Kory Rankine, founder of Miami-based full-service hospitality provider Escape Luxury Hospitality, believes that luxury is about creating memorable moments that last forever. To that end, he has been instrumental in setting the tone for the Magic City’s high-end rental market. Below, Rankine shares his thoughts about Miami’s luxury vacation rental scene and the challenges of maintaining a high standard of service in a city known for its opulence.
Let’s start from the beginning. What inspired you to start Escape Luxury Hospitality, and how has your plan for the company changed over the years?
The inspiration for Escape Luxury Hospitality stemmed from my deep love for travel and a profound appreciation for the finer things in life. I envisioned creating an experience that was not only luxurious but also deeply meaningful.
When I launched the company, my goal was to build a brand that prioritizes the guest experience through high-end accommodations. As we’ve grown, this vision has expanded to include curated experiences that elevate every stay. This evolution has allowed us to maintain our reputation while staying true to our core values of elegance and exceptional service.
The market is competitive. What sets Escape Luxury Hospitality apart from other players, especially in a cutthroat market like Miami’s luxury vacation rental scene?
The luxury vacation rental market in Miami is incredibly competitive, but our commitment to personalization, attention to detail, and exclusivity sets us apart. These qualities are what keep our clients coming back.
We offer bespoke guest services that cater to individual preferences, ensuring each stay is a tailored experience. Moreover, our properties are meticulously chosen for their exceptional quality, providing our guests with a private sanctuary that embodies both luxury and tranquillity.
How do you ensure that guests receive exceptional service during their stay?
Top-notch service is the cornerstone of our operations, and we achieve this through a highly trained and dedicated guest service team that truly understands the nuances of luxury hospitality. From the moment a guest shows interest in one of our properties, we begin crafting a personalized experience tailored to their desires. Our team is not only highly skilled but also genuinely passionate about hospitality. We spend considerable time getting to know our guests from the very first interaction, ensuring we understand their needs and desires. Our goal is to make them feel as if they’re staying in an enhanced version of their dream lifestyle.
We also place a strong emphasis on continuous training and development, keeping our team up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in luxury service. Beyond that, we empower our staff to take initiative and make decisions that elevate the guest experience. Whether it’s arranging a last-minute private yacht charter or securing a table at an exclusive restaurant, everyone at Escape Luxury Hospitality is committed to making the impossible possible.
Open communication is another key aspect of our approach. We encourage guests to share their feedback and preferences so we can continually refine and enhance our offerings, ensuring every stay is nothing short of extraordinary.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the luxury hospitality industry, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge we face is inventory. The luxury market has a limited supply, not because there aren’t enough luxury homes, but because finding homeowners who are comfortable renting out their space to strangers can be difficult. While this industry is incredibly profitable, the idea of opening up one’s home, with all its valuables, to people they don’t know is a risk that not many are willing to take.
We’ve positioned ourselves as the bridge between guests and homeowners, offering peace of mind by ensuring that their homes are well cared for during guest stays. We staff each property with a dedicated team, including property managers, maintenance, security, and housekeeping, so any issues are addressed immediately before they escalate. We like to say we’re putting out fires before they start.
How has technology changed the vacation rental industry? Can you share how it improves the guest experience at Escape Luxury Hospitality?
Technology has truly revolutionized the vacation rental industry, making processes more streamlined and immediate. In the past, this industry had a more personal touch — everything was done manually, often with meticulous care. But as the industry has grown, it’s become nearly impossible to operate efficiently without the help of technology. While tech solutions have certainly made the consumer experience more seamless and the administrative side more efficient, they’ve also introduced a level of complexity. The sheer number of available tools can be overwhelming, and choosing the wrong tech stack can be costly. I’ve personally experienced setbacks from partnering with the wrong technology providers, but those experiences have taught me invaluable lessons about discerning what we truly need versus what we might want.
At Escape Luxury Hospitality, we’ve embraced technology as a game-changer. We’ve integrated advanced booking systems that simplify the Miami luxury vacation rental reservation process, allowing our guests to focus on enjoying their trip without getting bogged down in details. Internally, we’ve adopted property management tools, revenue management and pricing strategies, and data analytics to better understand our guests’ preferences.
