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Hola đź‘‹
If you’re new here: I’m Peter, founder of Buy That Hotel and Surf Office. This newsletter highlights my latest ideas and experiments around “niche hospitality”. If someone forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here :)
#1 Visiting Campus Alps
This summer, we took a one-month road trip around Central Europe with the family, and one of our stops was Campus Alps in 🇦🇹 Austria.
The project was originally called Emma Wanderer and was renamed after its founders left. I mention this because more people I know remember it by its original name.
The concept is interesting because it combines three of my favorite things: coworking, glamping, and campervans. I posted a little report on X.#2 Futuro houseThe design of Futuro houses (from 1968) fascinates me, and last month I got to see one in real life. It was outside a modern art museum in Munich, and I could go inside and explore it.
A few months ago, I saw the founder of Basecamp post on X that he wanted to buy one.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about what an epic Airbnb concept it could be, especially somewhere in the wild.
There are very few Futuro Houses left, but a company in Ireland makes reproductions. #3 Project ChameleonI’ve had this business idea in my head for many years.After realizing that I probably won’t build it myself, I wrote it all down on my blog.In short: one retail space shared by independent businesses at different times of day.
A café serves the morning rush. A sandwich shop takes over for lunch. A wine bar opens in the evening.Each has its own brand, team, and customers, while sharing the rent and the space.#4 Gaiarooms for the countrysideAn older generation of small hotel operators across Europe is retiring, and their kids often don’t want to take over.Many of these hotels aren’t run very efficiently. They’re too small to attract institutional investors and often too big for lifestyle buyers. I’m talking about hotels with 15 to 40 bedrooms.Gaiarooms is a young Spanish company that buys these mom-and-pop hotels in smaller Spanish cities. They started during COVID and now have 120 properties.
They remove the reception and restaurant, automate check-in, centralize revenue management, improve the internet connection, negotiate better rates with Booking.com, and make a few changes to the décor.
Nothing fancy, but the improvements add up.
The founder is very open about the approach and shares what he learns in his newsletter and podcasts (both in Spanish).
There’s a similar company in Portugal, Wotels, though it operates on a much smaller scale. I think this opportunity will remain open in the countryside and other European countries for the next 5–10 years.
#5 I’m hiring a Chief of Staff
It took me hours to research Gaiarooms, and that’s an example of a project I’d like to delegate to a Chief of Staff.
I’m looking for someone who can work the way I do: researching ideas, creating content, building prototypes, and helping with my existing projects.
These are things I want to do more of, but my time and mental capacity are limited. The role could be ideal for an aspiring entrepreneur or a founder taking a break.
Please reply to this email if you know someone.
#6 Sweet Honey Farm
I went deep into Sweet Honey Farm’s Instagram feed and website when I discovered it. What a cheesy name... and what a cool concept.
A charismatic guy with a mustache took over a small farm near NYC and turned a barn into a gym, coworking space, sauna, and cold plunge.
They sell memberships ($620/month) and day passes ($250) that let you come to work, exercise, and cuddle fluffy cows.
It feels like the next iteration of running clubs and hip saunas, and I can imagine it working near any large Western city.
#7 My career as a vlogger is still on
A year ago, I decided to experiment with video content. I’m not into vertical reels, but I enjoy watching well-produced vlogs that aren’t too long (10 minutes maximum).
So I hired a videographer. We’ve made three vlogs so far and plan to finish the year with four.
Four a year feels like a reasonable number. I enjoy making them and I’m learning a lot, but I don’t think I’ll increase the pace.
The latest one is from Mexico, where I met a Surf Office customer and took a road trip from CancĂşn to Tulum.
#8 A 1,000-pod capsule hotel in London
Staying in a capsule hotel in Tokyo was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan two years ago.
At the time, I posted about the experience and wondered why there wasn’t more of this in Europe: high-quality, minimalist accommodation in central locations at a low price.
Now I know about a bunch of projects in development.Otherwander caught my attention for its design and vibe, but Zedwell is the most impressive, with 1,000 pods. Both are in central London.#9 Expat families moving to the same villageRevillage is a project by Danish entrepreneur Nikolaj Astrup, whom I’ve known since around 2014, when he was organizing retreats for nomad entrepreneurs.After taking a break from that project, he spent the past few years experimenting with hospitality concepts that combine family travel and homeschooling.
I’m a big fan of Revillage. The idea is to find a small village where expat families can move together and live as a community.
They’re now running a one-month pop-up in France; you can follow their updates on Instagram.
#10 Send me your tips for Barcelona and Shanghai
I’m traveling to Barcelona and Shanghai in the next few weeks, and I’ll have some time to explore.
I lived in Barcelona 20 years ago and have returned many times, but my last visit was before COVID. This will be my first time in Shanghai, but not in China.
If you know any unique hospitality concepts in either city, please send them my way!
I’d like to add both cities to my Hospitality Nerd "series".
Cheers,
Peter
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