Bruce and Kameko Burdine never envisioned owning a hotel when the couple first started investing into the real estate industry back in 2019.
The Burdines, who are both practicing anesthesiologist assistants, started their journey in hospitality when they purchased some properties to list on short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb. They were planning on expanding their listings while moving into the multifamily space, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, increasing interest rates and the price of homes.
That's when the idea of breaking into the hotel space came about.
Bruce and Kameko Burdine joined Davonne Reaves on the latest Next Gen in Lodging podcast to discuss their journey in becoming hotel owners.
Bruce Burdine was first introduced to the hotel industry when he worked in a front desk position at a Hyatt Place. He said after working that job, he knew he wanted to be in real estate, but it was a dream that didn't feel attainable.
"I thought the idea of owning a hotel was for the ultra-rich, and I thought you needed $50 million just to get your foot in the door to buy a hotel," he said.
Kameko Burdine was introduced to the world of real estate from a young age, as her dad owned a duplex that served as a rental unit. Her parents helped her buy a condo as her first investment in the space while she was in anesthesia school.
Like Bruce, Kameko didn't think owning hotels was in her future.
"I knew people owned hotels, but I was the same way. I was like, 'Oh, those are the Hiltons. That's Paris Hilton. Those are the trust fund babies,'" she said. "You're going to be ultra-rich or win the lottery, and then maybe you can go buy a hotel."
After doing a lot of research and months of planning, the couple was able to break through their preconceived notions and invest in a property in Belize.
For more from the Burdines and Reaves, listen to the full podcast at the link above.
The Next Gen in Lodging podcast is also available to download on Apple or Spotify, where you can also subscribe to future podcast content.
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