✦ Open to Work

Michael Kelly

✦ Open to Work

20+ years in Hotel / Hospitality Management / Founder of Lucky K Property Mgt LLC

Traverse City, Michigan · 5 yrs in STR · Remote

Traverse City, Michigan5 yrs in STRremote

About

I'm a short-term rental owner and operator with 20+ years of hospitality leadership behind me, bringing hotel-level revenue discipline to the vacation rental space. Through my company, Graced Stays, I own and operate a diverse portfolio in Traverse City, Michigan: The Vault, a three-suite property with private en suite baths; The Fairway, an upscale 2-bedroom, 2-bath golf course condo; and The Retreat, a 7-bedroom, 4-bath home built for large groups and family gatherings. Each property serves a different guest, so I've learned to tailor pricing, marketing, and operations to every segment. I manage the full business: dynamic pricing in a highly seasonal market, distribution across Airbnb, VRBO, and direct bookings through Lodgify, guest experience, smart-lock and tech integrations, damage claims, and the financials that keep each property profitable. Before building Graced Stays, I spent two decades in hotel sales and operations. Most recently I was Area Sales Manager for Kasa, a tech-driven flexible-stay operator, and before that a General Manager, Director of Sales, and Area Director of Sales and Marketing for brands including Hotel Indigo, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hilton Garden Inn. I owned P&Ls, built rate strategy around demand, and hired and led teams to hit revenue goals. I've lived both worlds, and I know how to turn performance data into clear, actionable plans that drive results. I'm seeking STR-focused roles in coaching, revenue management, sales, and operations, remote or in Michigan.

Core Skills

Revenue ManagementintermediateDynamic PricingintermediateProperty OperationsintermediateGuest ExperienceintermediateOwner RelationsintermediateChannel ManagementintermediateOTA OptimizationintermediateTeam LeadershipintermediateMaintenance CoordinationintermediateHousekeeping Managementintermediate

Experience

Owner / CEO

Graced Stays · Traverse City, Michigan

2022-04 – Present

- Founded and operate Graced Stays, a 3-property STR portfolio in Traverse City: The Vault (3 suites), The Fairway (upscale 2/2 golf course condo), and The Retreat (7-bed, 4-bath home) - Maintain a 5-star guest rating across the entire portfolio and Airbnb Superhost status for 3+ years running - Apply my boutique hotel background to deliver a hotel-caliber guest experience: thoughtful amenities, consistent standards, and personalized service in every stay - Own all revenue management and dynamic pricing using PriceLabs, adjusting for strong seasonality and local event demand - Listed on major OTAs plus direct bookings, with a tech stack integrating Lodgify, PriceLabs, Welcome Screen, and other platforms - Use AI tools to streamline operations and enhance guest communication and experience - Position each property for a distinct guest segment: couples and small groups, golf and upscale travelers, and large family gatherings - Manage vendors, smart-lock integrations, damage claims, and financials, including P&L tracking and cost control

Guest rating:: **5.0 stars**Superhost status:: **3+ years**Properties managed:: **3**Total bedrooms:: **12**

Tools & Software

PMS

Lodgifyintermediate

Revenue

PriceLabsintermediate

AirDNAintermediate

Accounting

FreshBooksintermediate

QuickBooksintermediate

Guest Comms

Touch Stayintermediate

Maintenance

Breezewayintermediate

Housekeeping

TurnoverBnBintermediate

CRM

Salesforceintermediate

Operations

Slackintermediate

Notionintermediate

Other

Google Workspaceintermediate

Microsoft 365intermediate

Canvaintermediate

Stripeintermediate

DocuSignintermediate

Education

Grand Valley State Universtiy

in Business Administration

General Manager

Sleep Inn & Suites · Traverse City, Michigan

2024-04 – 2025-07

- Led all hotel operations as General Manager, with full P&L responsibility for revenue, labor, and expense control - Owned revenue management and rate strategy, adjusting pricing for strong seasonality, local events, and peak summer demand in the Traverse City market - Managed OTA distribution and channel mix to maximize occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR - Hired, trained, and led front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance teams, holding staff accountable to service and performance standards - Drove guest satisfaction and online reviews through consistent cleanliness standards and responsive service recovery - Built local group and corporate business to fill shoulder and off-season periods - Maintained brand standards and compliance with Choice Hotels requirements

