Hosting with Ikigai
by azulomo | 3 min read
Hosting with ikigai changes everything
Hosting with Ikigai: Finding Purpose (and Profit) in Your Holiday Home
Ever wonder why some holiday home hosts seem to glow? Their spaces feel calm. Their guests rave. They’re booked months in advance—and somehow still seem unflustered, cheerful, and oddly zen.
No, they’re not just lucky. Chances are, they’ve found their ikigai. Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to “reason for being.” It’s that sweet spot where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all beautifully overlap. It’s less about finding your life’s one big purpose — and more about building a meaningful rhythm that feels… well, right.
So, what does this have to do with running a holiday home? Everything.
Because behind every smooth check-in, thoughtfully made bed, and glowing guest review is a host trying to make it all work: emotionally, financially, and logistically. And when you align your hosting with your ikigai, it stops feeling like a constant hustle. It becomes soulful, sustainable, and quietly joyful.
Let’s unpack what hosting with ikigai looks like.
Hosting with ikigai means letting what you love guide what you offer. And when you do, guests feel it in every detail.
1. What You Love ~ The Soul of Your Space
You chose this path for a reason. Maybe you love interiors. Maybe you get a kick out of making people feel welcome. Maybe you’ve always dreamt of sharing your coastal cottage with curious travellers. Hosting with ikigai means tapping back into that original joy—before it got buried under linen orders, late-night plumbing emergencies, or algorithm angst.
Ask yourself:
What parts of hosting actually light me up?
Is it designing the welcome hamper? Recommending local food spots? Tinkering with garden lights at sunset?
Whatever that is, do more of it. Protect it. Honour it. That’s the soul of your space.
→ Host Tip: If ironing sheets drains your spirit, outsource it. Your energy is better spent curating playlists or writing poetic guest guides. (Yes, that counts as hosting.)
Find Your Spark Again… Somewhere in between restocking olive oil and replying to midnight messages is something important: your spark. That feeling that made you start in the first place. Maybe it was imagining guests enjoying morning coffee on the terrace. Maybe it was styling a space that felt like your soul in house form. Maybe it was the dream of running a business on your terms. That spark might be buried beneath tasks right now—but it’s still there. Hosting with ikigai means returning to it. Nourishing it. Letting it lead. Because when you build your holiday home offering around what genuinely fulfils you, guests notice. Your joy becomes their welcome.
2. What You’re Good At ~ The Talent Behind the Curtains
Ikigai doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It means knowing where you shine. Maybe you’re great at storytelling, so your listing description reads like a love letter to the landscape. Maybe you’re a details ninja who notices if the lemon tree needs watering or if the bathrobe hanger squeaks slightly to the left.
Ask yourself:
Where do I bring natural flair to this hosting gig?
What do people compliment me on—without me even trying?
Leaning into your strengths creates flow. And guests feel that. They’re not just checking into a property — they’re stepping into a space infused with your quiet confidence.
→ Host Tip: Don’t be afraid to turn your quirks into superpowers. Are you obsessed with ceramics? Your guests will adore a handpicked breakfast bowl. It’s not ‘extra’—it’s magic.
3. What the World Needs ~ The Modern Guest Wish List
Guests today want more than a place to sleep. They want stories. Stillness. A space that helps them reconnect with themselves or with the people they love. Hosting with ikigai means designing your home not just around your style — but around their emotional needs.
Ask yourself:
What do my guests truly seek when they book my home?
Is it calm? Connection? Nature? Nostalgia?
It’s about tuning into the why behind the booking. Honeymooners want intimacy. Parents need ease. Solo travellers crave a sense of belonging. The better you understand this, the more you can shape your offering in a way that genuinely serves.
→ Host Tip: Don’t overstuff your guest experience. Choose 2–3 emotional outcomes you want to deliver and build everything else around that.
4. What You Can Be Paid For ~ The Business That Makes It Possible
Let’s be real — this is not a hobby. Your time, your mortgage, your thoughtfulness — all of it has value. And your hosting should reflect that. Ikigai includes sustainability, and that means pricing in a way that respects your effort and allows your business to thrive, yes we call it a business.
Ask yourself:
Am I charging in line with the emotional and experiential value I provide?
Are my operations set up to support profit, not just bookings?
Purposeful pricing doesn’t mean being expensive. It means being aligned. A peaceful, beautifully designed home with thought-through systems, warm human touches, and timely communication is worth a lot. Own that.
→ Host Tip: If you’re undercharging because you feel awkward about money—breathe. You’re not selling a night’s sleep. You’re offering a feeling, a memory, a moment. That’s priceless… but also deserves a proper rate.
Bringing It Together ~ Hosting as a Living Practice
Ikigai isn’t a static goal you tick off. It’s a daily dance. Some weeks it flows, other weeks it flops. You’ll have a guest who doesn’t get it. You’ll have a repair emergency mid-season. Well, that’s life…
But if you keep coming back to your core:
Love what you do
Do it your way
Offer something real
Honour your worth
Then you’ll keep building a hosting journey that’s not only financially viable, but soulfully sustainable. And that’s when things click. Guests leave reviews saying “I didn’t want to leave” or “It felt like home.” You get repeat bookings from people who feel seen. You wake up, check your calendar, and smile—not sigh.
Because you’re not just a host.
You’re a keeper of calm.
A designer of memories.
A slow living ambassador.
You’re hosting with ikigai.
One Wave at a Time ~ with warmth,
The azulomo team
“In a fast world, hosting with intention is radical. Ikigai reminds us that purpose isn’t found—it’s built. One stay at a time. One linen choice. One guest smile. Aligning joy, skill, service, and income isn’t just possible—it’s the future of soulful hosting.”
