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

Hi Kels, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea of our business comes from two inspirations. The first inspiration was that we’ve been enjoying staying in local homestays while traveling. We started to choose Airbnb/Vrbo over hotels in 2014 because of more space, better amenities, kitchens, lower cost, a washer & dryer, and much more. We appreciate the moment that everyone sits together and enjoys the dinner that we made by ourselves. We enjoy the space to play board games with friends and families. We love the moment that we sit in front of the fireplace and have cups of hot chocolate. We also love to grill delicious food on the deck. A cabin provides the opportunity to experience all of these moments and the feeling of getting together. The second inspiration was the Great Smoky Mountains (GSM). Before we started our business, we visited GSM a few times. As a national park, Smoky Mountains not only provide world-class scenery, but also tons of fun activities. We love hiking, rafting, kayaking, wildlife, and exploring nature. We also love the family-friendly fun activities in two towns at the bottom of the mountains – Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. For example, the towns have one of the only two Titanic Museums in the US, adventurous and fun Dollywood Theme Park, Anakeesta, Pirates Voyage dinner show, Island of Pigeon Forge, and so on and so forth. I don’t think there are any other national parks in the country surrounded by so many great activities for all ages. With the great experiences of staying in Airbnb and awesome offerings in the Great Smoky Mountains, we were inspired to run our own business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are most proud of our tenents. We aim to create great memories for our guests. The memory includes a warm and comfortable stay, cozy and unique interior design, brand-new furniture, convenient location, great resort amenities, and most importantly, sincere and timely customer service. Whenever we have obstacles, difficulties, challenges or questions, we always go back to our tenets and check what is the best for our guests. It’s not easy to get were we are today. Starting my own business definitely comes with risks – carrying a sizable monthly loan, dealing with urgent customer issues, and paying for unexpected repairs. Especially in the current economic downturn, we are actually taking greater risks on the basis of the past. But these risks also bring opportunities. First of all, we can bring our favorite local homestay experience in our favorite national park to many guests, providing guests with a comfortable and cozy living environment and cordial customer service. Being part of other people’s great memories and bringing happiness to others fulfills our hearts. This is one of the life tenets we ​​pursue. Risk is everywhere in my life and career. More than ten years ago, I came to the United States alone with a backpack and two large suitcases and started my studying-abroad trip. I started a wonderful adventure in a strange country, speaking a second language. Over the last decade or so, risks have come along with almost every single choice. If there is no risk, there is no opportunity and then no growth and success. Although I am willing to embrace risk, I believe that I can’t run around like a headless fly. I have to be prepared, go all out, and work hard to thrive in risky situations.

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.
I will take my best friend to live in our cabin, first go to the deck to enjoy the warm hottub, overlooking the beautiful Great Smoky Mountain, if it happens to be the fall season, she will see world-class sceneryfull of red leaves. After the huttub, I will take her to the arcade on the first floor to play, and then turn on the TV to watch. There are many streaming services on the TV, such as Netflix, Youtube, HBO, Prime Video, etc. We have many choices. Then we cook a delicious dinner in the fully equipped kitchen. If my best friend doesn’t want to cook, we can also order food because the location is very convenient. Here I will recommend Chesapeake’s Seafood House or Local Goat like her. Chesapeake’s Seafood House allows us to eat fresh seafood in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Local Goat uses locally sourced ingredients to make delicious food. Both are my top choice. After dinner, we can light up the fireplace, have a cup of hot cocoa, and play board games. Next, I want to take my friend up the mountain. First, I take her to Clingmans Dome, which is the highest point in the national park and overlooks the entire mountain range. On the way to Clingmans Dome, we will pass Newfound Gap Overlook. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered the iconic speech on the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains here. Moreover, the view here is open-wided, a best spot for overlooking. In addition to the mountain, I also plan to take her to play in the town at the foot of the mountain. First, I will take her to the Dollywood Theme Park with roller coasters and shows to experience the fun and excitement. Then I will take her to Anakeesta to watch Astra Lumina, play zipline and walks on the glass skyline bridge. I believe she will have a blast week long trip in Great Smoky Mountains!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my mom. My mom has always been so supportive and inspiring. For example, she started selling gadgets online 20 years ago when online shopping just began. Having my own business is a new thing for me, because I am used to working in a company. When I had the idea of starting my own business, I shared it with my mother. She was very supportive and encouraging. That means a lot to me.

Website: https://sunriselatte.com/

Instagram: cabin_in_smoky_mountains

Facebook: Sunrise Latte Cabin in Great Smoky Mountains

Other: Xiaohongshu Alias: 大雾山小木屋SunriseLatte https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5b2edcca11be1010b7f8c887?xhsshare=WeixinSession&appuid=5b2edcca11be1010b7f8c887&apptime=1668656484

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