Yes, this Airbnb Had a Blender

What is Experiential Hospitality with Isaac French?

This is the audio version of my weekly newsletter, Experiential Hospitality, where I share stories and insights to help you craft unforgettable spaces and experiences through design & hospitality.

We just got back from a month
long road trip across the country.

I scripted and shot six long form YouTube
videos in Idaho, which trust me is more

work than it sounds on the way home.

We stopped in Wisconsin to
visit friends, my friend Kevin

arranged the accommodations.

His friends, Lucas and Melissa own a
small grocery in the charming brimming

with potential little village of Wawa,
Wisconsin, which sits right in the heart

of the Driftless region, a storybook
landscape of rolling hills, forests,

and beautiful farms above their store.

They finished a loft apartment,
which they rent on Airbnb.

We'd been on the road for
hours with two boys under two.

If you've had young kids, you know
exactly what we were up against.

It was early evening when we finally
rolled into town desperate for rest.

The check-in instructions directed us
to an old weather door and a long flight

of stairs at the top of the stairs.

I punched in the code and the
moment we stepped in, we felt it.

There was a presence of peace
and welcome in the room.

The lights were set just right, the air
cool, and faintly scented with a candle.

The space was simple, but perfectly
clean and well decorated a huge rug

covered the living room floor, giving
the boys plenty of space to romp

after being buckled in for hours.

It was exactly what we needed and then
came the details being hot outside.

I instinctively opened the fridge
to find an assortment of cold

drinks from the store below.

On the counter sat gift bags,
a pastry box, and an envelope.

Because of my work, we've stayed at some
of the nicest places you can stay at.

I can truthfully say that none of
them match the thoughtfulness of this.

Welcome inside were refresh
cones and muffins, local snacks,

honey, and homemade candles.

And a whole bag just for the boys
Play-Doh Bubbles, baby Puffs juice, and

a beautiful book, but not just any book.

It was from a series Lucas already loves,
and this was one he didn't have yet.

He was ecstatic.

I just got my pleasant daddy.

He shouted again and again.

The value went far beyond any price tag.

It was in the thought, the care.

These hosts clearly have
little children of their own.

They live far from anywhere.

They must know what it's like
to road trip with toddlers, and

they'd put on a masterclass in
welcome without even being there.

But they were, they showed up
in every thoughtful detail.

Unlike pretty much every other Airbnb I've
stayed at this place had everything washer

and dryer box fan for white noise, iron
and ironing board space for the playpen.

Yeah.

Basic things I know, but you wouldn't
believe how rare it is to have all

the basics in place and working.

And then there was the blender.

I'd invited a friend over.

We hadn't seen each other in a while.

I ran downstairs and bought milk and
ice cream to make a milkshake only after

spending $14 and barreling up those
stairs again, did I realize my stupidity?

What?

Airbnb has A blender.

This one.

Those shakes tasted extra good.

Somewhere in the middle of all
this I noticed the ceiling tiles.

As somewhat of a design snob.

Few things in modern building
irritate me more than ceiling tiles.

They're sterile, bland, institutional.

I had to laugh.

I hadn't even noticed them before.

The entire ceiling, everything else in
the space, decor, cleanliness, amenities,

that magical welcome was so full of heart.

I didn't care.

Design affects how we feel,
but care is even more powerful.

And how do you show care?

I once heard someone say,
hospitality means we thought

of you before you got here.

Amen.

As if we hadn't been spoiled enough.

The next night, our friends, Rory and
Rebecca invited us to stay at their

old, beautiful farmhouse in Tennessee.

In it sits in old beautiful
Steinway grand piano.

Yes, that's a nice thing to own,
but to have it in your house.

For a guest to play, and especially
for a guest who loves great pianos.

Heaven, all of it reminded me.

You don't need a big budget.

You don't need a fancy space.

No.

To make a lasting emotional
impact on someone, you just need

care and a big, giant heart.

Big hearts beat, big budgets every time.

See you next week.