do. McKenzie recently brought home an essay on what she wants to be when she grows up. She wrote that she wants to own a cabin.
This Member Spotlight was written by WHCA Board President Allison Moser.
Interested in being featured in a future Member Spotlight? Contact us here or at hello@washingtonhosts.org.