OSJ: Eileen, explain the new business deal with Tyler?

ED: It is a "buy in." Tyler is buying into the company and he will eventually own it.


OSJ: You've been running Catered To for 25 years. Why bring somebody new into the business now?

ED: I've been trying to take on a partner for four years. I'd like to have
a little more time to myself and have someone to share the responsibility.
I'll be taking my first-ever three month long vacation this Spring.


OSJ: What do your villa owners think about all of this?

ED: We are a business with wonderful owners who have trust in us. All of
them have expressed their like of Tyler and accept the fact that I will
ultimately be handing over the reigns to him. But not yet.  I have a lot
to teach him. He actually has a lot to teach me too. He has a great
hospitality background and he is wonderful with guests.


OSJ: Many restaurants and retailers on island are complaining about a slow
high season this year. How about the villa rental market?

ED: It's a little soft. Not depressed, but soft. And it's soft in the
middle, rather than the high end rentals or those at the bottom. People
also aren't planning as far ahead. It used to be people would make
vacation plans a year in advance. Now we see a lot of last minute
bookings.


OSJ: So, where is your vacation this year?

ED: I'll be spending three months at my cabin in Montana. Three months! I
will, for the first time ever, get to see my lilacs bloom.


OSJ: Tyler, running a villa management company is a 24/7 job. Why the heck
didn't you get involved in something a little more low maintenance?

TA: The job is actually not unlike hotel management in that we have
owners, guests and employees. We really want the guest experience to be
special. We want to have the villa owners we work with to know that their
investment is taken care of, and we want a pleasant working environment.
We have the best office staff I have ever worked with and they help keep
things running very well so it really not as high maintenance as it could
be.


OSJ: What kind of background do you have that makes this business a good
fit for you?

TA: I have a degree from the Hotel Management School of Lausanne,
Switzerland and several years at top hotels, including Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts.


OSJ: Catered To has a great reputation. Should longtime customers be
concerned about a new guy taking control?

TA: Not at all. Eileen will be spending a lot of time on island and in the
office making this transition as sooth as possible. I am learning from her
and hopefully bringing something to the table that can help to maintain
the level of service our guests have come to expect from Catered To
Vacation homes.


OSJ: What about the owners? How will you work with villa owners who are
used to a lot of personal attention from Eileen?

TA: I intend to give them the same level of attention. The owners were not
surprised since Eileen had been at this for over 20 years. The owners
response has been very positive as well.


OSJ: Does this mean you and Eloise have ripped up your return tickets to LA?

TA: We have torn them up! Now we buy round trips from STT.