I distinctly remember the nerves I had before hosting my first guest in November 2016. We had spent many months getting our dreamy little cabin in the woods just right. The plan was simple and adorably naive: Rent it out sometimes, offset a few costs, cover insurance or sneak in a small renovation project here and there.
Little did we know, this would turn into a real business. Back then, there weren’t endless resources, like Facebook groups, webinars, or how-to guides. Hosting felt a bit like the Wild West. I didn’t know any other hosts. Every decision was based purely on instinct, including pricing, policies, and communication with guests.
It was a little terrifying, but also exhilarating. Then our county introduced new regulations requiring a local contact who could be physically present within 30 minutes if something went wrong.
That’s how I met my first host friend. We talked for hours about hosting. We discussed the best way to make a bed, the ideal cancellation policy, what items to stock, and what actually mattered to guests. We shared resources and slowly built a rhythm.
Before that, I had always thought of hosting as one of the loneliest businesses out there. I wasn’t wrong, but I was just missing the right people.
About five years later, Airbnb asked if I’d be interested in becoming a volunteer community leader and starting a Host Club in Sonoma County. After an interview process, I was introduced to my co-leader.
From our very first call, we clicked. We wanted to create a community where hosts could share ideas, talk about local issues, ask questions, and, most importantly, feel supported. The process was slow. But little by little, hosts began to join. Some jumped right in, commenting and sharing online. Others quietly observed from the sidelines.
Then we began to meet in person. I’ll never forget one of our first gatherings, a fall evening when I served homemade lasagna, garlic bread, salad, and wine to 40 or 50 hosts. We ate, laughed, and swapped stories late into the night.
After that night, I never felt alone in hosting. The town and area where we hosted also started to feel like home.
Being a community leader led me to one of the greatest honors of my hosting life. I was nominated and accepted for a seat on the 2026 Airbnb Host Advisory Board, where I get to partner with Airbnb and offer my thoughts on hosting. I’m honored to serve alongside 22 other board members from 17 countries.
So, here’s my advice: Find your people. Join your local Host Club if you have one or the global community. If you don’t, this might be your sign to start one. It’s easy to join. Head to your hosting dashboard, click the three-line menu, go to hosting resources, and your local club should pop right up.
Hosting isn’t just about listings, pricing, and 5-star reviews. It’s about community, and having a place to share the wins, challenges, funny moments, and tough moments.
Over the years, I’ve built real friendships through my Host Club and global host community—and I’ve learned more about hosting, local resources, Airbnb, and other people that I could have on my own. It has truly changed my life.
