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Coronavirus

Pregnant Short-Term Rental CEO on Facing Work-Life Challenges During the Pandemic

Dennis Schaal photo
Rena Pacheco-Theard

Photo Credit: Rena Pacheco-Theard is co-founder and CEO of luxury short-term rental startup Butiq. Boutiq

Skift Take

Even in a time of uncertainty, new trends and opportunities are emerging, and startup founders are carrying on with the business of building companies, as well as families. Over the next 12 months, companies that can show strong unit economics, counter-cyclical resiliency and resourcefulness will rise to the top.

Series: Viewpoint

For our Viewpoint series, Skift invites thought leaders, some from the less obvious corners of travel, to join in the conversation. We know that these independent voices are important to the dialogue within the industry. Our guest columnists will identify and shape what global trends and through lines will define the future of travel.
What a surreal time this is. The world is under siege from an invisible assailant, and as I write this, the U.S. now leads the world in confirmed Covid-19 cases. Those who are sick or could be sick are expected to isolate immediately from those who love them most and want to care for them as they battle a virus that has killed at least 1,000 Americans and 20,000 people worldwide. The economy is reeling, with 3.3 million Americans filing for unemployment in the prior week, the most single-week filings in U.S. history. And it’s especially bad if you are in the travel business. My name is Rena Pacheco-Theard, and I’m the CEO of Boutiq, a Techstars-backed travel startup that is using machine learning to buy vacation rental homes that we own and operate under the Boutiq brand. Also, I’m in my ninth month of pregnancy, and my husband is my co-founder, so we are truly “all in” together on all fronts. In the midst of the Covid-19 health pandemic and economic distress, this may not seem like the best time to be launching a business —let alone a travel industry startup — or to be

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