Meet Darcy Guttwein | Author & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darcy Guttwein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darcy, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Parenting is extremely important to me and was the primary motivation for developing/writing Hotels to Home, Living the Luxury Hotel Experience at Home, and creating the To Home Lifestyling brand. I wanted to curate a lifestyle where my children – across any age – could thrive. I read numerous parenting books, but what I was looking for was a charge to in our everyday living and across daily routines How could we live in such a way that promoted our well-being and home life satisfaction?

The answer was in the Hotels to Home template! All I had to do was study luxury hotel life and ideas were formulated to improve our daily living experiences. Anything from interior design (bedrooms), bedtime rituals (turn down service), dining experiences (room service), planning birthdays (concierge services), and playdates (club Level lounge) – the list goes on – and is virtually endless.

Hotels became a study in our lives and our home life was a laboratory to prove the template increased lifestyle satisfaction. We took what we loved most about our travels and brought it into our daily living to improve our lives. As an example, we work as a family to honor each individual (much like fine hotels cater to the likes and dislikes of clientele) so when it came to after-school schedules for two vastly different children, we developed an afternoon routine that honored the way they wanted to enter the house (at a slow pace or with a rush of chatter and food).

Also important to note is that this lifestyle is full of discovery and engagement! I learned so much about my family when we discussed fond travel memories or when I played concierge to create their Personal Happiness List or Kid’s Club. Hotels to Home can often lead to subtle conversations that permeate family life and change the way we live, together. In fact, my children have a unique love language, Hotels to Home, that will bond them for life.

Hotels to Home ideas were used at every stage of my children’s lives (toddler through college) and continue to populate my child-rearing philosophies as they enter adulthood. To my mind, the child-rearing process never ends, but that’s part of the fun!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m thinking that now is a good time to mention that I own two businesses. Donovan-Grimes Inc. is a global recruitment firm that specializes in technical recruiting across implementation and leadership staff levels. This company has been running for over twenty years and has provided me with the means to travel the world and develop the second company.

My next venture has been the start-up To Home Lifestyling Inc. and this company was established as I was producing the book. My goal is to expand on the book with two more lifestyle books (Castles to Home and Yachts to Home) and move from book promotion to consulting services. I’m absolutely passionate about people being happy in their own homes by evolving HOW we live.

Starting a business takes a combination of hard work, resilience, passion, and attention to quality. I’ve always been known as someone who hustles so I feel that personal characteristic helped me when revenues were down, or collections were behind, or we need to add staff (or find good people for our clients in short order!). In each case, in most challenges, I hustled to gain resolution. One client mentioned that I’m like a duck, looking smooth on top of the water, but I’m paddling like crazy below the surface to deliver a quality service. I think he is right and I pride myself on a quality deliverable.

My advice to anyone is don’t give up on your business if you believe in the value! Remember that often time when you are in the middle of a struggle, you are really in the middle of a valuable solution.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This question is a book in and of itself! Hosting guests is a tremendously fun activity! Let’s embark on this guest visit in true Hotels to Homestyle!

Day 1: Welcome your guest with a wonderfully stocked guest suite. Include a beverage and snack station so guests have supplies on hand. Plan a welcome meal based on their time of departure, not arrival, so you are sensitive to their mood, hunger pangs, and sleep schedules. Greet them in such a way they know you are customizing their visit from the onset.

Day 2: To plan or not to plan? Some folks like to enjoy being a houseguest and catching up with family and friends. Get a sense of your guest’s interests and go from there, but inquire first so you are the optimal host. Especially important when hosting a multi-generational guest visit.

Day 3: Time for a trip within a trip! Come up with a theme for the visit! Like finding the best beer, spot the most unique bird, or win the highest number of card games. This brings added fun and subtle group bonding throughout the stay.

Day 4: Explore something beautiful. Landmarks can be included here too, but sometimes rock climbing or a boat outing bring nature’s beauty to the forefront. Also nice, visitors get to see differences in geographies and picture time commences!

Day 5: Lobby Hopping! A Hotels to Home favorite! Visit your local hotels and delve into history (many historic hotels offer tours) or luxury experiences (spa day or afternoon tea).

Day 6: Pick a family favorite and share it with your guest. Perhaps a museum or ballpark visit. Share what YOU enjoy!

Day 7: Departure time. Hopefully, you have a meal to recount all the trip adventures. However, if time is tight, send your guest packing (literally) with a gift that encapsulates the moment or celebrates the local area!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shout-out would be primarily dedicated to my husband and children. Without them, there would be no Hotels to Home Lifestyle, no lifestyle brand. Not only did they live through decades of Hotels to Home experimentation, but they encouraged me to share our brand of living with the world.

This book wasn’t created in an author vacuum. I’m grateful to my editing team (Stephanie Hoselton and Callie Brennan), illustrator (Lukas Howell), and digital creative (Sarah McArthur). A dynamic group, that worked well together, and supported me during the publishing process.

Lastly, Austin Macauley Publishers for liking the manuscript – even in the early stages!

Website: tohomelifestyling.com

Instagram: @hotelstohome

Image Credits
Lexa Vail Thompson (images) Sarah McArthur (digital art)