Ryan Hiser and David Tran didn’t set out to become hoteliers. Hiser’s professional background is as a therapist and Tran worked in healthcare.
But as early adopters of Airbnb–in 2013, they began renting out a room in their two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Kansas City–they gained experience in both hospitality and customer service. “We bought our first house right when we got out of school,” says Hiser. “I think David had been working as a pharmacist for literally one week. Airbnb was a way to help us pay the bills.”
The experience introduced the couple to travelers from across the country. “We were literally sharing our bathroom with Airbnb guests,” says Tran. “We learned what guests are looking for when they stay somewhere.”…