We’ve also benefited from industry connections, particularly with Kate Kirschner Barnett, who has been a pioneer in the vacation rental space. Her guidance and willingness to share her knowledge and resources without any ulterior motives have been invaluable. In this industry, having reliable and trustworthy individuals like her in your corner makes all the difference.
Can you share an experience highlighting how Escape Luxury Hospitality over-delivered for its guests in the Miami luxury vacation rental market?
We make it a priority to over-deliver for every guest who stays with us. One experience that really stands out involved one of our elite clients — a Super Bowl champion — who wanted to plan a vacation with his fiancée. The twist? They wanted to combine their bachelor and bachelorette trips into one. This was a first for us, and it presented a unique challenge: how do you create an experience that caters to both men and women when these events are typically separate without compromising the vibe or risking things getting out of hand?
Our team rose to the occasion. We assigned a female guest service representative to work closely with the bride-to-be and a male representative to do the same with the groom-to-be. After carefully understanding their preferences, we curated a tailored list of activities and experiences that appealed to both genders. The result was an unforgettable weekend that perfectly balanced the bachelor and bachelorette vibes, all set against the stunning backdrop of one of our favorite properties, Villa Dawn. It was a huge success, and the couple was thrilled with how everything turned out.
Do you have plans to expand beyond South Florida? What new markets are you considering, and why?
Our goal is to bring the Escape Luxury Hospitality experience to discerning travelers worldwide, giving them the same level of service and attention to detail they expect from us in Miami. For now, we are considering markets that align with our brand’s philosophy of luxury and exclusivity. Cities with a thriving cultural scene and a demand for high-end accommodations are exciting. We will keep it a secret for now, but watch out for our next offers.
Have you noticed any new trends in the preferences or demographics of your clientele?
The vacation rental industry is constantly evolving, with trends seemingly changing every year. Whether it’s the length of stay, the style of homes, or the types of experiences clients are looking for, the industry adapts to shifts in the economy and global events. One trend I’ve noticed becoming more prevalent is the rise of corporate/vacation stays. As remote work has become more common, we’ve seen an increase in guest bookings under our “corporate retreats” category, combining work and leisure in a single trip.
However, one trend that has remained constant is family vacations. This has never wavered. Families continue to prioritize spending quality time together, carving out time to create lasting memories. For us, that’s the essence of travel — it’s less about the destination and more about the people you share it with.
How do you see the company’s role in the luxury hospitality industry, and what impact do you hope to have?
I see our role in the luxury hospitality industry as setting the benchmark for what truly defines luxury. The experience we offer is meticulously tailored to our clients’ desires, whether they are well-versed in the luxury lifestyle or aspire to it. It’s about creating an environment where every detail exceeds expectations, and in doing so, we aim to inspire our colleagues and competitors to uphold a standard of excellence.
I firmly believe that if I wouldn’t personally stay in a place or enjoy an experience, then neither should our guests. This philosophy drives us to ensure that the level of quality across the industry is consistently exceptional, setting a standard that is nothing short of extraordinary.
What legacy do you hope to leave with Escape Luxury Hospitality, and how do you see the company’s impact on the industry and community?
Our company motto, “Creating Memorable Moments, That Last Forever,” embodies everything we stand for. You know that one vacation where every detail — the laughter, the joy, the scent in the air, the music, the vibe — stays with you long after it’s over? That feeling of euphoria is what we aim to create with every stay. We aspire to leave a lasting legacy in our guests’ lives, becoming a cherished part of their family stories.
People often say, “It’s just business, don’t take it personally,” but I disagree. For us, our guests’ experiences and happiness are deeply personal. We go above and beyond to ensure that every moment is extraordinary. Additionally, we’re committed to providing opportunities for those passionate about the travel and hospitality industry, offering the proper training, resources, and knowledge to help advance this field. That’s how we plan to make a lasting impact on both the industry and our community.
There’s a certain magic in how we craft experiences at Escape Luxury Hospitality, especially here in Miami. It’s about inspiring a community of discerning travelers who seek not just a place to stay, but truly unforgettable moments.
