Accidental Superhost - Chris Sebastian DeMaio

Accidental Superhost (eBook)

MY JOURNEY FROM FORTUNE 20 EXECUTIVE TO 5-STAR SUPERHOST

Chris Sebastian DeMaio (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
184 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-6041-9 (ISBN)

'Accidental Superhost' tracks Chris Sebastian DeMaio's shift from Fortune 20 executive to Airbnb superhost. Drawing on 30 years in corporate leadership, Chris shares insights on empathy, communication, and adaptability. From entry-level to senior executive to founder of CarefreeNb Hosting, his story highlights passion, perseverance, and reinvention. Offering mentorship and coaching, he inspires others to excel. Blending guest stories with professional wisdom, the book is a guide to success in short-term rentals, emphasizing emotional intelligence and operational excellence. Whether seasoned entrepreneur or aspiring host, readers find practical advice and inspiration in navigating professional and personal paths.

Chris Sebastian DeMaio, is a seasoned executive who traded boardrooms for Airbnb listings and became a champion of guest experience. With nearly three decades entrenched in the corridors of corporate America, Chris honed his skills as a Fortune 20 executive, navigating the complexities of leadership, strategy, and innovation. Yet, his bold decision at the age of 46 to leave the corporate world would set him on an unforeseen path of entrepreneurship and reinvention. Retiring from his executive corporate position, Chris embraced the adventure of entrepreneurship, venturing into the burgeoning realm of Airbb hosting. What began as an experiment swiftly evolved into a passion as Chris discovered an instinctive talent for hospitality. As the founder of CarefreeNb Hosting, Chris redefined the standards of short-term rental management, earning accolades as a celebrated 5-star Superhost. With meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction, Chris elevated the guest experience and set a new benchmark for excellence. Yet, Chris's narrative extends beyond the realm of entrepreneurship. Recognizing the transformative potential of leadership and personal development, Chris embarked on a mission to empower others to reach their full potential. Through coaching and mentorship, Chris guides corporate leaders on their journey to success, imparting invaluable insights and strategies gleaned from his own remarkable career trajectory. 'Accidental Superhost' serves not only as a testament to Chris's resilience and adaptability but also as a source of inspiration for those navigating their own professional and personal journeys. With warmth, authenticity, and unwavering determination, Chris invites readers to embark on a voyage of self-discovery, reinvention, and boundless possibility.

"e;Accidental Superhost"e; chronicles Chris Sebastian DeMaio's unexpected journey from Fortune 20 corporate executive to celebrated Airbnb superhost and cohost. With nearly three decades of experience in the corporate world, Chris shares invaluable insights and lessons learned as he navigated the transition from boardrooms to Airbnb listings. Through engaging anecdotes and reflective narratives, Chris reveals the trials and triumphs of his career, emphasizing the importance of empathy, communication, and adaptability in both corporate leadership and hospitality management. From beginning as an 18-year-old entry-level employee to his early retirement as a respected senior executive, Chris's story is one of passion, perseverance, and reinvention. As the founder of CarefreeNb Hosting, he redefines the standards of guest experience in short-term rental management, earning accolades as one of the longest-tenured superhosts. Beyond entrepreneurship, Chris's narrative extends to mentorship and coaching, where he empowers others to reach their full potential. With warmth and authenticity, "e;Accidental Superhost"e; invites readers on a journey of self-discovery, offering inspiration and practical advice for those navigating their own professional and personal paths. "e;Accidental Superhost"e; is not just a memoir, but a practical guide to success in the dynamic world of short-term rentals. Chris blends actual guest stories and reviews with professional wisdom, delving into the intricacies of Airbnb hosting. From property selection to operational processes and creating standout guest experiences, his approach, rooted in emotional intelligence and operational excellence, offers readers a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the challenges and make the most of their journeys. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur seeking new ventures or an aspiring Airbnb host looking for guidance, this book is a compelling read that illuminates the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and embracing unforeseen opportunities.

GROWING UP

When I think back to my childhood, I always remember feeling older than I was at the time. I remember wanting to hang out with the parents more than the kids my age. I found them much more interesting. I distinctly remember my mom yelling at me as I attempted to join her and the other moms for coffee at the table. My mom subscribed to the "children should be seen and not heard" method, but unfortunately for her, I had a lot to say. It got me into a lot of trouble growing up.

If I had something to add, I would try to hold it in, only to have the burst of ideas erupt out of me like a volcano. I can still remember getting into a back-and-forth with my mother (who is equally as stubborn as me) and hearing my father yelling from the other room, "Christopher, ENOUGH!!!!!" I couldn't end it without making sure what was on my mind was said out loud.

I didn't realize it then, but this was a quality I would lean into throughout my teens and college. I have a knack for identifying areas where something could be done better and developing solutions. I would be open to vocalizing my findings and showing what they could look like with my possible solutions.

In elementary school, I was bizarrely fascinated with the main office. Every part of the operation of the school's administrative arm seemed magical, and I spent as much free time there as possible trying to decipher how things worked.

Of course, this led me to have opinions on how things could be done differently and, in my 11-year-old opinion, better. I tried convincing staff members five times my age that their processes could be improved.

What was I thinking?

