Bootstrapped Hospitality: Scaling Your Hotel Portfolio Without Major Capital | Austin Phippen E37

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Jun 24, 2025

Austin Phippen, the dynamic owner of Chama Trails Motel and Turquoise Antler Hospitality, shares his journey of transforming a small roadside motel into a successful brand. He discusses the 'Motel Hack' mindset, emphasizing seller financing and the importance of positive reviews over immediate renovations. Austin explains how bundling properties enabled full staffing and highlights effective rural marketing strategies that drive direct bookings. His insights into navigating challenges in small-town hospitality make this a must-listen for aspiring investors.

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ANECDOTE

Startup Motel Story

Austin and his wife bought a 16-room motel in a town of 912 through seller financing.
They initially ran it "as-is" to learn from guest feedback before renovating and upgrading.

ADVICE

Passion and Presence Needed

Remote ownership in a small town requires a strong local presence and community involvement.
Passion for the area is essential to succeed in rural hospitality investing.

INSIGHT

Motels Outperform Rentals

Motels generate significantly higher revenue compared to vacation rentals.
Early focus on customer reviews over higher rates builds strong long-term demand.

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Today’s guest bought a roadside motel in a town of 900 people and turned it into a thriving hospitality brand.

In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate sit down with Austin Phippen, a 26‑year‑old owner of Chama Trails Motel, a portfolio of 12 short-term rentals and a scenic wedding venue in Chama, New Mexico.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The “Motel Hack” mindset: How Austin got in with seller financing and turned the motel into both home and business
Scaling without overbuilding: Why he ran it “as-is” in year one and focused on reviews before renovations
Bundling to build a team: How combining the motel, STRs, and a venue created enough revenue for full staffing
Remote operations, done right: What you must know before investing in a rural town you don’t live in
Marketing that works: Why Google reviews and great operations now drive over 85% of bookings directly

If you’re serious about hospitality investing, especially in rural or seasonal markets, this episode is a must-listen masterclass in bootstrapping, brand-building, and sustainable growth.

About Austin

Austin and Karlee Phippen are the powerhouse couple behind Turquoise Antler Hospitality, a growing portfolio of boutique rentals, a 16-room motel, and a stunning wedding venue in Chama, New Mexico. Since launching in 2019, they've transformed a small-town motel into a thriving hospitality brand with a team of 20 and over a dozen co-hosted properties. With Austin’s background in construction and Karlee’s roots in hospitality, they’ve created unique stays that blend rustic charm with modern comfort. In this episode, they share how they scaled their business, built community partnerships, and navigated the wild world of rural hospitality.

Connect with Austin

Email: austin@turquoiseantler.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-phippen-730569124/

Instagram: @chamavacationrentals and @phippenout

Website: https://chamavacationrentals.com/

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Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook