Originally hailing from Ohio, US, Merilee Karr is the founder of UnderTheDoormat, a London-based luxury short-term rentals accommodation platform. They recently became one of the first companies in this sector globally to work with Marriott Homes and Villas.
Merilee founded the company after 13 years working with Shell, including periods as Global Strategy Manager and Global Retail Maintenance Manager at Shell.
She discovered that while life on the road and staying in hotels all around the world seems glamorous at first, after a time it can become depressing waking up in rooms that all look the same — without the character of a home or the place you are visiting.
Merilee also travels for triathlons and was tired of staying in hotels as traditional buffet breakfasts and sparse, separate rooms were less than ideal for a group of friends with a lot of equipment, a tight schedule and strict meal plans.
UnderTheDoormat was created out of her desire to make a difference to the short term rental sector: to give travellers access to the home comforts they craved with peace of mind that comes with a professional service.
Merilee’s passion for professionalising the sector led to her being elected as the Founding Chair of the industry body, the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA).
She is a regular commentator in the media and at events and leads the industry’s engagement with local and national governments.
Tags: corporate travel, Home, homeownership, hospitality, travel
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