San Francisco Suites on Nob Hill
President’s Letter
To Owners and Friends of San Francisco Suites,
The Biblical adage, “Familiarity breeds contempt,” often rings true, but as a longtime owner at San Francisco Suites, I might rephrase the same sentiment as “Familiarity leads to indifference” when it comes to appreciating my home away from home. Oh, sure, I love arriving at the Suites and being greeted by someone who knows me and whom I know as well; I love staying in my clean, comfortable, and beautiful suite; I love that the staff never, ever seem to say “no’ or “I can’t do that” to any request; and I love the idea that I will return again and have the same wonderful experience and receive the same personalized care. But is my love blinding me as well as binding me to the Suites?
It often takes a new or different perspective to see things as they really are. On reading the reviews by recent Airbnb guests to San Francisco Suites, I have realized that I may have taken for granted the qualities that distinguish us certainly from other “timeshares,” one definition of who owe are, and perhaps from other “cooperatively owned apartments,” another definition, anywhere in the world. And I have rediscovered what makes our second home in the City so unique.
As you know, we began to receive guests from Airbnb in June of this year. General Manager Reid had earlier suggested that we attempt to make up for a budget shortfall caused by the unprecedented number of deed backs, foreclosures, and delinquencies by considering Airbnb rentals, pending a change in the Rules and Regulations. This rental program, once approved by the Board, represented something new and unknown to us, but our staff, prepared to the ‘nth’ degree by General Manager Reid, approached the new program with absolute professionalism, and the positive results started to show themselves immediately, not only in escalating revenues from Airbnb rentals but in the published accolades we received from the guests. It is these reviews that have renewed my appreciation of San Francisco Suites.
One of our first guests claimed that other places where he has stayed are “stale and cookie cutter” but the Suites have “so much personality and charm that one might as well forget other Airbnbs in the City.” He also said that “this place is honestly a hidden gem and I truly hope more people find out about it.”
His hopes and ours have been fulfilled. A guest from New Zealand stated he was “in awe of the suite he stayed in; it was that beautiful!” Another recent guest commented that the Suites was “probably my fav place I’ve ever stayed!” A picky New Yorker admitted that the Suites “far exceeded his expectations.” A Canadian guest praised the staff as “amazing, responsive, and hospitable. We felt welcomed and at home.” Almost all of the reviewers, who are not required by Airbnb to offer comments about their stays, said that they would “definitely” return to the Suites if they have the opportunity.
Most astoundingly, as of August 22, 2024, San Francisco Suites has received only 5-star reviews. We very quickly achieved the status of being in the top 5% of favorite listings in the City, and are well on our way to becoming a “Super Host,” the highest echelon in Airbnb. This accomplishment in less than three months is almost unheard of in the online hospitality industry.
I do not need to go on, but I will say that the service and amenities provided these guests is not different in any way from what owners expect and receive every time they stay at the Suites.
I can no longer be indifferent to what makes San Francisco Suites exceptional in spite of my long familiarity with what it offers its owners, in terms of its location, amenities, service, and comfort. These qualities, so apparent to first-time guests but perhaps overlooked by owners, will be preserved and enhanced by the Board of Directors, the General Manager, and staff – but only if the members of this Association accept that they are worth keeping, by paying their annual assessment, following the Rules and Regulations, participating if possible in governance, and always re-experiencing their excitement as new owners when they first walked into the lobby and thought to themselves, “Wow! This place is something special!”
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Bellah, President
Board of Directors