The Story of a Modern Holiday

How did Modern Holiday get started?

Ash Reddy is the CEO and founder of Modern Holiday and the heart, design and purpose built nature of each experience they offer is a reflection of her mindset and skills. Each location has been hand selected and designed. The Reddy’s are a family of 4 + their beloved dogs, Fern and Yuki.

Ash: “We started investing in cabins and cottages in our favorite parts of the Blue Ridge knowing that the beauty and poetic wildness of the areas deserves to be celebrated and was under represented. We wanted to provide spaces for rest and enjoying nature. Our focus on demonstrating authentic hospitality paid off quickly and we were soon fully booked at the first cabin and on to the next. Over 250 Five Star Reviews later we continue to iterate on providing enhanced positive experiences for our guests.

In 2021 we bought a 30 acre retreat property in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado and two additional properties near by in the San Luis Valley. These properties will offer luxury a-frame cabins surrounded by the glory of the mountains as well as a facility to host spiritual retreats, micro weddings, ceremonies and writing retreats.”

Goutham is from Southeast Asia and Ash grew up in Papua New Guinea. Destiny allowed them to meet in the great state of Arizona in 2017. Emerson joined the family in 2019.

Ash has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, is a talented musician and songwriter, a mother, a writer, adventuress and poet. Growing up in a third culture, and traveling often since childhood, Ash can be comfortable anywhere and has a gift for hospitality. She spent her formative years on the island of West New Britain. After returning to the US she lived on a sailboat in the Puget Sound, a geodesic dome in the Arizona desert, a mountain cabin and many interesting locations in between.

She loves islands and mountains. Don’t be surprised if a few boats and geodesic domes become available for renting soon.

Ash works as a Senior Engineering Manager for a SAAS company. She remains the President of the Reddy Investment Group, founded in 2021, and CEO of A Modern Holiday, founded in 2023. The Reddy’s also own a company that sells, designs and installs fireplaces and hearth products.

Goutham was the Co-Founder of Luna7Solutions in 2018, is the company’s most consistent and established financial investor and the Vice President of Reddy Investment Group. Goutham leads in his field as an Applications Development Manager and talented Engineer. Goutham is also a writer, entrepreneur, spiritual guide, and actively engaged father to Emerson.

Ash: “Modern Holiday is an extension of us, who we are, and the legacy we want to leave. Modern Holiday and it’s parent companies, are part of how we give back for the blessings in our lives.”

Her and Goutham agree, “We want to foster the gift of presence and connection, make it accessible for people to have experiences in nature, opportunities for healing, joy and all the amenities for magical moments.”

Ash: “Most people will find our entire scenario unconventional but I like it that way. I am not a conventional person and of course my companies wouldn’t be either. I give away about half of what the company earns, sometimes more. We give back to the communities we own spaces in, donate to non-profits we care about, and reinvest the rest. I do a lot of research and then trust my instincts.”

The company thought about taking external funding from investors in 2021 but ultimately decided that having complete freedom to operate and invest according to our principles was more important than growing faster.

“Guiding principles are foundational for us. We value generosity, intelligent design, and respect. We practice being flexible, open, and kind.”

Ash says it’s likely that hosted retreats and private events will be available to be scheduled starting in 2024. Information on Silent Retreats, Plant Medicine Retreats, Womb Healing, Meditation, and Lucid Dreaming workshops will be populating on the site soon.

Every Modern Holiday retreat location is professionally managed, cleaned, and maintained. Each location is individually designed, and offers modern conveniences like smart tv’s and fast wifi, luxury touches like organic bedding, private hot tubs and 24hr Remote Concierge Service. All of our properties have views of woods, mountains and have direct or private access to water.

”We stay as close to natural elements as possible and yet each location is accessible for family trips, best friend reunions, honeymoon, digital nomad, nature retreats, and business travel.”

Goutham says the St. Augustine properties are his favorite. “The city is ageless, majestic views everywhere, and the 2 properties we have on the islands are unique. Our marina front condo situated on Comachee Island is a hidden gem and the romantic aesthetic of watching the sailboats and sunset from the oversized balcony is hard to beat.

Likewise, Our Treasure Beach condo on Anastasia island is perched between the Intracoastal and the magnificent Atlantic, surrounded by pristine beaches with immediate, private beach access.”

The locations of these latest additions evidence a new level for Reddy Investment Group and the Reddy Fam is grateful for that.

Ash says: ”We want all of our investment decisions to reflect the wisdom of the past as well as the hope of the future, and that’s what you’ll see reflected in the design of our current and future spaces.”

The company continues to grow with 6 new locations in the works.

The thought and care put into each Modern Holiday location is a differentiator from other short term rental experiences.