Meet Bianca Beale | San Diego Experience Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bianca Beale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi BIANCA, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was in the work force after graduating collage for about 3 years before I started my own company, but starting and owning my own company was part of my dream since I was a child. I witnessed my father when he started his own business when I was 8, and remember how exciting and scary it was for him. He shared his emotional experiences with me from then, and I was taught that if I wanted freedom and the ability to make my own hours and an unlimited amount of money, and never live in fear of being laid off, etc, that owning a business was the only way. In the 3 years after graduating, I had a number of jobs. I always chose the small-business route when applying for a job, knowing that a corporate job would hold me to very limited system of ranks, income, time off and scheduling, and I’d be amongst a sea of employees with the potential for a lack-luster culture and management styles. During those 3 years, I worked directly with owners, learning their processes and management styles, and being number 1 or 2 in line with direct work with the owners. I was inspired by the drama of it all. Some months were better than others, but the highs were so high, and the lows were dreadful. I’d sit in meetings to make decisions that mattered, and my input was heard and considered. When the time came to start my own business, I felt that I had the tools and a network of business owners to consult with. I hired a business lawyer at the suggestion of a friend, and he helped me with all of the paperwork needed to start up my company.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
So Diego was created from my love for connection and travel. I traveled and studied abroad a lot during my younger years. The most memorable times were when I had a local friend or friend of a friend guide me. I wanted to be that person for people coming to my home city of San Diego, and became that on the side for friends who’d visit me, or even friends of friends. I loved bringing people around, and found myself meeting people out and about, and spending time with them throughout their time in San Diego. After learning about the concept of food tours on a trip to Los Angeles, I decided to create a similar tour in the Gaslamp Quarter, a neighborhood known for its nightlife, dining, and seedy history.

So Diego has grown to offer 5 different food/drink tours daily throughout San Diego in some of the most popular neighborhoods in the city (La Jolla, Gaslamp, Little Italy, and Old Town). We employ intriguing guides who are extremely passionate about San Diego, travel, food and making friends. All of our tours introduce the history of each area, and the food and local restaurants we visit. Everything has a story, and we are story tellers. We have also established ourselves in the corporate group travel scene of San Diego, and curate customized experiences for groups of 10-300 guests. My business partner and I are eager to make requests work, and not a week goes by that I don’t learn something new about the city, even after 15 years in the business.

There is no other business like So Diego in San Diego, and some of the others that come into the space don’t last too long. The past 15 years have not been easy. I’ve had to borrow money several times to make it work, but I’m proud to say that the company is currently well established and growing the way I always believed it could. The toughest part about my business has been marketing and selling our experiences. There is a lot to do in San Diego, and standing out amongst some of the huge attractions has always been a struggle. I took a chance on several marketing agencies, and finally landed on one that I felt finally had the company’s success in their best interest. It was (and still is) expensive, but I put all of my chips in, and decided that if it didn’t work, I too would have to close my doors. To my surprise, their efforts started working, and I was being found on line amongst the giants of the industry. Another thing that I made sure I did, was create systems for sales and training that would ensure that our clients had the best experience before and during the tour. I employ a ticketing and calendar system, a texting company, and have created my own systems for keeping track of inquiries coming in and bringing on and training new guides. I’ve hired specialists to help me along the way.

I’d like for the world to know that So Diego is an authentic San Diego tour company. We only service San Diego, and believe in keeping all things local. We are passionate about our city, and want to give visitors and locals an insider’s perspective of our city so that they, too can be inspired by the stories of fellow business owners and dream makers in our city.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are fortunate to have so many amazing things to do in San Diego. This is a loaded question, and I could easily write a book on how to experience my favorite parts of San Diego in a full week. Here are some of my suggestions, however in a nutshell.
Hotel: Since I love being by the city, and staying in an area that is walkable, I’d most likely want to stay in the Downtown area. I personally love the Pendry in the Gaslamp. You can easily walk to Seaport Village, Little Italy, and experience the Gaslamp Quarter nightlife scene by foot. It’s a good hub for those who want to be around the hustle and bustle of San Diego. For a more serene hotel near the beach, I’d consider La Valencia in La Jolla. There are many shops and galleries in the area, walkability is great, and the views of the Cove are beautiful.

Daytime Experiences:
– Bike riding along the Embarcadero, onto the Bay Ferry, and bike to the Hotel del Coronado for lunch at the Sun Deck
– Food tasting tour with So Diego – either La Jolla or Old Town would be my pick
– Day pass at The Lafayette Hotel for some time at their pool
– Beach day at Pacific Beach
– Sunset boat cruise in San Diego Bay
– Balboa Park exploration and a visit to the gardens and the Air and Space Museum

Evening Experiences:
– Friday night: dinner at Cowboy Star and then drinks at Syrah for a free cabaret show
– Wednesday night: Dinner at Cucina Urbana and walk Cabrillo Bridge for jazz night at Panama 66
– Evening food tasting tour with So Diego – either Gaslamp or Little Italy
– An evening yin yoga and sound healing session at Trilogy in La Jolla
– Experience a live theater show at the La Jolla Playhouse
– Concert at The Shell
– Early evening art walk through La Jolla and dinner with a view at George’s

Favorite Restaurants for a great food+drinks, and good atmosphere:
– Herb & Wood
– Kettner Exchange
– Leila
– Lumi
– Seneca
– Trust
– Marine Room
– Island Prime

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I got my start as a tour guide in San Diego with my first product, which was a food tasting tour of the Gaslamp Quarter. I was already working in the hospitality industry of San Diego, specifically in the Gaslamp, so it helped that I had made friends in the industry. I worked closely with the Gaslamp Quarter Association and the San Diego Tourism Authority, and another group called Keep It Downtown, which was a group of hotel sales managers who worked together to promote Downtown San Diego for groups and events. The people I met at these organizations were an integral part of my start up success. They helped me promote my company. One person who really helped me was my father. He has always been supportive of my journey as a business owner. He memorized the book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill when I was a child, and the book has also inspired my mindset throughout my journey.

Website: https://www.sodiego.com

Instagram: @_sodiego

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sodiegotours

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/so-diego-san-diego

Image Credits
All images are owned by So Diego, Inc.