Cabin Safety Comes First: How We Protect Our Guests

Safety has become one of the most important—and most discussed—topics in the short-term rental industry. Recent tragic events, including a deadly vacation rental fire in New York last summer and the more recent Airbnb fire in Montreal, have placed a renewed spotlight on safety standards across the industry.

Unlike hotels, which operate under long-established and highly regulated safety frameworks, short-term rentals have historically lacked consistent education, oversight, and standardized safety practices. The unique nature of vacation rental homes means that safety cannot be approached with a one-size-fits-all mindset. As a result, national organizations such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Safety Council have begun issuing guidance to help consumers better understand the risks associated with renting private homes. It's time to implement safety practices for safer vacations!

A Strong Foundation in State Safety Standards

Sevier County, TN and the Town of Hochatown have been leaders in advancing safety requirements for short-term rentals. Current laws require the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in all short-term rental properties. In addition, state law mandates that transient rental properties adhere to applicable building codes.

These building codes address critical safety elements such as proper fire extinguisher placement, stair and handrail requirements, and appropriate emergency egress from sleeping areas and bedrooms. Short-term rentals are classified under building codes as transient rental properties, and resources such as NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) are commonly referenced to ensure compliance and guest safety.

Partnering With Industry Leaders in Safety

In 2025, we partnered with Breezeway, a leading operations and property care platform for short-term rentals, to manage the “back-of-house” operations of the properties we oversee. Beyond its technology, Breezeway is widely recognized for its leadership in vacation rental safety. Breezeway employs Justin Ford, the leading safety expert in the short-term rental industry. Justin is frequently featured in national media, including Good Morning America, and consults with Airbnb, Vrbo, and short-term rental operators worldwide to help improve safety standards. Through partnerships with major insurance providers, Breezeway has also analyzed the most common causes of safety-related insurance claims and developed a comprehensive inspection checklist designed to prevent them.

Certified Safety Inspections for Every Property

As part of our commitment to safety, every member of Great Escape Shop has completed the industry’s only Short-Term Rental Safety Inspector (STRSI) certification program. This certification ensures that our team is trained to identify risks, recommend improvements, and help protect both guests and property owners. Our role is to ensure that every guest enjoys a safe and secure stay. To that end, we are implementing a two-step safety program focused on preventing guest injuries and reducing the risk of legal exposure related to safety incidents.

Our Priorities Moving Forward

Our immediate focus is ensuring that all properties meet or exceed requirements for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors ahead of the next rental season. We will contact owners individually with any recommended improvements. Throughout 2025, we will prioritize critical life-safety items first. Recommendations related to injury prevention and other lower-risk safety enhancements will follow, with the goal of addressing those items in 2026.

Safety is not a one-time checklist—it is an ongoing commitment. By investing in education, certification, and proactive inspections, we are raising the bar for short-term rental safety and working to protect our guests, our owners, and our community.