11 years ago, in the early days of Airbnb, Diana Pasquali began hosting travelers in her home’s casita. Her short term rental is flooded with natural light and reminds guests to appreciate the little luxuries in life. Guests can pick berries and lemons from the garden and enjoy local coffee and tea plus complimentary snacks at the wood farm table. With the help of HostGPO’s Public Goods Discount Program, The Rockridge Casita in Oakland, California sets the standard for STR hosts proving that no matter the square footage, luxury is possible. Pull inspiration from Diana’s interior decorating and get motivated with her wise words on hosting!
What do you find most rewarding about your career?
I have a full time consulting career in philanthropy and training design, so hosting is a side project, and I also just launched Elevate Your Airbnb, my hosting masterclass. I LOVE helping other hosts achieve freedom and confidence through hosting. I excel at helping hosts take their mediocre listings and turn them into beautiful, destination rentals. I also love hosting – our guests are fantastic and are mostly grandparents visiting their grandkids in our neighborhood!
What is your favorite rental property you have and why do you love it?
We host in our backyard tiny house, The Rockridge Casita on Instagram @rockridgecasita. I love it because even though it’s only 280 square feet, it’s mostly windows and wood, and it’s fun to show guests how a small, minimalist space can be luxurious and relaxing. Its in our garden next to lemon, fig, plum trees, and raspberry bushes!
Purchased through HostGPO
What’s the craziest story you have from hosting?
We once hosted light-installation artists who decided to “practice” their installation in our space. I looked out into the backyard and our guest house was glowing pink. It was odd, but they were kind and put everything back into place afterwards.
What’s one “pro-tip” you’d be willing to pass on to the community?
Personal connection is what sets short term rentals apart from hotels. Even just adding some locally roasted coffee, a handwritten welcome note, or a small local treat can go a long way to creating an authentic experience for your guests.
What would you tell others about whether to join HostGPO?
Short-term rental hosting is a business and we should all invest in upgrading our spaces! HostGPO is a great way to get discounts on high quality products as you upgrade and setup your space.