Rooms Managed:: 102Team size:: 28YOY Revenue Growth:: **22%**

Director of Sales and Marketing

Hotel Indigo / Cherry Tree Inn & Suites · Traverse City, Michigan

2023-05 – 2023-11

- Led sales and marketing for two Traverse City properties: Hotel Indigo, an IHG boutique hotel, and Cherry Tree Inn & Suites, a resort-style property - Developed sales and marketing strategies to drive group, corporate, leisure, and wedding business across both hotels - Partnered on revenue management and pricing, aligning rates with seasonal demand, local events, and market trends - Built and managed OTA, direct, and digital marketing channels to grow visibility and direct bookings - Delivered a boutique, locally inspired guest experience in line with Hotel Indigo's neighborhood-focused brand - Cultivated relationships with local businesses, event planners, and tourism partners to build a strong booking pipeline - Coordinated with operations teams to ensure seamless execution of groups and events

Properties managed:: **2**Revenue growth YOY:: **12%**

Assistant General Manager

Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown · Metro Flint Area, Michigan

2022-08 – 2023-05

- Supported the General Manager in overseeing all hotel operations, including front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, and food and beverage - Assisted with P&L management, budgeting, labor scheduling, and expense control - Contributed to revenue management and pricing, monitoring demand and adjusting rates to maximize occupancy and ADR - Hired, trained, and coached team members, holding staff accountable to Hilton service and performance standards - Drove guest satisfaction scores and online reviews through hands-on service recovery and quality standards - Supported group and corporate sales tied to downtown businesses, the university, and local events - Maintained Hilton brand standards and audit compliance

Rooms managed: 96Team size:: 42Guest Satisfaction KPI:: **Attained top 1% of guest Satisfaction scores for brand world-wide**

General Manager / Director of Sales

Hampton Inn & Suites East Lansing / Okemos · East Lansing / Okemos, Michigan

2021-10 – 2022-08

- Held a dual role leading both hotel operations and sales, with full P&L responsibility - Owned revenue management and rate strategy, adjusting pricing around university, sports, and event-driven demand - Managed OTA distribution and channel mix to maximize occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR - Personally drove group, corporate, and university sales, building relationships with Michigan State University, local businesses, and event organizers - Hired, trained, and led front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance teams, holding staff accountable to service and performance goals - Improved guest satisfaction and online reviews through consistent standards and responsive service recovery - Maintained Hilton brand standards and audit compliance

Rooms managed:: **96**Team Size:: **27**YOY RevPAR growth:: **17%**

Corporate Catering / Rooms Sales Manager

The Townsend Hotel · Birmingham, Michigan

2011-09 – 2023-05

- Sold and managed corporate catering and events for The Townsend, a luxury boutique hotel known for high-touch, personalized service - Built and grew relationships with corporate clients and executive assistants across Metro Detroit, generating repeat and referral business - Managed the full sales cycle: prospecting, proposals, contracts, and event planning through flawless execution - Partnered with culinary and banquet teams to create custom menus and tailored event experiences - Upheld a luxury service standard focused on attention to detail and exceeding client expectations, the foundation of the guest experience I bring to my STRs today - Consistently worked toward and contributed to catering revenue goals

Director of Catering Sales

Hilton Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids, Michigan

2005-10 – 2011-07

- Led the catering sales department for a full-service Hilton, overseeing weddings, corporate meetings, social events, and conferences - Owned catering revenue goals, forecasting, and pricing strategy for banquet and event business - Built long-term relationships with corporate clients, wedding couples, and community organizations, driving strong repeat and referral business - Hired, trained, and managed catering sales staff, holding the team accountable to sales and service goals - Managed the full sales cycle: prospecting, proposals, contracts, and event planning through execution - Partnered with culinary, banquet, and operations teams to deliver seamless, high-quality events - Maintained Hilton brand standards while tailoring each event to the client's vision