How Nestaide Became a Top Airbnb Performer in Whistler

**Jasper Ribbers:**Welcome back to Get Paid for Your Pad. I’m excited to introduce today’s guest, Alisha Nelson, co-founder of Nestaide, a property management company based in Whistler, Canada. Alisha, welcome to the show.

**Alisha Nelson:**Thank you, Jasper. Hi everyone.

**Jasper:**I’m excited to chat. I know you’ve been listening to the podcast, and we’ve worked together for a while now, so I’m familiar with your markets. But let’s start from the beginning. How did you get into the short-term rental game?

**Alisha:**It happened by accident. I was working in healthcare, but when I had my first child, I realized daycare costs meant I’d only keep about $1,000 per month. I thought, there must be another way. During my maternity leave, my family and their business partner bought a home in Whistler. Originally, they planned to renovate and flip it, but they fell in love with Whistler and decided to keep it.

They looked into vacation rentals as a way to cover costs. After interviewing several property managers, they weren’t impressed, either the big companies took 40–50% of the revenue, or the small operators didn’t seem professional. My dad approached me, knowing I was organized and detail-oriented. I started managing his place, and it quickly became one of the top revenue-performing three-bedrooms on Airbnb. I realized this might be something others needed too.

So my husband and I drove to Whistler with a postcard promoting our results. I didn’t get any calls from the postcard, but I did meet someone, an attorney with two properties in Vancouver and one in Whistler. He gave me his three units to manage and referred my first additional client. From there, I never went back to my old job. I stayed home with my child and grew the business from one to 55 properties, with the help of my business partner.

**Jasper:**Amazing story. You mentioned your business partner, many operators build alone, which is tough. What’s made your partnership work so well?

**Alisha:**At first, I thought I could do it alone. I had nine properties, but driving between Vancouver and Whistler in winter is dangerous. I needed someone local. Through a realtor, I connected with Kerry. We had coffee and ended up becoming business partners. She had great communication and reliability, and I knew I could trust her.

We were opposites in personality and lifestyle, which worked in our favor. I handle backend systems, she manages operations on the ground. Our skill sets are complementary, and that clarity has helped us grow smoothly without friction.

**Jasper:**Sounds like a great match. I’ve got some memories from Whistler too, I went skiing there years ago, broke my wrist on day one. Still an incredible place. How was this past ski season?

**Alisha:**This winter was different. The economy added uncertainty. Booking windows shortened dramatically, and pricing was lower. Thankfully, we partnered with your revenue management team just in time. Kerry and I couldn’t keep up with daily pricing adjustments ourselves.

With your help, we adjusted quickly and still saw strong occupancy. It was trickier than usual, but manageable thanks to that support.

**Jasper:**We’ve seen that in other markets too, booking windows have tightened, which creates anxiety for both managers and owners. Did your owners reach out about the slower early booking pace?

**Alisha:**Yes, definitely. But your team helped us show them that it wasn’t just their property, it was the whole market. We used data to reassure them. In some cases, bookings were coming in 30% later than the year before. Once we explained that, they were more comfortable.

**Jasper:**Have you noticed any trends in where your guests are coming from?

**Alisha:**Since the pandemic, it’s been more regional, mostly guests from Washington and California. The strong U.S. dollar makes Whistler a good value for them. Locals from Vancouver are visiting less because prices have gone up. We’re seeing fewer international travelers overall.

**Jasper:**Have you onboarded with Booking.com yet?

**Alisha:**Not yet, but we’re close. It’s been a bit of a nightmare. Even though our property management system says it integrates, it’s complicated with more than 10 properties. We’ll probably have to list them manually. But it’s at the top of our list now that things are slower.

**Jasper:**It’s worth the effort, some of our North American clients get strong bookings from Booking.com. It’s a bit of a setup process, but valuable long-term.

How long have you been in business now?

**Alisha:**Since 2018, so about seven years.

**Jasper:**What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned?

**Alisha:**Number one, hire slow, fire fast. You learn a lot about someone in the first few months. Our team is a huge strength. Many work from the Philippines. Even though they’ve never been to Whistler, they’re amazing. We flew one of our VAs out to visit and are hoping she’ll join us at VRMA in Phoenix this October.

Another lesson, be intentional with onboarding. It’s a two-way interview. We’re a boutique company. If values don’t align, we’re okay letting them go elsewhere. We’ve built genuine friendships with owners, and our guests recognize that too. We want them to say, “I stayed with Nestaide, and they were amazing”, not just “I stayed at an Airbnb in Whistler.”

**Jasper:**Great insights. We’ve had success hiring in Latin America as well, closer time zones, strong talent. We use a company called HireLatam and have found great team members that way. Also curious, how did you come up with the name Nestaide?

**Alisha:**I was reading your book on a beach in Hawaii, no joke, and we needed a name. The baby monitor in our hotel room was called “Nest.” It clicked. A nest is a home. “Aid” reflected our goal to help people with their homes. That’s how Nestaide was born.

**Jasper:**A true beachside brainstorm. Whistler is super seasonal. How do you manage staff and operations during the slower months?

**Alisha:**December through April makes up 60% of our annual revenue. July and August are busy too, but with lower nightly rates. In spring and fall, we focus on deep cleans, sometimes 12 to 15 hours per unit. We do inventory counts and maintenance inspections. It’s the perfect time to update furniture, add items like sofa beds, and prep for the next season. Our cleaners are with an external company, and while they do bring in seasonal help, we’ve built a reliable partnership with them.

**Jasper:**Any advice for someone just starting out?

**Alisha:**Reach out to people in the space. Most are happy to help. Just start. I had no background in hospitality, I was in healthcare, but I knew I could figure it out. My motto was: “If they can do it, I can do it better.” You’ll learn as you go. This podcast helped me so much in those early days. It’s full of real advice and practical systems.

**Jasper:**That’s how I started too, Googling everything and finding almost nothing. That’s why I wrote my book. It’s wild how much of this is unplanned. You just follow what’s in front of you.

Alisha, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. You’ve built something really impressive. If people want to learn more about Nestaide, where can they find you?

**Alisha:**Visit Nestaide.com. We’re based in Whistler, British Columbia. It’s an incredible place, lakes, hikes, wildlife, nightlife. We have something for everyone. Whether it’s a quiet couple’s weekend or a rowdy bachelorette party, Whistler delivers.

**Jasper:**I can definitely vouch for the beauty of the place. And don’t forget to try a beaver tail. Not the healthiest snack, but a delicious one. Thanks again, Alisha, and congrats to you and Kerry. To our listeners, we’ll be back soon with another episode.