We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lisa Giuntoli & Deanna Zaccari. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Lisa & Deanna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
We help our homeowner clients monetize their private homes by having the ability to rent them on a variety of booking platforms as well as through filming/location work when they are traveling, working elsewhere, etc. What we encounter, almost daily, is the mindset that by renting for shorter stays (under 30 nights) somehow this is affecting housing in Los Angeles?? Could not be further from reality for a variety of reasons.
These are PRIVATELY OWNED homes – our clients LIVE in them.
The guests that come and stay at the homes are vetted, well-mannered and respectful. Further, they invest not only in Los Angeles but the local neighborhoods as well by supporting local businesses and merchants during their stays.
They also often want to return to stay again and in some cases fall in love with the City, looking to invest by becoming a homeowner.
Although The 2024 data for the entire industry is not yet published, but the 2023 economic impact is available. Here are a few stats/thoughts to consider from 2023 numbers and we’ve see a very strong 2024 & 2025:
Estimated 2023 Total economic activity:
4.4 billion, including host and guest spending.
Jobs supported: Approximately 43,000.
Tax revenue:
1.2 billion in total tax revenue, plus over 35 million in local occupancy taxes.
The city welcomed 49.1 million visitors in 2023, almost matching the pre-pandemic visitation numbers from 2019, representing a strong recovery. The tourism industry in Los Angeles generated $40.4 billion in total business sales in 2023, surpassing 2019 levels by 6.9%.
We love what we do – helping our homeowners create additional income as well as providing peace of mind that their homes are represented and cared for meticulously as well as providing an exceptional guest journey for those that book a stay with us.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The Nonpareil Stays story begins in 2014 as a collaborative venture between cousins Deanna Zaccari and Lisa Giuntoli. Their story started much earlier, growing up in a small western Pennsylvania town and then post-college, moving to Boston (Deanna) and NYC (Lisa) before reuniting in Los Angeles in late 1990.
Deanna Zaccari started her career as a Fashion Stylist and Sales Executive at Giorgio Armani before launching her lifestyle agency in 2005, serving high-profile clients in LA, NYC, and Miami. By 2011, she had built a highly successful property hosting business, earning recognition as an Airbnb Brand Ambassador and Super Host. Deanna also channels her passion for design into interior projects in both Maine and Los Angeles.
Lisa Giuntoli has a dynamic background in marketing and promotions, where she worked with major US record labels on campaigns for iconic artists like Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, and The Rolling Stones. She also co-founded California Living, a boutique outdoor furnishings store, and has taken on various roles for top interior design firms and fashion brands in project management and marketing.
Our collective backgrounds & experience are the foundation of what we wanted to build as a company: a culture that stresses attention to detail, emphasizes the guest journey, and creates unique boutique stays for guests. We are known for providing exceptional guest care at all our houses and expertise and support for our homeowner clients and their properties.
Nonpareil Stays welcomes guests worldwide to experience our properties and join us as we expand our distinguished collection of rentals in Los Angeles. Consider us your insider’s guide to luxurious LA living.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
We grew up in a small town, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA … a working-class town. Very family-oriented, with a strong work-ethic to get things done. Taught to seek, learn, explore by both our families as well as our community.
That foundation and that passion to excel and succeed was instilled in us from an early age and when we left our hometown to seek opportunities and learn in other, much larger cities, we kept that close. Ultimately our independent journeys brought us back together in Los Angeles.
We built Nonpareil Stays upon those values and that mindset. We continue to learn and improve as we grow our company and expand to other markets.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
We’d prefer to say what did FAILING teach you that success never could?
And to that, the first thing we’d say is “is it really failing?” That is a concept that we’ve instilled in our children and try to keep close to the heart for ourselves – we’d like to reframe it as an OPPORTUNITY.
We have encountered so many challenges on this path -2 women who left busy & well-paying careers, raised our children (essentially as single mothers) and pivoted to entrepreneurship and to building a successful business. With every stumble, misstep or rejection, we think there’s an ability to LEARN, GROW, and PIVOT to something even better. We each have different strengths and weaknesses, but together, we are strong. While this process often comes with frustration, anger or even sadness at times, we’ve found that the best path forward is to push through and to believe in ourselves. We’re proof that it IS possible.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
We want Nonpareil Stays to keep growing, expanding to other offerings (lifestyle and beyond) and to become a global brand.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, 100%. From motherhood to entrepreneurship … our drive and passion doesn’t come from wanting or needing to be praised by someone else.
While it is always nice to feel needed and valued, it’s not what drives us. We bring passion, expertise and value to the business we’ve built, continue to grow, and to the clients that we work with to achieve results. We support each other through it all and ultimately don’t need praise from anyone to make us feel good about that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nonpareilstays.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonpareilstays/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPstays/
Image Credits
Creatiful LLC
