Black Bear Lodge’s Rachel Carlson on Year-Round Staffing in a Seasonal Market

Most independent property owners view seasonal markets as profit killers, but Owner Rachel Carlson has spent eight years proving the opposite at her 31-room Black Bear Lodge in Lake Tahoe. Her counterintuitive approach to staffing, community integration, and guest experience design demonstrates how owner-operators can leverage their personal involvement into sustainable competitive advantages. In this inaugural episode of The Unchecked-In Podcast, Rachels gives host Bobby Marhamat, CEO of TakeUp, specific strategies for transforming seasonal challenges into profit drivers while maintaining authentic hospitality experiences that generate consistent repeat bookings.

Rachel’s analysis of how wedding operations prevent optimal daily room utilization provides crucial insights for property owners evaluating event strategies versus traditional hospitality models. Likewise, her “no ego amigo” philosophy emphasizes collaboration with local competitors and industry partners rather than isolated business approaches. Rachel’s approach to community integration through wine tastings, local art partnerships, and neighborhood events demonstrates how independent properties can create authentic connections that franchise operations cannot replicate.

Topics Discussed:

• The strategic decision to maintain year-round staffing in seasonal markets rather than cutting labor costs, minimizing turnover and ensuring property maintenance.
• Why wedding venue operations fundamentally conflict with optimal hotel room utilization patterns and the revenue implications of booking entire properties for single-day events.
• Community integration strategies that transform local neighbors into brand ambassadors through wine tastings, art gallery partnerships, and authentic local engagement rather than tourist-focused approaches.
• The “no ego amigo” philosophy for independent property owners entering hospitality without traditional hotel backgrounds, emphasizing collaboration with local competitors and industry mentors.
• Unique room design methodology that eliminates standardization in favor of personalized touches, different artwork, and distinct furniture selections that create guest loyalty and specific room requests.
• Sustainability initiatives that simultaneously reduce operational costs through strategic amenity elimination and California rebate programs for energy-efficient equipment upgrades.
• The competitive advantages independent properties possess over vacation rentals through personal staff interactions, local recommendations, and authentic hospitality experiences that justify premium pricing.
• Destination market success strategies that require owner presence and hands-on involvement rather than remote management approaches, balancing personal lifestyle with business operations.
• Converting first-time guests into repeat visitors through personalized staff interactions, local expertise sharing, and memorable experiences that differentiate independent properties from franchise operations.