In Conversation with Catherine
Catherine has been a host on Airbnb for seven years. She loves having the flexibility to support herself and the chance to welcome friends and family to Edinburgh. When guests from all over the world come to stay, Catherine often creates personalised recommendations featuring places off-the-beaten-track.
Catherine has been a host on Airbnb for seven years. She loves having the flexibility to support herself and the chance to welcome friends and family to Edinburgh. When guests from all over the world come to stay, Catherine often creates personalised recommendations featuring places off-the-beaten-track.
“Without Airbnb, I would lose an important source of income and that would impact me massively. I don’t know what I would do going forward.”
“Without Airbnb, I would lose an important source of income and that would impact me massively. I don’t know what I would do going forward.”
Initially inspired by the opportunity to boost her earnings, Catherine began hosting on Airbnb years ago, when she needed extra money after her roommate moved out of their flat in Inverness. So when she settled in Edinburgh, she converted her loft into her own space, and listed two bedrooms for guests.
Initially inspired by the opportunity to boost her earnings, Catherine began hosting on Airbnb years ago, when she needed extra money after her roommate moved out of their flat in Inverness. So when she settled in Edinburgh, she converted her loft into her own space, and listed two bedrooms for guests.
“The best thing about hosting on Airbnb is the people I meet from all over the world. It’s particularly important to me because I live on my own”
Catherine lives alone and enjoys the social connections that hosting provides. Every guest that comes through her door is greeted by her personally, usually with tea and always with a friendly chat.
“The fact that we are a ten minute walk from the seafront is really quite special”
Catherine's guests love that her listing is a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and will often sit in her garden surrounded by the wildlife. Catherine also loves to invite her more adventurous guests for a dip down at nearby Wardie Bay.
“My guests absolutely utilise my recommendations of the local cafes and delis - so the number of guests and the loss to the local community would be massive”
Over the years, Catherine's built a reputation for being quite the tour guide. When guests stay with Catherine she always tells them about the food at Betty & George, and the irresistible coffee and bagels at The Bearded Baker.
Read more here about Airbnb’s support of new, modern rules for short-term lets.