ONE THING that seems to be a growing trend for the new generation is looking for additional sources of income even while they’re still students. 

More than that, many of them hope to find jobs that don’t follow the rules and regulations of your typical 9-to-5, instead starting up their own businesses to have more freedom with how things are run. Instagram thrift shops, cafes, and more recently, bed-and-breakfasts (BNBs) are some examples of this.

In an interview with CBNC, content creator CorporateNatalie notes that the reality of entrepreneurship is that it’s extremely hard to build something from scratch. It means taking risks and sacrifices, whether it be financially or whatever else. 

Fear, however, doesn’t seem to be something often found in the hearts of Gen Zs. Couple Couple MK Sto. Tomas and Ly Punzalan, for example, have taken that leap by going into an industry that not many in their generation have considered trying: the staycation business. 

A dream in the making

Sto. Tomas and Punzalan, 22 and 24 respectively, first decided to enter into the BNB business due to their love for travel.

“When traveling, we value relaxation so much, so we decided to have a place where we can deliver what we envisioned to be the perfect staycation to anyone,” Sto. Tomas explained. 

“It all started with sharing what we wanna achieve in our life together. We always [envisioned] ourselves owning our own BNB-slash-staycation business because we agreed how cool it would be, but since we [didn’t] have [a] sufficient budget before, it remained an aimless dream.” 

Through hard work and manifestation, the couple was finally able to bring to life their BNB, managing it alongside working jobs and, for Sto. Tomas, studying as well.

Located at the SMDC Wind Residences in Tagaytay, the couple chose this place because they felt that it had a lot of potential since a lot of people often went there for a breather from the daily stresses of life.

They got the unit by subleasing it since, as their first BNB, they first wanted to learn how the market worked for at least a year before actually purchasing a unit. It took them about one or two months of searching to look for a place that checked all their boxes, and eventually, they found a unit on Facebook Marketplace that they decided was the perfect fit for their vision.

Sto. Tomas added: “There really is a large market for staycation [businesses] like [ours]; there are a lot of people looking for a place to take a break or are interested to see the beauty of Tagaytay and bask in it with their significant other, family, friends, or even themselves.”

The process

Sto. Tomas notes that if you’re a person who likes to host guests, then the BNB business is definitely for you. 

The staycation business, for her, is more than just about providing people a place to stay; it means creating a connection with your guests and providing them warmth and comfort throughout their stay.

In making their vision a reality, the couple started by putting pegs together on Pinterest for what they wanted their place to look like. Choosing a post-modern, Scandinavian aesthetic, they wanted their BNB to stand out given its style, building the cozy feeling of the unit through multiple lamps, games, snacks, a karaoke machine, and even a welcome basket for guests. 

Finances are the bloodiest part of the whole process. 

Though Sto. Tomas didn’t disclose the amount they spent on everything from the unit itself to things like furniture, toiletries, and snacks. They’ve also invested in a lot of additions to the place to make the unit more homey, such as an LED-lit bathroom mirror, hair blower, and mini bar tray, as they want to give that “lux on a budget” feel to their guests. 

Add to the fact that they also provide a number of vouchers for their clients, such as for swimming or the play area, overall they’ve spent about six digits worth of their money combined.  

With the amount of attention people have given it so far, though, they feel that all the money spent and blood, sweat, and tears poured in have been worth it.

Starting a BNB is a gamble just like any other business. If done strategically though, Sto. Tomas notes it’ll succeed.

It is, of course, still a terrifying decision to make, especially when you’re like Sto. Tomas and Punzalan, a Gen Z couple who only depend on themselves for financial stability. 

“As someone in [their] 20s, this is a huge thing to handle, [but] we’re both driven with grit and determination to make this work and grow even bigger,” Sto. Tomas shared.

She notes that since they started the business, there have been some challenges that have come up along the way.

There have been numerous instances, for example, wherein multiple people were trying to secure a date that had already been taken. 

While the couple felt bad about these missed opportunities, they continued to try to look on the bright side and focus on their potential market instead. 

Like any business, a positive mindset is something you’re going to need to keep on pushing.

Worth getting into

Despite the struggles that have come with putting up a BNB, Sto. Tomas and Punzalan are currently enjoying managing their new place, as well as learning about the ups and downs of having a staycation business.

Sto. Tomas said that the BNB-slash-staycation business is growing more and more popular every day thanks to an increase in people who like to travel. 

For those aspiring to start their own BNB, the number one tip Sto. Tomas has is this: cut yourself some slack.

“Don’t pretend to know it all in one go, because every moment in business is a learning opportunity,” she explained.

“Even big businesses are still learning since mistakes are inevitable. Be sad about it, sure, but redirect your attention to [improving] the situation by researching or consulting mentors.”

For any problem, Sto. Tomas notes that it’s a mind-over-matter kind of thing. Being in an industry like this takes guts as well as a drive to be persistent no matter the market you’re in or the problem you’re facing.

If you have the money and time to invest in a business such as this, and if you’re looking for a source of income that means running things the way you want them to, all while meeting new people with each booking, then opening up a BNB is definitely something you should look into.