Dani is chatting with Evelyn Badia, the hostess with the mostest. She has been an Airbnb host since 2010 (before airbnb was cool and a verb).

When the economy shifted, Evelyn couldn’t find work in her industry as a TV producer. She stumbled upon Airbnb in the NY Times and decided to try it as a way to save her home. Evelyn shares about how her lifestyle changed and what it was like moving out of her home as a way of income. She tells the stories of how she started her listing and her first guest. We learn in this episode the lessons she’s learned from hosting - like setting boundaries and establishing realistic expectations with clear communication. She also shares about some of her favorite guests and funny moments, like when the guy ate her avocado.

Evelyn is the ultimate hostess because not only does she create a special experience for her guests but she also contributes to her community, lending her home to neighbors during challenging times like Hurricane Sandy and home repairs as well as for their families’ visits. She equips her guests with recommendations to give them the best NYC experience while also supporting local businesses in her neighborhood.

This conversation with Evelyn is a story of perseverance and resilience. She has created a new career in this unexpected chapter of her life, which is continuing to evolve. Seeing a need that was not getting met, she has created The Hosting Journey, an international community of hosts she offers information and support on everything from how to create a listing to how to get a stain out.

From moving to NYC from Puerto Rico at the age of 15 knowing no English to creating this new business and career for herself, Evelyn has proven to be tough, someone who takes new challenges; and we see lends that strength and her voice and experience as a host as an advocate for Airbnb and other hosts.

In this episode, you will learn what it looks like not only to become an Airbnb host but what it looks like to start a new chapter from an unfortunate situation. There are great lessons and nuggets of wisdom for you to digest.

You’ll also get answers to some questions like:

-what does she (and should you) look for in an Airbnb?

-does she ever stay in hotels?

-what makes her Airbnb a unique experience?

-what kinds of things guests have left her as gifts?

-what have been some of her interesting experiences as a guest?

Here’s where you can connect with Evelyn:

Listing: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/118971

Website: http://www.evelynbadia.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHostingJourney/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehostingjourney/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynBadiaBk