Meet one of America’s hottest young Airbnb hosts and take a peek inside his property in Mass.


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Phylicia Pavao’s rental is in downtown New Bedford.

Phylicia Pavao, 27, from New Bedford, is one of Airbnb’s top hostesses under 30. Airbnb

A Massachusetts landlord has just been named one of the best Airbnb hosts under 30 in America.

The online hosting marketplace recently unveiled its 30 under 30 class of 2022calling host stars under 30 the most “successful, innovative and tenacious”, and Phylicia Pavao, 27, of New Bedford, was on the list.

Airbnb said hosts under 30 earned about $775 million nationwide last year and $11 million in Massachusetts. The 30 winners under 30 are all Superhosts – the highest rated and most experienced hosts – who have collectively hosted over 3,600 registrations and have an average rating of 4.95 (on a scale of 1 to 5) , according to Airbnb.

“I was super excited,” Pavao said. “The fact that they noticed seemed really cool because I work really hard and I really don’t ask for anything in return. But it’s just nice to be recognized.

Pavao, who works as a director’s assistant, started hosting at 21 shortly after earning a degree in linguistics from Gordon College in Wenham. The Dartmouth native had an idea for an additional property owned by her parents in New Bedford – why not turn it into an Airbnb?

Her parents agreed and funded the venture, encouraging her as she turned the “awkward” apartment into a livable rental and listed it on Airbnb. The successful experience motivated Pavao to save up and buy his own property with the aim of renting it out on Airbnb. She saved for two years and bought a four-unit house in New Bedford.

The house is within walking distance of restaurants and shops, as well as the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket and has off-street parking.

“Of course it’s a big investment,” she said. “It was scary even for me with all the advice and wisdom from my parents. It was definitely so scary – but a good scary one.

The living room of Pavao’s downtown apartment in New Bedford listed on Airbnb.

She spent a year renovating the property and began renting one of the units on Airbnb in 2019. The other units in the building are long-term rentals not listed on Airbnb. She listed the Airbnb unit as a Modern apartment in the city center.

Pavao and her husband live in the unit and rent it out when her job as a traveling physiotherapist takes them away for three months while she works remotely. When they travel, the couple become Airbnb tenants themselves, which she says hones her own hosting skills.

“We really want it to be as easy as possible,” she said, which she appreciates as a tenant. “When you come in, we hope you won’t have anything to buy. You can just start.

Therefore, she fills her refrigerator with water and her cupboards with spices for cooking. Guests are also welcome if they wish to have the futons made into beds prior to arrival.

The bedroom at Pavao’s downtown apartment in New Bedford listed on Airbnb.

Pavao’s attention to detail, coupled with the location of the property, proved to be a winning combination. She said her rental was busy, even during the pandemic.

“We get a lot of criticism about how clean it is,” she said. “I have an awesome housekeeper and she’s part of the family.”

Her secret to success, Pavao said, is her honesty and close attention to customer feedback.

For example, she’s upfront with guests about possible noise, writing in the listing, “Because you’re within walking distance of downtown, we hope you understand if there’s street noise. .”

And when a guest noted in a review that only liquid, not bar soap was available, Pavao quickly added bars of soap.

The kitchen at Pavao’s downtown apartment in New Bedford listed on Airbnb.

Pavao, a newlywed who celebrates her first wedding anniversary on Sunday, said income from Airbnb rental, along with rent from the other three units, helps her pay off student loans, save money, travel and give her money. also job security.

“If I didn’t have that, I would just be paying my student loans and wouldn’t have any savings,” she said. “It allows me to pay off my student loans faster while saving.”

Two other New Englanders were on the 30 under 30 list: Nathalie, 25, host of Elmore Oasis Summer Getaway in Morrisville, Vermont, and Monica, 29, host of Bright, light and airy apartment in Hartford, Conn.

Pavao’s unit is $75 per night.

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