We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia Jacobo LaBrie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cynthia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
From a young age, I was enchanted by the world of hospitality without even realizing it. I loved making my room a clean, serene, and organized space, often cleaning my parents house and rearranging their furniture haha. Every time my family went on vacation and we stayed in a hotel, I’d be mesmerized by the perfectly arranged linens, the comforting aroma, and those thoughtful little touches that made each stay feel like a mini vacation. It sparked a dream in me—to one day create those magical moments for others.
In 2021, mental health challenges forced me to leave my corporate job just as I was starting my journey with marriage. It was a tough time, but amidst it all, I decided to start a cleaning business with only $50 and a big dream. It was a leap of faith, and while I felt alone in this entrepreneurial journey, my husband’s support and my deep faith kept me going. I didn’t know exactly how I’d do it, but with my business background, I decided to trust the process and walk in faith.
One of my first clients owned vacation rental homes, and cleaning for them became much more than a job. It was about crafting welcoming experiences, ensuring every detail was perfect—from the cozy setting of the AC to the plush robes and personalized touches. Treating each property as if it were my own, I made it my mission to deliver a 5-star luxury experience, no matter the size of the space.
2022 was the year that changed everything, Refresh Spaces Co. was born. It was a blessing to immerse myself in learning every aspect of the hospitality industry—from crafting enticing listings and orchestrating beautiful photoshoots to designing spaces that felt like home and handling every guest interaction with care. What started with one property blossomed into managing multiple, with more on the horizon.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Cynthia, I was born in Monterrey, Mexico. At 15, I moved to Texas for high school, my first experience living away from home. I spent years moving between Mexico and Texas, learning to navigate both cultures and becoming the packing expert lol.
In 2018, I graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Business, focusing on Entrepreneurship, and a minor in Theatre. Today, I live in Austin with my husband, Trevor, and our dog, Coco. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and traveling. My passion for traveling, hospitality, and real estate inspired me to start Refresh Spaces Co., and it’s been a rewarding journey ever since!
Refresh Spaces Co is more than just a business; it’s one of my passions. I combine creativity and hospitality to make every stay memorable, from cozy cottages to stylish city lofts.
We offer top-tier boutique property management for investors, luxury property owners, and seasonal residents. Our mission is to provide a seamless experience based on transparency, reliability, and integrity, always innovating to set new standards.
A property isn’t just an asset; it’s an investment that deserves the best. We handle all the details so our clients can relax, knowing their property is in expert hands. We’re excited to expand from Texas into Mexico and beyond!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
1. Leading with integrity, authenticity and dedication
2. Building long-term relationships with our clients, guests, vendors, contractors and industry professionals
3. Getting 5-star reviews
4. Being reliable and showing results
5. Thinking outside the box-finding ways to improve our services
At the end of the day, enjoying what you do and the rest will follow. :)
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
YES! First, I always invite God into my business, he is the best business partner and the reason behind Refresh Spaces Co. Second, I love attending conferences, networking events, reading and learning from podcasts.
My fave podcasts in the STR space are BiggerPockets, the STR Sisterhood, No vacancy and Thanks for Visiting. They are all amazing and great inspirations for hosts like me.
I also enjoy a good book. I am currently a part of the STR bookclub, it is a group of hosts, property managers, and property owners in the STR space and we read 1 book a month and have a discussions every month. It is important to be a part of a community and stay encouraged. We are currently reading the Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.
Some other books that have inspired me to become a better CEO and leader are Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, the one thing by Gary Keller, the power of one more by Ed Mylett and The 80/20 CEO by Bill Canady.
I love learning something new everyday!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.refreshspaces.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refreshspaces/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refreshspacesco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiajlabrie/
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Pictures by Ariel Esparza for Refresh Spaces Co