Lessons learned from hosting on AirbnB
March 7, 2023
Generate income and develop hospitality and communication skills
As a former Airbnb host for four years, I was able to generate extra income and develop my hospitality and communication skills. In addition, my experience as a host also helped me finance my education fees, and housing while working on my startup. In this blog post, I will share the lessons I learned from hosting on Airbnb and how I used those experiences to start my own business.
Benefits of hosting on Airbnb
Hosting on Airbnb provides many benefits beyond the extra income. As a host, I was able to hone my hospitality and communication skills by creating a homey and welcoming space for guests. I also learned how to handle different types of guests and situations.
Lessons learned from hosting on Airbnb
Hosting on Airbnb taught me the importance of attention to detail, communication and responsiveness, and flexibility and adaptability. Attention to detail was critical to creating a welcoming and comfortable space for guests. Communication and responsiveness helped ensure a positive experience for both myself and my guests. Being flexible and adaptable allowed me to handle unexpected situations that inevitably arise when hosting.
Using Airbnb resources to start a business
As a successful Airbnb host, I was able to use the financial resources I gained to pay partly for my university fees, housing and start my own business. My startup idea was inspired by my experience as a host and the needs I identified while hosting guests. This allowed me to create a product that directly addressed those needs, and to use my existing hospitality and communication skills in new ways.
Challenges faced in transitioning from hosting to entrepreneurship
Transitioning from hosting to entrepreneurship presented some challenges. Balancing hosting responsibilities with starting a business was difficult, but ultimately manageable with good time management. The skill sets needed for entrepreneurship were different from those needed for hosting, but my experience in hosting gave me a strong foundation to build upon. Dealing with uncertainties and risks was also challenging, but I found that my experience as a host helped me stay adaptable and flexible.
Hosting on Airbnb provided me with valuable lessons and experiences that allowed me to successfully transition to entrepreneurship. By paying attention to detail, being responsive and communicative, and staying adaptable, I was able to build a successful startup. I encourage others to consider hosting on Airbnb as a way to gain valuable experience and resources that can be used to start their own business from home.
