This tiny home STR site makes the same as 5 Star Hotels.

[Garrett Brown]

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram and thought, “What is that next-level hotel in the middle of a forest?”—yep, that’s probably one of Ben Wolff’s landscape hotels, stealing your attention and vacation dreams.

I recently caught up with Ben, co-founder of Onera and Oasi, about what makes his unique stays so successful, and one thing stood out to me: It’s all about creating that “wow” factor. Ben’s biggest tip? Build one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experiences that keep guests coming back. “If you make your space memorable, guests will forgive the small stuff,” he said.

But it’s not just about creating a remarkable space. Ben is all about collaboration over pure transactions. “You’re not just renting a room; you’re on this journey with your guests,” he told me. This makes perfect sense in today’s experience-driven world. His fast-response team and 24/7 guest support are crucial to smoothing over any bumps along the way, ensuring everything runs like a well-oiled machine.

When we shifted to lessons learned, Ben couldn’t stress enough the power of social media. If he could return, he’d have built the Onera Fredericksburg project publicly—sharing progress and connecting with future guests through Instagram and TikTok long before opening. He sees platforms like these taking over traditional OTAs because they’re more immersive and shareable.

The numbers back him up— His construction costs are around $200,000 a unit, and his units pull in $600+ ADRs and hit 83% occupancy, with NOI per unit up to $100,000, rivaling 5-star hotels.

Financing these beautiful properties? Ben is working with accredited investors for now but is looking at the crowdfunding playbook in the future. Clearly, he's not just playing in the STR game; he's changing the rules.

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