This week, we are featuring Kendra Hendrix, founder of Vacay To The Smokies and an OwnerRez user for nearly four years. Raised around cabin rentals and hospitality in East Tennessee, Kendra has now built her own collection of properties in the Smoky Mountains, focused on helping guests slow down, reconnect, and create lasting memories together.
Can you tell us a little bit about your history?
I was born and raised in East Tennessee and moved to Miami, Florida, after graduating from the University of Tennessee. My husband and I met in Miami, and after our first child was born, we decided to move back to the Great Smoky Mountains area to be closer to family and more actively manage our vacation rental cabins in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
My husband was born and raised near Branson, Missouri, so this region feels familiar and comfortable to both of us. We feel incredibly fortunate to call the Smokies home and to have the opportunity to host guests who come here to experience everything this beautiful area has to offer.
What is your background?
I grew up in the hospitality industry. My parents built and managed cabins in the Great Smoky Mountains while I was growing up, and we also operated a bed and breakfast long before Airbnb existed. We hosted overnight guests, weddings, and special events, so welcoming travelers was simply a way of life for our family. At nine years old, my first official job title was "Fruit Plate Creator," and I took great pride in preparing fruit plates for guests to enjoy at breakfast each morning.
Looking back, my family was constantly transforming unique spaces into guest accommodations, so income-producing properties and hospitality entrepreneurship were on my radar from a very early age. When I attended college in Knoxville, I purchased my first home and immediately rented out two of the bedrooms. After graduating from UT, I moved to Miami and shifted my focus from cabin rentals to opening a dance studio while also working in the restaurant side of the hospitality industry.
Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If not, what did you do before?
It's actually both my first and now my third career. I found my way back to vacation rentals after operating my dance studio in Miami for nearly eight years. While I enjoyed that chapter of my life, hospitality and vacation rentals always felt like home. Today, my husband and I own and manage several vacation rental properties in the Great Smoky Mountains through Vacay To The Smokies.
One of our most exciting current projects is our Hidden Gem Cabin Series, a collection of thoughtfully designed luxury cabins created specifically for couples seeking a romantic Smoky Mountain getaway. Each cabin has its own unique character and design theme, but they all share the same goal: creating memorable experiences that help guests slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the natural beauty of the Smokies. Building and growing this collection has allowed us to combine my lifelong hospitality background with our passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.
Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?
Even though I was born and raised in East Tennessee, I actually relate more to the idea that I moved here. When I left for Miami, I never imagined I would return permanently. Life had other plans, and coming back to the Smokies turned out to be one of the best decisions our family ever made.
If you moved there later, what drew you to the area?
Beyond having family nearby, the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area of the Great Smoky Mountains offers an incredible experience for travelers. One of the things that makes the region so special is its accessibility. Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within an eight-hour drive, making it an easy vacation destination for millions of people. The mountains are breathtaking year-round, and the communities continue to invest in attractions, dining, entertainment, and infrastructure to support the nearly 14 million visitors who come to the area annually. Whether you're a family, a couple seeking a romantic getaway, a solo traveler, or a large group, there is truly something here for everyone.
What do you love most about the vacation rental business?
I love creating spaces that guests can enjoy during some of their most meaningful moments together. One of the unique things about vacation rentals is that all of the work happens before the guest arrives. If you've done your job well, you're somewhere else while families are making memories, couples are reconnecting, and travelers are relaxing and enjoying the experience you've helped create. That philosophy has guided many of our projects, especially our Hidden Gem Cabin Series. We intentionally design each cabin to feel unique and memorable, with thoughtful details that encourage guests to slow down, enjoy their surroundings, and create lasting memories together.
What do you dislike the most about it?
"Dislike" is probably too strong of a word, but I will say that I greatly appreciate having a degree in psychology. It has given me valuable insight into guest communication, especially when navigating challenging situations. Over the years, I've learned that setting clear expectations and communicating proactively solves most problems before they happen. Being the primary communicator and problem solver for our guests has taught me a tremendous amount about people and customer service.
How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?
We love OwnerRez and take advantage of many of the features it offers to manage our vacation rental business more efficiently. I especially appreciate the ability to automatically process payments from booking channels, as well as the email templates and automation tools. Everything from the wording of the messages to the timing of when they're sent just makes practical sense.
What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?
That's almost impossible to answer because there are so many useful features. What I appreciate most is that the platform clearly feels like it was designed by people who have actually managed properties themselves. I've used several property management systems over the years, and often it's the smallest tasks that consume the most time. OwnerRez seems to eliminate many of those friction points.
I'm also a big fan of Rezzy AI. Having response drafts generated and ready for review makes guest communication much faster while still allowing for a personal touch. Thank you for building a system that feels like it was created by people with real-world experience, common sense, and a deep understanding of the vacation rental industry.
Kendra has done an impressive job building a business centered around helping guests slow down, reconnect, and create lasting memories in the Smoky Mountains. We look forward to continuing to support Vacay To The Smokies and are excited to see what they do next.