#125: Don Martine and Cassandra Hazen | CABBI - How to Make The Best Bed & Breakfast

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Episode Description

Don attributes all of his success to his willingness to grasp and execute various opportunities. From opportunities he executed such as renovating his first ever bed & breakfast, forming CABBI, choosing to create multiple bed & breakfast chains, and standing up to major hotel corporations. Don and Cassandra have a tenacious desire to be successful in their business as they were able to see the entire perspective of their goals in the hospitality industry.

Don and Cassandra never shy away from setbacks whether it is from major corporations not wanting to give small hospitality businesses-like their own- advertisement money, or the difficulty of Don starting his first ever bed & breakfast. Although they have faced problems in their journey to be successful in their industry, the most vital discovery along the way is that everything they have encountered is an opportunity to develop and build their careers for the better.

Show Notes

Park Mansion: Don bought Park Mansion in 1972 as it was a buy of the century. Although Don didn’t think it was a good investment, his father-who was a manager for Monterey Herald- thought otherwise.

Bed&Breakfast and Its First Problem: Don opened the bed&breakfast called the Martinez in 1984. Although they completely remodeled the complex in order to create the environment of a wealthy person’s home, Don faced problems with contractors.
Networking: Don began working with other bed and breakfast establishments in California as he started to get more thrusted into the hospitality industry. However, conflict between Southern and Northern California organizations began occurring with multiple regulations tied into the bed and breakfast establishments in California.
Cassandra’s Involvement: Cassandra’s involvement began when Don decided to dissolve the previous organization of the bed & breakfast industry in California. With her previous experience doing pro bono work and seeing the hospitality industry appealing, Don decided to bring Cassandra to the team.
GoalAndPitch: Formation of the new and better hospitality organization began as it led to a partnership with the department of tourism.
Merger: Cassandra left CABBI after 5 years due wanting to work other events. A
IndustryConflict: Conflict started to occur when big hotel companies did not want to share advertisement money with smaller hotels as they did not want to lose any monetary support.
CabbiToday: CABBI is in great shape with multiple hotels being a part of the association as it continues to expand and grow across the state of California.