I got started as a short term rental and Airbnb host almost by accident. It was 2010, my son had just been born. Plus my parents and my friends were often coming to visit us in Tokyo. Our 2 bedroom apartment just didn’t have space for guests any longer.
Finding suitable local accommodation nearby on Airbnb was a complete nightmare. Every time it was a gamble. Some places lacked facilities to make tea and coffee. Others had no cooking equipment so you couldn’t even prepare a simple breakfast.
And beds were a problem too – my dad has had knee surgery so a futon to sleep on and cushion to sit on were just not good enough.
I realised renting a “second home” for family and friends made sense. At least I could provide proper beds and comfortable chairs! And I thought if I listed on Airbnb and had paying guests about half the time I <might> break even. That was what I was hoping for. So you can imagine my utter surprise when there was a massive demand for my apartment.
I’d picked a sensible-sized apartment, and equipped it with everything my parents and friends would need. It certainly appealed to a lot of people because we were full immediately… I was completely shocked at the success I was able to achieve in such a short time.
I quickly learned a lot about what guests needed and wanted. I also drew on all my experience in both the hospitality industry and in customer service but also looked at the kind of people I had come across in all my years in Japan and thought about what they would want also.
Since the age of 15 I’ve had lots of “customer facing” jobs. Not stuck in an office, but out there with the customers, talking to them and above all, listening.
I’ve worked in cafes and bars, as well as retail stores and food service for large chains. I’ve picked up lots of techniques and knowledge for creating a perfect customer experience. It’s incredibly rewarding. And it’s very powerful. After all, people are really buying experiences, not products and services.
Following the shocking success of my first little property, I added more. A lot more. Over the next 5 years I grew my business to 23 properties all over Tokyo: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meguro, Taito, Suginami, Nakano, Chiyoda, Minato and Setagaya.
It grew to a 7-figure business employing a team of 6 and kepts us running off our feet. What a rush this was. We learned so much. We have now consoldated and focused on profit margins rather than simply revenue. So I now run 10 key properties in 5 wards of Tokyo and can also consult on how best to grow a business or to close down a property at minimum loss and highest efficiency.
I’ve had over 2500 groups at my properties since 2010. Usually 4-5 guests come, but I’ve had groups of up to 16. So I’ve taken care of at least 12,000 guests over the past 8 years. I’ve had many magical moments as a host, and I’ve solved tons of problems. You can benefit from my experience. If you’d like to help you attract the best possible guests, just drop me a message here.
And make sure you sign up to receive a copy of my ebook “7 Mistakes You’re Making Right Now (And How To Fix Them)”
