Christina Casas – Chairwoman Emeritus and Owner Acquisition
Christina Casas founded Telluride Rentals in 2001, and has served as the President of the company since its inception. Christina first came to Telluride in 1997 for a winter ski vacation and loved the area so much she purchased a vacation home in Mountain Village. Christina soon purchased a second and third residence and started managing her properties as short term vacation rentals. Other homeowners began asking Christina to manage their properties too, and the business took off, with Telluride Rentals now managing over 90 properties in the region. Once Telluride was successfully running Christina decided to expand to Mexico and Spain. Now her company is worldwide and operates under the name Exceptional Stays. Christina attended college at the University of Colorado, followed by Pepperdine University in California. She also has an MBA from IESE, one of Europe’s top business schools. Christina loves skiing, golfing, hiking, cooking for her large family, including her friends and her hungry boys. She can often be spotted riding on her motorcycle, or sneaking into the woods to hunt for mushrooms! She spends about half the year here in Telluride, while also splitting her time between Miami and Barcelona.
Natalie Ann Price – Reservations Sales Agent
All those coming to Telluride, Colorado are sure to have the most personalized and authentic experience possible due to Exceptional Stays’ local Concierge Manager, Natalie Ann! Originally from NC, she graduated from UNCW in 2011 with a dual major in English & Spanish. Her passion for language and culture brought her across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South America. She found a home in Costa Rica teaching English for several years before settling in Telluride during the Winter of 2015. Natalie Ann is enthusiastic, funny & driven to succeed and provide exceptional & genuine customer service to both first time guests and guests that have been visiting Telluride for years. She loves to cook (especially southern comfort food), hike (join her for one next summer!), bike & travel. Her devotion to Telluride thrives from her love for live music and the incomparable festival and musical offerings of this town.
Carter Sharp – Property Manager
Carter Sharp is just that, sharp, and when it comes to his career as a concierge, he takes the job seriously – it allows him to channel his passion for Telluride and guide others in their experience here, allowing them to discover their love for this beautiful place, too. Joining the Exceptional Stays team in September 2018, Carter has already made a lasting impression on many guest stays, introducing them to the best of Telluride no matter the season. Hailing originally from Dallas, Texas, Carter moved to Colorado and attended Colorado Mesa University, graduating Cum Laude in 2016 with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Land Energy Management. In his free time Carter loves to explore Telluride while he skis, golfs and hikes.
Ana Marquez – Director of Housekeeping
This pair began in 2006 when Ana and Rene married in Ocean City, Maryland. Originally from Mexico, the pair decided to plant their roots in Telluride to join family and friends. Rene has an extensive background in facilities maintenance. When combined with Ana’s vast experience in housekeeping, they form the perfect team! Ana is one of Exceptional Stay’s longest standing employees, and is always on hand to provide knowledge and support to the rest of the operations team. Our 80 plus properties are kept pristine, and our guests always feel at home thanks to their tireless efforts Rene and Ana enjoy spending their free time with their 5 year old son, Roberto, and preparing for their new son Ian. (Due in August 2017). The Exceptional Stay office is fortunate to be on the receiving end of the best Tamales in the world due to Ana’s skills in the kitchen.
Rene Graciano Castro – Property Manager
Having worked for Exceptional Stays since 2010, Rene is an integral member of the Exceptional Stays Operations Team. Hailing from Durango, Mexico, Rene moved to the United States in 2004, working for the Princess Royal Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland before making his move to Telluride. He joined the team as a housekeeper, working with his wife Ana, but has recently transitioned over to our property management team a seamless one. Rene’s impressive work ethic and background in drywall and plaster have made him a valued member of the team, appreciated by owners, guests and teammates alike. In Rene’s spare time, he enjoys spending time with wife and two young sons and mastering the art of cooking carnitas.
Ira Vick – Senior Web Architect
As one of the longest reining members of Telluride Rentals beginning in March 2007, Ira’s sharp mind has been a huge contributor to the luxury rental company’s success and international expansion into Exceptional Stays. A Californian, Ira studied Spanish in Costa Rica after high school and enjoyed a successful career as a professional down hill mountain biker. Ira also boasts a business degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and soon pursued web design and website construction. Traveling, playing volleyball, hanging with his son Eli, and mountain biking are a few of the things that keep him busy and active!