In 5th grade, I noticed how the way buses were called at dismissal caused confusion and frustration among students. I started to poke around and see if there was any interest with the office staff in my findings. I was surprised to be met with several head nods and even an invitation to present at a staff meeting with the principal! This was my first data-informed proposal. I built a presentation that showed what the current process was and what opportunities there were with it. I then developed my solution, including a role for me calling the buses. I could tell that the principal and other officials didn’t know what to do with this 5th grader presenting to them. I knew they wanted to be supportive, but I was unsure they were taking me seriously. They respectfully listened to my pitch, and I could tell they were surprised by my ideas. After the presentation, one of the office managers approached me and said how they thought it would be “cute” that I wanted to present. She was happy to listen but was blown away by the practical ideas and how seriously I took solving the challenge. This conversation boosted my confidence and demonstrated that I should keep sharing what I saw and how to fix it.

The following week, there was an announcement over the loudspeaker: “Chris DeMaio, please report to the main office.” If you remember Elementary School, you will recall that I was met with many “do, you are in trouble” comments from my classmates. When I arrived at the office, the principal asked me to come to his office, and he shared how impressed everyone was with my presentation. He asked me if I would be interested in implementing my process and announcing the buses in my new way daily. I could not contain my excitement for my first office job! The new process was a success, and I was ecstatic to have a role in the office, even if it was only for the last 30 minutes of the day. I have always benefited so much by being in the spaces where adults are. I loved to listen, learn, and share a new perspective in a non-threatening way. As I moved into junior and senior high school, I took on leadership roles in student organizations.

When I was in High School, I had already discovered my love for business and process improvement. I learned about an organization called Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) under the leadership of Debora Gaber. This sounded like it was made for me, and I already knew I wanted to be a future business leader, so I joined. I quickly realized this was going to be my tribe. Not only did I learn about how to function in a business environment, but I also got to see what it was like to collaborate on a common goal with my fellow group members. I moved into a leadership position, and the lessons kept flowing. I learned more in this club than in some college business classes. I was learning practical applications of leadership, how to influence peers, and how to organize complex projects with many moving parts. These are skills that not only prepared me for my future career but made me stand out. It was essential also to get the foundations from the business classes, but honestly, learning and sharpening real-life skills in a safe environment where I could try things, fail, and learn was invaluable to my growth.

Even in these, a large part of the lure for me and my success was partnering with the advisor and the administration. I found a place that took everything I was naturally good at and put me in an environment to grow those skills. In my early days in FBLA, I focused on watching and listening to understand not only what the club was all about but also what the promise of a club like this was and what it took to live up to it. The way my mind works, I find it easier to deliver on work if I have total clarity on what we are trying to accomplish and why so that I can come up with solutions directly tied to achieving those goals. Getting wrapped up in the day's issues is easy, but anchoring back to your strategy helps you prioritize what you should focus on. Often, clubs were looked at as something you could put on a college application, and there was so much more that you could gain from being actively engaged in the club. I knew this was an area that I needed to pay attention to. I was a great example of someone who did not know what this club was all about until my junior year of high school, so I knew there was an opportunity to do a better job in marketing our club and be able also to highlight past members, what they learned and how it helped them in the real world of their careers.

Even as I write this, it is comical to me just how much I approached things in my younger years translated into my leadership style and how I would approach opportunities throughout my career. FBLA became an obsession for me. It was the closest thing to the business world I could have, and I loved every second of it. I had my hands in everything: organizing fundraising campaigns, bringing new members on board, and preparing for competitions. I wanted to be involved and leave my fingerprint on it all! I competed in Impromptu and Public Speaking and ranked high in my state. I enjoyed it, but I received more joy from being the one who planned the event rather than participating. The good news was that there was a significant need for that. I learned how to work with people older and more experienced than me and earn their respect as a peer. After graduating from High School, I wanted to start a chapter of FBLA at our Jr. High School and became the co-advisor with the fabulous Ellen Leopold. We were a dynamic duo, and it made me proud to bring all these great things to an even younger audience.

Throughout high school, I struggled with wanting to hit “fast forward" on everything. I wanted to be working; I tried to get that chapter of my life started already. I began to work retail jobs & eventually got a job working the front desk of a local hotel. This gave me my first glimpse into the hospitality business. I learned guest relations, how to set proper expectations, and how to handle conflicts. I also learned the business side of hospitality and saw how good business and good hospitality could feed each other. I saw firsthand how to resolve disputes that left the guest feeling heard and compensated for their inconvenience.

I remember one time I had a guest who was a frequent business traveler and a repeat guest of our hotel. He was usually very easy to please. This one time, it seemed like a perfect storm. We had issues with our in-room entertainment system, and our elevator was acting up. He usually had the same room each time he stayed with us. This is a guest that you want to ensure was happy because he and his company were great customers of our hotel. Quickly, I needed to get creative.

I booked him an upgraded room on the ground floor & offered to connect a DVD player (yes, this was that long ago) in his room that I would bring from home. Also, I would include a gift card to rent some movies. I even threw in some extra for popcorn and candy.

He was so happy that he quickly forgot about our issues and got excited for the fun night of movies ahead in this upgraded room. What it cost us was so minimal vs the risk of the impact of an unsatisfied corporate guest. Little did I realize at the time that I was learning a lesson that I would carry forward into my Airbnb journey.

I worked at the hotel throughout my later high school and college years. Even when I started my full-time corporate job, I kept working at the hotel. It was a few nights a week for a long time, and then I moved to being available on-call. I truly enjoyed it, and it allowed me to do schoolwork during down times. It also allowed me to keep my discount at other hotels to feed my love of traveling! When I first went for the job at the hotel, it was because it was a quarter of a mile from my parent's house. A five-minute walk! I could get used to that kind of commute! As I started to learn the hotel business, I enjoyed meeting so many people who were visiting...

Erscheint lt. Verlag	1.6.2024
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management ► Unternehmensführung / Management
ISBN-13	979-8-3509-6041-9 / 9798350960419

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