Guidepost Collective — Annual Membership
For the people who already know Northern Michigan is worth it and want someone who knows it as well as they do.
This isn't a travel service. It's a standing relationship.
You own a home up here, or you come back every year. You know the difference between a good summer and a great one — and it usually comes down to who you know.
Guidepost Collective is a private annual membership for a small group of clients who want a trusted local contact in their corner year-round. Not a booking platform. Not a chatbot. A real person who picks up the phone, knows the vendors worth calling, and handles the details before they become problems.
What membership looks like:
You reach out when you need something. I take it from there.
Home cleaners between visits
A private chef for the weekend
A mobile bar for the party
Restaurant reservations at places that don't take them easily
A reliable ride from the airport
Wine recommendations, florists, photographers, last-minute anything
If it exists in Northern Michigan and it's worth knowing about — I either know it or I'll find it
Membership is limited to 8 clients per year.
This is intentionally small. It stays personal because it stays small.
Annual membership starts at $900.
Choose Your Membership Tier
Essential Membership
$900/year — 5 founding spots available
Up to 5 concierge requests per month (restaurant reservations, vendor sourcing, activity planning, local recommendations)
Direct text and email access to Lisa — response within 24 hours
Pre-arrival planning call (up to 30 minutes) to go over your trip
Curated restaurant and activity recommendations tailored to your group
Vendor referrals with personal introductions (housekeepers, chefs, drivers, florists, photographers)
Access to a private member resource guide (updated seasonally)
Priority access to book limited local experiences before they fill
Premier Membership
$1,500/year — 3 founding spots available
Everything in Essential, plus:
Concierge requests with no cap on quick, single-task asks — larger coordination projects are scoped and quoted separately
Priority same-day response during business hours, Monday through Friday
Full trip coordination for visits — one call covers everything
Reservation management — I make the calls, confirm details, and follow up
Home watch check-ins when you are not in town (exterior visual, report emailed to you)
Two custom PDF itineraries per year included (seasonal planning guides)
First access to new vendor partnerships and exclusive local deals
What Is Not Included
Membership covers my time, expertise, and coordination. The following are billed separately and are not included in your annual fee:
Full-day on-site coordination (quoted separately, requires advance scheduling)
After-hours response for non-emergencies — I am available outside business hours only for genuine emergencies involving health, safety, or property damage that cannot wait (burst pipe, locked out of your home, medical situation, serious car trouble in a remote area, or a security concern). A burnt-out lightbulb, a last-minute dinner reservation, or a forgotten activity booking is not an emergency. If it can wait until morning, it should.
Cost of reservations, tickets, rentals, or any third-party services booked on your behalf
Vendor fees (chef, cleaner, driver, photographer, etc.)
Grocery or supply runs (available as an add-on service, quoted separately)
Large-scale event planning or on-site event management (quoted as a separate project)
Interior home cleaning or maintenance work (I refer trusted vendors for this)
How It Works
Step 1 — Apply. Fill out the short inquiry form below. Tell me a little about how you use Northern Michigan and what you are hoping for.
Step 2 — We connect. I will reach out within 48 hours to schedule a short intro call. No pressure, just a conversation to make sure it is a good fit for both of us.
Step 3 — You are in. Once your membership is confirmed and payment is processed, you have direct access to me. Text when you need something. I take it from there.
Hours & Availability
I am available Monday through Friday during regular business hours. I am one person, not a 24-hour call center, and I keep my membership small precisely, so every client gets real attention.
For genuine emergencies a burst pipe, a medical situation, being locked out of your property in winter, or a serious safety concern I will do my best to respond outside of those hours. That is what this relationship is for.
A burnt-out lightbulb is not an emergency. Neither is a dinner reservation you forgot to make. The honest rule of thumb: if it involves health, safety, or property damage that cannot wait, reach out. If it can wait until morning, it should.
Who Is Behind This
I am Lisa Knox, a Northern Michigan local who spent years working at Bay Harbor, Boyne Mountain, and Sunset Premier answering the same questions from guests and second homeowners every single season. Great restaurants, trustworthy vendors, the right people to call. Nobody had a resource for it. So, I built one.
Guidepost Collective is kept intentionally small because that is the only way I can deliver what I promise. You are not a ticket number. You are someone I know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a travel agency?
No. I do not book flights or hotels or earn commissions. I am a local concierge I handle the details that travel platforms cannot. Think of it as having a well-connected friend in Northern Michigan who picks up the phone.
Do I have to be a second homeowner to join?
No. Guidepost Collective is open to anyone who visits Northern Michigan regularly and wants consistent, reliable local support whether you own property here or rent the same cottage every summer.
What if I need something outside normal hours?
Send me a text and I will get back to you as soon as I am able. Urgent situations — a burst pipe, a vendor no-show, a last-minute emergency. I do my best to respond quickly. I am a real person, not a call center.
Can I cancel my membership?
Membership is annual and non-refundable once the membership period begins. You are welcome to choose not to renew at the end of your year. If something major changes on my end, I will always handle it fairly and personally.
How is this different from just Googling things myself?
Google gives you a list. I give you the right answer. I know which restaurant actually delivers on a Tuesday night, which cleaning crew shows up reliably, and which dock rental company to avoid. That local knowledge takes years to build. You are getting it on day one.
How many members do you take?
For launch, I am accepting 5 Essential members and 3 Premier members. That is, it. This is intentional I want to know each client and actually deliver. When spots fill, a waitlist opens.
What if the spots are full?
Join the waitlist and you will be the first to know when a spot opens. Members do occasionally step back, and I keep a short list of people who are ready. Fill out the application and note that you are waitlist-interested.
Ready to Make Northern Michigan Yours?
Founding membership spots are limited to 8 people total. This is not a marketing tactic it is how I ensure every member gets real attention and real results. If you have been dreaming about owning, renting, or truly knowing Northern Michigan, this is your moment to stop searching and start belonging.