Fifteen months ago Sabrina Trionfera realised her dream of opening a Bed and Breakfast near Rome in Italy. She runs her B&B Magic Garden B&B by herself, and we asked her a few questions about it.
Please tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Sabrina, I’m 40 years old, I was born in Rome. I’ve worked for 17 years as travel consultant and supervisor in a travel agency in Rome, and 1 year in London.
What is your business?
Now I have a bed and breakfast that I manage alone.
Where are you based?
The B&B is located in the countryside of Rome, only 30 minutes from the big city. It’s a lovely and friendly place where you can spend a few days in complete relaxation.
How long have you been in business?
I loved my job as travel consultant so much that now I continue as freelancer, but the Bed and Breakfast has always been my dream so I opened it 15 months ago.
How do you reach your customers? / How do your customers find you?
I reach my customers through my website and through the most popular booking portals. These days social media are also very important and useful so I created Magic Garden B&B’s profile everywhere: facebook, linkedin, google plus, pinterest and so on. But the “word of mouth” is very helpful: if people stay well, it’s 100% sure that they will visit you again and send you other people.
What’s a typical day like?
I wake up in time to make breakfast for my guests (there is no particular time, I agree it with them). I have a chat with them and then, as soon as they finish and go out, I clean rooms and go out for shopping. The afternoon is for public relations, catching up on emails, updating my pages on social networks, then some work for my Association (association for b&b of my Region – Lazio) such as events, travel itineraries etc. and also updating my travel blog. At the end of the day, I relax with guests by having a chat or watching a film.
What’s the best thing about what you do?
The best thing is to meet so many people, with different customs and traditions, with whom I can share my region, my traditions, my places and organize for them excursions, visits.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
First of all, the hardest thing is to manage a B&B alone (although it is rewarding), then, to make operating my b&b with advertising and so on because it’s not so easy.
What part of your job gives you a buzz?
When I have a “new guest” I try to identify him/her from the voice so the meeting is the confirmation of what I thought in my mind.
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