Meet Carryn and Bret Burton of Cohabit Podtel in Avon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carryn and Bret Burton.

Carryn and Bret, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Cohabit has been a dream of ours for a couple of years. We are a husband and wife team and long time Colorado locals. With years of combined experience in the hospitality industry, we felt there was something missing in our resort town. We have traveled to dozens of countries and always chose to stay in hostels over hotels. Meeting like-minded travelers in relaxed, social settings enriched our experiences. A hostel’s sense of community and adventure made each trip so unique. We quickly realized this was the missing element in our mountain community. We began brainstorming how to bring the modern hostel experience to the Vail Valley. After three years of trial and error, Cohabit Podtel was born. The major distinction between Cohabit and other hostels are our custom, private sleep pods opposed to communal bunk rooms. Which, in our opinion, is the only drawback of traditional hostels – especially for travelers over 30. We took over the lease for a prime location in the heart of Avon, formerly an outback steakhouse and the extensive remodel began in October 2019. Cohabit Podtel officially opened its doors in February 2020.

In addition to running Cohabit, Bret and Carryn own rental properties in the Vail Valley and manage the daily operations associated with real estate rentals. We provide affordable long-term accommodation to the local workforce. Bret is a licensed Real Estate agent with LIV Sotheby’s in Colorado. He has extensive experience in customer service and guest relations and exceptional skills from his former years working for the Ritz Carlton.

Carryn also worked for several hotels and restaurants in Vail over the last 15 years. Carryn is a mother of 2 – Eva (3) and Brodie (five weeks), day to day life now is about balancing motherhood and the entrepreneurial role as a small business owner.

Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Starting our own small business and trying to introduce a unique, new concept had its challenges. We faced many hurdles in the early days with town planning and zoning, parking and building code. Since our business had never been done before, there was very little precedent at the government level, we were blazing the trail from the get-go. It took many months to get all the necessary approvals.

As always, construction is never without its troubles. Costs escalated and delays were inevitable. We gutted the 7000 square feet restaurant, which included all the restaurant equipment and finishes. With every wall that came down, a new problem was uncovered. We were lucky to work with a great contractor and sub-contractors who did an amazing job on the remodel.

One of our biggest challenges was designing and building the pods. Nobody is making these in the US and we had to search for a builder to make the product from scratch. We got lucky and teamed up with Tiny Home Connection out of Lakewood, CO. They are tiny home builders who helped up conceptualize, design, build and ship 27 custom pods. The finished product is better than we ever imagined but there was a lot of trial and error throughout the process.

Of course its worth mentioning that opening a hospitality business just before a global pandemic was a huge emotional and financial blow.  Our timing couldn’t have been worse and we had to close up shop in mid March.  However, we have officially reopened the pod hotel and we are looking forward to welcoming summer visitors.

Lastly, our continuing challenge is to change the misconception of hostels and the stigma associated with them. Hostels are not as popular in the US as other parts of the world, but the trend is catching on as pioneers in the industry continue to introduce cool hostel concepts to the American public. We also have to continually educate people on the idea of a “pod hotel.” The number one question is, “what is a pod hotel?” And we are happy to explain.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Cohabit Podtel – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Cohabit Pod Hotel is the first of its kind in Colorado. We are breaking the mold of traditional lodging and bringing modern sleep pods to the Vail Valley. Our flagship property embodies the spirit of Colorado to bring adventure seekers together in a community setting. We provide guests with a unique, cost-effective alternative for short term lodging at our premier Avon location. The convenience and affordability of Cohabit will appeal to those seeking thrills and adventure in the mountains without the hefty price tag. Our unique business model, coupled with the substantial growth in Eagle County tourism, is a winning formula.

At Cohabit, there are no traditional hotel rooms or dormitory-style bunk rooms, we specialize in sleek, private pods. This lodging style meets the needs of discerning travelers by providing affordability in an overpriced market. We blend the social elements of a hostel with the comfort and privacy of a boutique hotel. Our prime location in the heart of Avon offers easy access to our ski resorts, town of Avon amenities, free Avon shuttle and ECO bus transit throughout the valley. We can accommodate up to 54 guests in 27 double occupancy pods. All Cohabit pods are completely private and equipped with smart lock doors, making check-in a breeze with your mobile device. Each pod is thoughtfully appointed with bunk beds, reading lights, outlets, luggage storage, comfortable memory foam mattresses and luxury linens and towels. Our cutting-edge, eco-friendly insulation, made from recycled denim, reduces noise and the custom-engineered ventilation system provides optimum airflow. Guest comfort is our primary focus.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love our town and our small mountain community. The beautiful mountains and natural beauty of out town is what we love most. World-class outdoor activities draw tourists from all over the world and its what keeps the locals here year-round. What we like least about our valley is the unaffordability. It can be expensive for locals and visitors to enjoy our resorts, which is why we launched Cohabit podtel.

Pricing:

• Average price per night per pod is $90 (2 people)
• Cost for a single guest is approximately $55 for a private pod
• Cohabit has free WIFi and free on site parking

Contact Info:

• Address: 240 Chapel Place #B123
  Avon, CO 81620
• Website: www.cohabitpodtel.com
• Phone: 248-797-490
• Email: carryn@cohabitpodhotel.com

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