Just over three years ago I decided, along with my mom and sister, to
convert a separate unit of my parents' house into a guesthouse.
The unit, accessed from the back part of the house, served as my
father's workroom. It was filled with an
unfathomable number of books and magazines, tools for his leather work, and
small desert animals about which he lectured.
He was a high school biology teacher, a marksman, a leatherworker, an
expert on dogs and on desert animals, and an artist. His office was a mess, as was the entire back
yard. For so many years none of us saw
the potential this place had, overlooking the beautiful Negev desert and the
Dead Sea in southern Israel.
After my dad had moved into a retirement home, I suggested we turn his
workroom into a guesthouse. I envisioned
a high-quality establishment for couples looking for relaxation.
My thought process began with an evaluation of assets and
constraints.
The unit was small, comprised of three spaces. Clearly one would become a bedroom and the
other a bathroom. The third could be
converted into one of three - a living room, kitchen, or dining area. The backyard, adjacent to the living unit,
was very large and situated on a cliff overlooking the desert.
I put myself in my guests' shoes.
I tried to imagine what a couple visiting from abroad might want from a place
like mine. For me, the desert was not
that special – after all, I grew up in this area. But for tourists visiting from colder,
greener, and wetter areas, the desert would be a major attraction. So, the backyard with its view of the desert
and the Dead Sea had to be fully exploited.
It would become a large wooden deck, filled with amenities such as a
swing, a gazebo, and a grill.
The living unit had to be top notch.
Couples traveling from abroad, visiting the hot desert, would want nothing
less than perfection. I therefore
invested in a world class bed, a large TV with endless channels, and a
comfortable shower with never ending hot water.
As for the third room – I decided to turn it into a fully equipped kitchen.
I wanted to create a memorable experience.
It wasn't just about the comfortable bed or large kitchen. I had to make my guests feel like they were
the center of attention, even if they stayed for just for one night. I literally put myself in their shoes,
thinking of every need I might address.
Band-aids, Q-tips, soymilk, regular milk, water, ice, coffee, tea, salt,
pepper, oil… you get the picture. I even bought a garlic crusher.
And of course – uncompromising cleanliness. Down to the last detail.
Feedback
My guesthouse can be booked through booking.com and AirBnB, which is
also where one would find reviews and feedback.
Not surprisingly, the same things I spent so much time thinking about
are also those about which most guests comment: the cleanliness, the attention
to detail, the comfort, the views, the service.
Conclusion
Much more went into building my business. There were financial matters, market
research, marketing and sales, ongoing maintenance, and more. But these are the top three elements that
contributed to my success: understanding what I have to work with, thinking
about the place from my customers' perspective, and doing what it takes to meet
their every need. The feedback speaks
for itself.
