Hidden Gems: Meet Stephen Hetherington of The Carolina Experience

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Hetherington.

Hi Stephen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to the US in 2003 after leaving the Royal Navy in the UK. I joined the Navy at 16, so I have consistently recognized an independent and resourceful spirit in myself. After moving to North Carolina in 2009, I was involved in multiple ventures but discovered a passion for real estate development. I began to see the emergence of Airbnb and the short-term rental property model and was excited by the opportunity and space in the industry. I created a purpose-built short-term rental property on Main Street in Blowing Rock, NC, which opened in late 2020. This was the birth of The Carolina Experience. Seeing guests’ reactions when they experienced a high-quality property focused on being an STR gave me confidence and drove me to build a series of properties throughout the Carolinas. The Carolina Experience currently has properties from mountains to the coast; each property is uniquely different in style and location but features consistent experience quality. Guests know that when they book a TCE property, they can rest assured they will experience the same luxury bedding, linens, furnishings, coffee, toiletries, and amenities. Today the Carolina Experience is in 9 locations and growing – on the way to becoming the best provider of boutique STR stays in the Carolinas.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I put challenges into three buckets sorted by timelines; short, medium and long.

• Short-term: Like all real estate owners, we manage the debt market. Rates have increased more than six times in under a year. This is difficult to manage, and you have to react without causing bigger issues for yourself in the future.
• Medium and Long-term: This really comes down to the behaviors of travelers, especially the digital nomad. Coming out of COVID people needed to get away – but the question is, will this trend continue? I believe that the current trend of migration to the Carolinas will continue. Further, travelers will largely continue to travel by car to local destinations versus flying for international travel. All of that being said, these factors are out of our control. What is in our control, is to ensure we provide flawless experiences for our guests every time at every location.

In summary, obstacles, and challenges are opportunities to learn and perform. The key is to know they are there, understand them and even if you decide to take the risk, never get blindsided.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Transform your next Carolina adventure into a Carolina Experience. Perfect for the digital nomad, explorer, adventurer, and every traveler. Our properties allow you to enjoy consistent quality in various diverse and unique locations.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Even though our company is disrupting the hospitality industry while using new tech and data advances, I am one of the least tech-savvy people you will meet. I understand conceptually, but the inner workings and details are outside my scope. I value my ability to easily disconnect from tech, as I see how some people can become dependent on it. I hope to see my children playing with sticks and stones outside versus playing video games.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thecarolinaexperience.com
• Instagram: @thecarolinaexperience
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecarolinaexperience1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-hetherington-7ba54656/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCarolinaExp