Jeff and Karin Gauvin founded Utah Escapes with a clear philosophy of underselling, over-delivering, and creating consistent experiences that earn 5-star reviews. With decades of hospitality experience and a passion for travel, they’ve built a thriving vacation rental business in the beautiful state of Utah.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I grew up in Rhode Island and first discovered Moab, Utah, while on a college spring break trip. I was instantly hooked; the landscapes, the red rocks, and the chance to mountain bike all day without seeing another person left a lasting impression.

My wife, Karin, is from Sweden, and together we’ve been in hospitality for more than 25 years. We met in 2001 while working aboard high-end cruise ships, where we learned firsthand the value of service, attention to detail, and consistency. From there, we managed a B&B in Aspen, Colorado, before purchasing our own B&B in Salt Lake City in 2006, an adventure that even landed us on HGTV’s House Hunters. Travel has always been our passion, and vacation rentals gave us the perfect way to combine hospitality with real estate. Karin brings a European perspective and a focus on quality, instilling our core philosophy of underselling, over-delivering, and ensuring consistency that results in 5-star reviews.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?

I officially entered the vacation rental space in 2012, running the reservations department for a luxury vacation rental provider in Park City. That experience solidified my interest in the industry. In 2019, after negotiating out of a non-compete, we launched Utah Escapes. By 2020, I became a licensed Realtor, which allowed us to merge property management with real estate services under one roof.

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later? If later, what drew you to that area?

I’m originally from Rhode Island, while Karin grew up in Sweden. Utah wasn’t where we started, but it’s where we found our home. That first Moab trip hooked me; the open space, the scenery, and the sense of freedom. Over time, Karin and I both felt that Utah offered the right mix of natural beauty and hospitality-driven communities. Today, we operate across Moab, Park City, Kanab, and Salt Lake City, each with its own unique personality but the same commitment to quality.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

We love that we get to serve two sets of customers: our guests and our owners. For guests, it’s about consistency, making sure every stay lives up to the 5-star promise. For owners, it’s about transparency, cost-efficiency, and results. We’ve built Utah Escapes around the belief that both sides should win: owners maximize revenue while guests enjoy memorable experiences.

What do you dislike the most about it?

The unpredictability can be a challenge. From last-minute cancellations to maintenance surprises, there’s always something. But we’ve learned that consistency and systems make the difference. Karin’s emphasis on quality and process keeps us grounded even when things get hectic.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez is the hub of our operation. Its integrations allow us to automate repeatable processes, streamline communication, and keep everything centralized. We connect OwnerRez with third-party partners like Turno, AKIA, Jervis, and Accountable, which rounds out a powerful ecosystem. This setup frees us to focus on the human side of the business: guest experience and owner relationships.

For our owners, OwnerRez is especially important because it helps us run lean and efficient. By leveraging technology, we’ve been able to implement a very low commission structure, proving that you don’t need bloated overhead to deliver high-quality service.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

It’s not just one feature, it’s the way everything comes together. Channel management keeps our calendars and rates synced across platforms, while professional owner statements ensure transparency. But the real magic is in how OwnerRez integrates with other tools, allowing us to automate without losing personal touch.

OwnerRez was instrumental in our initial scaling, giving us all the core services we needed at a reasonable, scalable cost structure. That foundation let us expand quickly while staying true to our philosophy: undersell, over-deliver, and deliver consistent 5-star results for both owners and guests.

With a passion for travel and a clear commitment to quality, Jeff and Karin continue to shape Utah Escapes while staying true to their core philosophy. Here at OwnerRez, we look forward to seeing their business grow as they continue to deliver 5-star experiences across Utah.