Featured Airbnb Host- Stay Wildflower
We love introducing some of the hosts who inspire us to the broader hosting community! That’s why we’re proud to share our interview with Stay Wildflower. Keep reading to hear what they have to say about hosting!
Q: How did you get started hosting?
A: About 6 years ago, Airbnb was still very new. Our family owned an apartment building in Los Angeles with a vacant unit that was struggling to fill with a long term tenant. Shannon, my wife, had the idea of putting it up on Airbnb to see if there was any demand. We quickly went to work-- she designed the unit from scratch, I built the furniture, and we took photos of the spaces. The day we listed it on Airbnb, we had three people reach out to us and we made our first booking with check-in the next day! At that point we thought that maybe there was something to Airbnb. That was 6 years ago. Since then we have designed 23 homes in Los Angeles and welcomed over 7,000 guests!
When creating Stay Wildflower, our vision was to create a unique design in each apartment. Since Los Angeles is saturated with hotels, it was essential to envision a ‘non-corporate’ look. We didn’t want each apartment to be the same and have this cookie cutter design. Instead we wanted to utilize our skills and create a story within the space. If you look at each of the apartments, the interior design differs. Shannon’s expertise in this area was to create a non-traditional apartment where different colors and elements could be used to still create a homey feel. We believe that has been accomplished.
Also, we wanted to give people the flexibility when traveling, especially for long term stays. Due to the global pandemic, more people are searching for extended stays but aren’t wanting to commit to a year-long lease. Stay Wildflower guests are able to book and aren’t tied to a larger agreement. Even more so, each space has the essentials (such as laundry detergent, a vacuum, kitchen utensils) so guests don’t need to go out and buy these items for themselves. We want the stay to be seamless and easy-- exactly what we would be looking for when traveling.
Q: How has it changed your life?
A: This business has completely changed my life! And not just for me, but everyone involved in Stay Wildflower. I never would have imagined how far we would come in making this company the way that it is now. It has changed from being a side hustle to becoming my main focus. From providing housekeeping jobs to growing our marketing presence, it has slowly grown more and more. It has allowed us to open our doors to people of all cultures and backgrounds – we have welcomed guests from Bali, Turkey, Japan, etc. It has been such a privilege to be the gateway to the ultimate Los Anglees experience. Trust us when we say, we are not looking to stop any time soon!
Q: What are your best design/hosting tips - or what tips have helped you the most?
A: Don’t follow the trends. That is what sets Stay Wildflower apart from other Airbnbs. Each of our apartments have unique designs that don’t compare one to another. We want guests to look at our apartments and pick the one that speaks to them.
If you are going to be different and creative, you want to have a cohesive look that incorporates unique pieces. For example, one of our apartments has a bright neon orange couch and a zebra printed rug. You would think we are crazy, but it is one of the most demanded apartments! Guests want places that transport them from the norm to something more unique and creative. Don’t be afraid to take that challenge. I guarantee that more times than not it will work out!
In terms of hosting, communication is key. With a small but mighty team, we are able to accomplish a lot by consistently updating each other on activities within the company. Since we are an all-hands-on-deck group, it is essential to keep each other in the loop to ensure a smooth transition from one guest’s stay to another. It makes it even trickier that we have two buildings that we are managing, but really what it comes down to is finding employees that enjoy what they do and will do it!
Q: Has COVID changed your business model? Is there anything you plan to change?
A: COVID has definitely changed our business model. With any business involved in the hospitality industry, it has greatly affected our bookings. People were booking, cancelling, and then going completely quiet all together. It became very difficult to forecast occupancy and rate however time it started slowly growing once again.
Since all of our bookings are 30 days or longer, we thought this would become our downfall. However, over time, we noticed this became quite a positive! These long term stays were perfect since people were looking to work remote or take long vacations in large metropolitan areas– this required providing a reasonable rate for a fully furnished apartment. That was exactly what we were offering! Stay Wildflower became part of this niche market that travelers were seeking.
In the last couple of months, our focus has been to provide an elevated hotel experience in the comfortability of your own space. By changing the traditional model, we have done exactly that!
Stay Wildflower is a verified Airbnb superhost in California and has a track record of success. You can visit Stay Wildflower by going to their Instagram page or their listing on Airbnb.
If you’d like to get featured or have a host you’d like to be featured, please email us or send us a message on our Instagram page and let us know!