Case Study: Downtown San Diego High-Rise Unit

Modern glass skyscraper in downtown with palm trees and parked cars in foreground
Modern living room with a white sofa, blue rug, and coffee table. Large glass sliding door opens to a balcony with city skyline view. Flat-screen TV on white stand, potted plant nearby, and a wall clock above the TV. Bright, minimal decor with white
Living room with beige leather sofa, blue rug, and a marble coffee table, adjacent to an open kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel refrigerator, and a wall-mounted TV showing a beach scene
Modern kitchen with stainless steel refrigerator, oven, microwave, and sink. White cabinetry, wood floors, and white subway tile backsplash.
Modern kitchen with stainless steel refrigerator, microwave, oven, and sink, light wood cabinets, white countertops, and a white subway tile backsplash.
Modern bedroom with a bed, black pillows, nightstand, dresser, a tall lamp, and a wall-mounted TV displaying a family photo, with white walls and a textured accent wall.
Balcony with outdoor furniture, view of a city skyline, stadium, water, and a bridge in the background.
Rooftop swimming pool with outdoor furniture, city skyline, and ocean view in the background.
Indoor gym with multiple cardio machines including treadmills and elliptical trainers, dumbbells, and large windows showing cityscape and trees outside.
Modern office lounge area with blue armchairs, a round wooden table, bar-style seating by large windows, and a meeting room with glass walls.
View of a city street from a balcony with outdoor chairs and a planter box in the foreground.
Indoor entertainment lounge featuring a pool table, arcade games, seating area, and bar stools.
Indoor mini golf game with electronic scoreboard and colorful artwork on the walls.
Indoor golf simulation room with a large screen displaying a golf course, green turf mat with a golf ball, beige sofas, a wooden table, and golf-themed wall art.

Snapshot

  • Location: Downtown San Diego, near Petco Park & Convention Center

  • Type: 1-Bedroom Modern Condo (brand-new listing)

  • Owner Goal: Launch unit quickly, ensure compliance, maximize earnings from day one, maintain a flexible calendar for personal use, and have the unit registered and listed in time for the lucrative Comic-Con event nearby

The Challenge

When the owner first reached out, their property was completely new to the short-term rental market. The key hurdles were:

  • Navigating the new San Diego licensing requirements in record time

  • Standing out in a highly competitive downtown market

  • Capturing bookings around local events and peak demand nights

  • Avoiding the “empty calendar problem” that new hosts face with no reviews

Our Approach

We focused on a compliance-first, revenue-optimization strategy:

  1. Licensing & Compliance

    • Registered the owner’s San Diego STR license in time for Comic-Con

    • Ensured the listing aligned with city regulations and tax collection

  2. Launch & Positioning

    • Conducted a hyper-optimized professional photoshoot and editing to ensure the unit could be priced above the competition, while also professionalizing the Airbnb listing with compelling copywriting and optimized amenities tags

    • Set up cross-listing prep (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com) for multi-platform exposure

  3. Revenue Optimization

    • Leveraged our pricing software to pull in all local events (Padres games, conventions, concerts)

    • Dynamically adjusted rates to capture both last-minute demand and longer stays

    • Strategically set competitive launch pricing → quickly generated first bookings and reviews

  4. Guest Experience & Automation

    • Installed automated guest messaging for a seamless check-in/out experience

    • Connected cleaning automation for same-day turnovers

    • Built review request flow to build trust signals early

The Results

  • Booked Comic con within 48 hours of going live

  • Calendar filled quickly around event nights downtown (e.g., Padres games, Comic-Con lead-ups)

  • Achieved 86% occupancy in first month (within open calendar days)

  • Generated over $12,000 in gross revenue within first 90 days

  • Earned 5-star reviews within 10 days, building instant credibility

  • Achieved Super Host Status within 90 days

About the Owner

Brad Fridell

The owner, a busy professional with no time to manage guest communication or compliance headaches, wanted a hands-off solution. They partnered with Superhost USA to ensure the property launched smoothly and profitably without the stress of day-to-day hosting.

What the Owner Says

“Ben took what felt overwhelming and made it effortless. They handled my city license registration, guided the launch strategy, and even arranged a professional photoshoot that made my unit stand out above the competition. Thanks to their pricing and event optimization, I was booked almost immediately — including during Comic-Con. The income and peace of mind I gained in the first month far exceeded my expectations”

Want results like this for your property?

A smiling middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a blue blazer and a white shirt, standing outdoors near a body of water with a cloudy sky in the background.