From 2 to 180 Properties: How Casago Highland Lakes Scales with Unified Operations

When brothers started their short-term rental journey in 2021 with a single cabin in Tennessee, they never imagined they'd be managing 180 properties across Texas by 2025. Here's how the right technology platform made massive growth possible.

Mike, owner of Casago Highland Lakes, shares his journey from frustrated property owner to successful franchise operator, and why centralizing operations became critical to his explosive growth.

The Challenge: Growing Without the Right Systems

Mike and his brother launched their short-term rental business in 2021 with a single cabin in Tennessee. The property performed well, but managing it from different states — Mike in Texas, his brother in Florida — quickly became frustrating. Every update or improvement relied on local vendors who didn’t share their urgency or vision. As they planned to grow, Mike knew they couldn’t scale with piecemeal systems and disconnected tools. They needed a centralized way to handle guest communications and operations without juggling multiple platforms — which led them to Enso Connect.

"The reason we got into Enso Connect in the first place is because we knew we were going to grow to a point where we had to have systems in place for communication. I didn't want to be working with multiple platforms connecting to other platforms if I could avoid it."

The Search: Finding the Right Unified Platform

Mike met Enso Connect’s CEO, Francois, at Streamline Summit - at just the right time. He was looking for a unified inbox solution. But what really stood out was how Enso combined messaging with smart lock integration and built-in guest vetting, all in one platform. Other tools he reviewed required coding-heavy setups or relied on third-party vendors to handle critical components like access and screening. Enso offered a more streamlined alternative.

"Other competitors, none of them have that integration of the smart lock like Enso. And that's huge. It's not just about avoiding paying the middleman, but I don't have a single throat to choke. Having a single relationship for all three of those things makes it easier for us to scale."

The Growth Story: From Local Startup to Casago Powerhouse

When the Casago merger was announced at the end of 2024, everything changed for Casago Highland Lakes. The company was set to scale from 12 to 180 properties practically overnight, spanning a two-and-a-half-hour radius across Central Texas. What had been a lean operation with one full-time employee in Austin now required a full team, including a general manager and support staff. This kind of growth wasn’t possible without the right systems.

“There’s no way we could scale without a centralized platform to manage guest communications. The unified inbox, automated messaging, built-in AI, and smart lock code generation - all of it made Enso Connect an easy choice.”

Essential Features Driving Success

Casago Highland Lakes currently uses Enso Connect to manage 12 properties with a lean, tech-powered operation. Key features include the unified inbox with AI-assisted guest messaging, the Boarding Pass for guiding guests from booking to checkout, integrated guest verification via Truvi (ex Superhog), and dynamic digital guidebooks. Automated upsells and centralized reporting give the team clear visibility into revenue, guest sentiment, and communication performance.
As they scale to 180 properties, these automation-ready tools will be critical to maintaining efficiency. They’ll unlock new revenue and ensure consistent, five-star guest experiences.

"It has been a godsend, not just for where we've been, growing from two to 12 properties, but now that we're doing this big acquisition."

Revenue Impact: Beyond Expectations

Automated upsells have become a surprising revenue driver for Casago Highland Lakes. From early check-ins and late checkouts to pet fees and excursions, the team is already seeing strong returns - driven directly through Enso Connect’s messaging flows.

And they’re just getting started.

"If you just look at early check-ins and late checkouts, it's been worth it. But there have been others - aftermarket pet fees, excursions. We haven't even gotten into the big market yet. Fredericksburg, Texas is a big wine destination. That's going to be huge."

Technology Integration and AI

For Mike, Enso Connect offered a faster, more intuitive alternative to building workflows inside Streamline PMS. While some features overlap with Streamline, the setup inside Enso was far simpler and more efficient.

He’s also leveraging EnsoAI to streamline guest messaging, using AI-generated replies that save time while staying on brand.

“I like that Enso’s AI doesn’t just automate blindly. It protects us from errors while making our team more efficient. And that’s only going to get more valuable as we scale.”

Digital Guidebooks: From Manual to Automated

Early on, Casago Highland Lakes relied on printed, custom-made guidebooks - a time-consuming process that didn’t scale. With Enso Connect, digital guidebooks are built directly into the platform and pre-filled with property-specific content based on location and amenities.

“Now when we onboard a new property, much of the guidebook is already ready to go. And with 180 properties on the horizon, that kind of automation is critical to our long-term success.”

Managing a Diverse Portfolio with Flexibility Built In

Casago Highland Lakes doesn’t manage properties in just one type of market. It spans a wide region, from Austin’s northern suburbs to rural lakeside towns, hill country retreats, and Texas wine destinations. It’s not a single city, but a patchwork of distinct guest expectations and property needs. That diversity demands flexibility.

“We manage very different types of destinations. Enso makes it easy to tailor the guest experience for each one, from lakefront escapes to wine country weekends, all within the same platform.”

Would You Recommend Enso to Vacation Rental Managers?

"I would, and I have. The main reason why we stick with Enso is the level of support. All these different things that we want to do in a single platform - we rely on Enso for a lot of different things, not just our universal inbox communications."

Key Takeaways for Property Managers

1. Single Platform Advantage
   Avoiding multiple integrations reduces complexity and creates accountability
   
   

2. Automation Enables Scale
   Manual processes that work for 2 properties break down at 180
   
   

3. Revenue Beyond Bookings
   Automated upsells can exceed expectations when properly implemented
   
   

4. AI as Assistant, Not Replacement
   Smart AI implementation protects against errors while improving efficiency
   
   

5. Flexible Systems for Diverse Markets
   One platform can serve urban, rural, and destination properties differently

For property managers facing similar growth challenges, Mike's experience demonstrates that the right technology partner doesn't just support growth. It makes explosive scaling possible.