- Anton Gover left a career in corporate finance to become an Airbnb host on Lake Garda, Italy.
- His business, GardaDoma, hosts more than 3,000 guests and generates more than $250,000 in revenue.
- Although he earns less than his previous job, Gover says he is finally feeling fulfilled in his job.
This told essay is based on a conversation with. Anton Gover, a 39-year-old Airbnb Superhost based in Brenzone sul Garda, Italy. Edited for length and clarity.
I'm the founder of GardaDoma and an Airbnb Superhost in Brenzone sul Garda, Italy. Since 2019, he has hosted over 3,000 guests at my seven properties and his annual revenue on Airbnb is over $250,000.
I spent more than 10 years in the field of corporate finance in Moscow. I started my career at Ernst & Young as an analyst and after five years was promoted to the position of senior manager.
In his last corporate role, he was Managing Director of Strategy at MOEX Group, overseeing strategy, international relations and innovation. From 2014 to his 2019, I was deeply involved in the fintech venture capital space.
In 2018, I began my Garda Doma journey by purchasing a 17th century house on the shores of Lake Garda from a local 93-year-old farmer.
I visited Lake Garda for the first time when I was 21 years old.
While driving from Munich to Florence, we stopped at Lake Garda completely by chance. I fell in love with this place because of its stunning views and year-round sailing, kitesurfing, and hiking. For 10 years, I road tripped all over Europe and visited Lake Garda each time.
While visiting Brenzone, the idea of establishing a family-run guesthouse came to mind. Brenzone stands out as Lake Garda's least touristy and authentic spot.
I purchased my first property, a six-room building, from a local farmer for approximately $460,000 and turned it into a vacation home for my family. I always loved using his Airbnb when I traveled, so my family, friends, and I decided to start renting rooms. I did this job alongside my corporate job during his year, but quickly realized that I enjoyed entertaining guests more than working in finance.
I chose to leave a career in finance
My second son was born at Lake Garda in December 2018, and I took childcare leave at home. Two months later, I decided I wanted to live full-time in Brenzone instead of in a big city high-rise, so I quit my job and became my own boss.
I quit my corporate career and moved from Russia to Italy.
I was used to a higher standard of living because the pay was much higher in finance, but for me the job lacked purpose. When I started my Airbnb business, my income decreased by about 4x.
But now, I feel immense fulfillment when I greet guests, play my guitar for them, or take them on boat trips. My work is a story about choosing happiness over money and following your heart in life. I don't regret anything.
I work 24 hours a day and I love my job
Although I work long hours, my work-life balance is much better than when I was an office worker, and I enjoy it.
From 6am to 9am, I work on reports, budget calculations, and respond to Airbnb reservation requests. I spend time with our guests from 9am to 11am during breakfast and check-out, taking care of all aspects of their comfort. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we will send dinner round call messages to existing guests and Airbnb pre-check-in messages to arriving guests.
I spend 1-4 p.m. maintaining the facility and planning dinner menus for my working family, who take turns cooking. We welcome new arrivals from 4pm to 7pm. Dinner begins at 7:30pm and is always shared with guests at the table.
During the off-season, plan your expansion, research potential apartments in the area, and create partnerships for summer activities. High season from Easter to the end of October is all about organizing events and activities and spending time with our guests, which is my favorite part of my job.
The business has grown to include 10 friends and family members.
Most of the work is done by family and friends. We greet each guest in person, provide customized recommendations, and are available 24/7.
The average cost per room during high season is approximately $107, and the average cost per apartment is approximately $215. Meals and activities are charged separately, but I take guests hiking and sailing for free. I love it so much that I often bring guests there for free.
Such work requires a certain psychological temperament
We maintain the initial charm of personal hospitality. This is a point of differentiation that our guests really appreciate because it's hard to find. Our Instagram account sets us apart and communicates our hospitality.
The key to the success of any hospitality business is creating a loyal guest base that visits frequently and shares positive recommendations. You must greet guests in a way that encourages them to come.
We will promptly respond to customer feedback and strive to improve our services. For example, we launched a family house with two rooms on each floor with a shared bathroom, and soon our guests told us that they liked the authentic and close interaction with the hosts, but also that they liked the comfort and privacy, especially the private We started receiving feedback that the bathroom was a priority.
The next season, each room had its own bathroom. Later, they added an apartment nearby. This allows guests to socialize in the guesthouse during meals while still having the comfort of a private apartment rental.
