I would like to know what would be the best way to market rooms that I rent out in my home near IAH to pilots and attendants that may not live in the houston area, but have to drive in extra early for their first departures? Do you think there is a market for this type of situation? What would the price threshold be to make this attractive to come in the night before and get a good nights rest before going to work? Or if you were to arrive late and need a place to sleep before driving home in the morning? Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like a tough sell from your description.

You're essentially selling a crash pad idea, without the flexibility of a commuter having a place to hang out between days/trips/reserve.

I lived in Houston and was based in Dallas and needed a place to sleep when it was an early show and I drove up from Houston the night before, I got a hotel and hotels in Dallas are cheap and I suppose they are cheap in Houston too for crews. Also, when I finished a trip and had days off ahead of me, I was on the road back home. No way would I sacrifice a night in my own bed and stay in a hotel another night that I didn't need to.

I'm trying to just give you my perspective based on what I thought when I was doing exactly what it seems you are targeting. To make this a viable option, you need to rent out the rooms to commuting crews who need a crash pad and not try and go after the few of us that drive to base and hope we need a room once in base. We are/were few and far between.

 

Sounds like a crashpad with limitations? Ie, no reserves allowed and no public transport for commuters?

Tough sell. If you can find one customer and make them happy, you might get word of mouth referrals. If you have access to crew rooms you could always post flyers.