In the world of franchising, the most successful owners often come from surprising backgrounds. While hospitality experience is a plus, it isn’t the defining factor for success at Grand Welcome. Our latest franchise partner, Chase Smith—the new owner of Grand Welcome North Georgia Mountains—is proof that diverse professional experiences can translate perfectly into thriving vacation rental management.
Why Engineers and Sales Leaders Choose Grand Welcome
Chase Smith is an Auburn University graduate in Chemical Engineering who previously led North American sales for a major tech company. Why would someone with a high-level technical and sales career pivot to vacation rental management?
According to Smith, the answer lies in systems and scalability.
“Grand Welcome has the proper systems in place, including technology, support, and training to achieve success and scale up at a smart and constant pace,” Smith explains. “Coming from a background in engineering and tech sales, I value efficiency and data. That ability, along with Grand Welcome’s commitment to partnering with local owner-operators, are the main reasons why I was excited to take ownership of this location.”
The “Locally Rooted, Nationally Connected” Advantage
Smith has taken over a robust portfolio of 17 properties across key destinations like Blue Ridge and Ellijay. But he isn’t doing it alone. While he focuses on building a local team of cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance professionals to provide boutique-style care, the Grand Welcome corporate team handles the heavy lifting on the back end.
From advanced reservation technology to national marketing campaigns, our support structure allows owners like Chase to focus on what matters most: relationships with homeowners and guest experiences.
Is Grand Welcome the Right Fit for You?
Chase’s journey highlights a key benefit of our franchise model: you don’t need to build the infrastructure from scratch. Whether you are coming from a corporate background, real estate, or engineering, our turnkey systems allow you to apply your unique skills to a proven business model.
We are thrilled to welcome Chase Smith to the family and look forward to watching him scale the North Georgia market.
Are you ready to be the next success story in your local market? Contact us today to learn more about available franchise territories.