Hi everyone, my name is Chrissy. I have a downtown San Jose Victorian B&B (center of the Silicon Valley), and I am a super host. I have been open since 2017. I really enjoyed the run, even thought it was a ton of work and constant (sometimes around the clock) communication with guests and upcoming guests. My business is reliant on the San Jose Convention Center hosting large events so I get 90% of my customers from the tech community overflow as events such as the Apple Developer's Conference create the hotels to not only sell out (in our and neighboring cities), but raise their prices to as high as $900/night, so my inexpensive Airbnb rooms were a great alternative - even with a shared bathroom with other guests.
Alas, when I was in the middle of investing more money and remodeling, I get the bad news that my $7,000 month of March was basically getting completely canceled with no warning. It was a devastating blow and left me with no way to pay my bills. I also have no way to pay future bills as I don't think 2020 or 2021 for that matter, will see the normal travel to San Jose any longer. (My guests were a large percentage international.) I dread my $10,000 annual bills for property tax, insurance etc. to arrive in the Fall because now I will not be able to pay that fee.
I put my entire home for rent to the first responders with 30% discounts in fact. I have not had one inquiry. I think there is a death in our industry locally. I have been reading about the term "PIVOT" in reference to business models such as mine and maybe many of you out there.
It is a kind way of suggesting to start a new business. lol It talks about changing or altering your business model to meet the new guidelines of COVID19, but let's face it. The customer is gone. With no demand, you can have all the supply in the world but it will do you no good.
Perhaps if Airbnb wants to survive, our fearless leader needs to come up with one "hell of a PIVOT" model!
TTFN, Chrissy