Meet The Founders
Colibri Hospitality was built around the idea that great hospitality should feel personal, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the destination itself. Behind the scenes, our founders work alongside a trusted local network of cleaners, maintenance professionals, vendors, guides, and hospitality partners who help bring the Colibri experience to life every day.
Together, we combine decades of hospitality, property management, guest experience, and operational expertise with a shared passion for creating memorable stays in Costa Rica.
Elsie Rodríguez-Centeno
Founder & Partner
Originally from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Elsie has been deeply connected to the Playa Flamingo community for more than 20 years. Her local knowledge, operational experience, and genuine care for people make her an essential part of the Colibri Hospitality team.
Elsie began working in property management in Playa Flamingo in 2004. During her first four years in the industry, she focused on guest services, concierge support, owner payments, and payroll coordination. Over the following 11 years, she grew into a leadership role within the accounting department, helping oversee financial operations and day-to-day organizational systems.
Known for her reliability, warmth, and ability to bring people together, Elsie has often been described as “the heart” of the teams she has worked with throughout her career. She brings an infectious energy to everything she does and helps create the welcoming hospitality experience that Colibri is built around. Behind the scenes, she keeps operations moving quickly while making both guests and owners feel genuinely cared for.
At Colibri Hospitality, Elsie helps oversee local operations, vendor coordination, accounting support, and on-the-ground guest services. Her deep understanding of the area and long-standing local relationships are invaluable in creating a seamless experience for both owners and guests.
Outside of work, Elsie enjoys spending time outdoors, staying active, traveling, listening to music, and learning about new places and cultures. She is passionate about continuous learning and always looking for ways to grow both personally and professionally.
Fun facts about Elsie:
- Loves early morning walks before Playa Flamingo wakes up
- Pumpkin tea enthusiast
- Has more energy at 6am than most people do at noon
- Brings positivity and excitement everywhere she goes
- Somehow knows everyone in town
Cody Traxler
Founder & Managing Partner
Originally from Santa Barbara, Cody brings over a decade of experience in boutique hospitality, vacation rentals, and guest experience strategy. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from San Diego State University and has spent the last 10 years helping develop one of California’s top-rated boutique hotels.
With his contributions, the hotel consistently achieves the #1 ranking in both the city and the state on TripAdvisor, built on an unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction and memorable hospitality experiences.
Cody has also spent the past 10 years hosting on Airbnb, maintaining Superhost status with more than 2,000 five-star reviews and a 4.98 overall host rating. His hospitality style focuses on creating stays that feel seamless, personal, and thoughtfully curated rather than transactional.
Within Colibri Hospitality, Cody oversees company direction, owner relations, marketing strategy, technology systems, and guest experience development. He is especially passionate about hospitality technology and using creative systems to improve both the owner and guest experience.
Outside of work, Cody spends as much time near the ocean as possible. He’s an avid scuba diver, photographer, and traveler, and also runs the Costa Rica travel blog Ultimate Pura Vida, where he shares destination guides, local travel tips, and favorite hidden spots throughout the country.
Fun facts about Cody:
- Gets mildly obsessive about random hobbies and niche skills
- Currently working on bringing silent disco events to the area
- Can turn a casual vacation into a full property audit in under 20 minutes (sorry Anna 😘)
We know your property is more than just a listing.
Let’s talk about how we can elevate the experience together.