When Thaio Tomazetti arrived in Australia in 2006, he had a marketing degree, an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help others. What he didn’t have was a job, fluent English or a clear road map to success.
Fast forward almost two decades later, and the 44-year-old Brazilian native is now the Founder and CEO of 2Stay Accommodation Group, Australia’s largest and most respected accommodation provider for international students.
How’d he do it? Well, beyond not being one to ‘sweat the small stuff’, Tomazetti was simply determined to turn his challenges into stepping stones for others.
“I want to inspire others with my story. When you are in a country and you can’t speak the native language, it’s hard. Sometimes people don’t take you seriously – in fact, you often need to work even harder just to prove your point,” Tomazetti tells The CEO Magazine.
“But I want others who might be in the same boat to know that it’s worth it. I want to inspire them to keep going and never give up on their dreams.”
From dream to reality
When Tomazetti stepped off the plane in Australia nearly two decades ago, his goal was simple – learn English and build a life from scratch. But it wasn’t easy. Even with his marketing degree, he struggled to find opportunities that didn’t require fluency in English.
However, within just 12 weeks, he landed his first job as a marketing manager at an English school. While working there, Tomazetti began to notice a recurring challenge: students arriving in Australia were struggling to find accommodation.
“I started helping students find accommodation and soon, people began contacting me with housing opportunities.”
Witnessing how the cards were stacked against these international students – like they once were for him – and with a keen eye for market needs, Tomazetti stepped in to help, despite having only arrived in the country six months earlier.
“I started helping students find accommodation and soon, people began contacting me with housing opportunities,” he says. “This was good because of Australia’s problems with accommodation.”
These housing challenges are still an issue today. International students have long – and unfairly – worn the blame for Australia’s housing crisis, particularly when it comes to rentals, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Their vulnerability upon arrival only compounds the issue. Lacking familiarity with rental laws and their rights, many international students become easy targets for exploitation. Without previous rental histories and oftentimes full-time employment, they are rarely a landlord’s first choice.
Recognizing his idea had serious potential, Tomazetti formalized his efforts into a business.
“I founded the company, initially named CozzyStay, offering a single type of accommodation while also working for the school. We quickly began opening franchise opportunities. Today, CozzyStay is one of the accommodation options, alongside other products and services, under the 2Stay Accommodation Group umbrella,” he explains.
Over the years, the company has experienced rapid growth, expanding into other cities.
“In December 2012, we diversified our offerings by establishing 2Stay Accommodation Group, which is now recognized as one of Australia’s largest short-term accommodation providers for international students,” Tomazetti points out.
Operating across five cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth – 2Stay offers a diverse range of accommodation options and services.
A bigger purpose
Under Tomazetti’s leadership, 2Stay Accommodation Group has evolved into more than a well-priced housing provider. At its core, the company helps students navigate the challenges of living abroad. Everything from learning how to cook and clean to fostering respect for other cultures happens within the four walls of their accommodation.
“Our accommodations provide a structure that aims to help students be more independent. For many of them, this is often their first time away from their families, from their home – not to mention in a different country with a different language,” he explains.
“So this helps them adjust to living with other people. For example, there might be a Brazilian student paired with an Italian or Japanese student. It can be confronting in the beginning; but before long, they start to understand each other. They start cooking pasta together. And friendships begin to form.”
“Our accommodations provide a structure that aims to help students be more independent.”
It’s a perk Tomazetti says is life-changing.
“My wife and I were flying overseas. We went to the bar to get a cocktail, and I noticed the bartender staring at us. Soon, he spoke up, saying he couldn’t hold it in anymore and asked if I was Thaio,” he recalls.
“I told him yes, and he said, ‘I stayed in one of your properties when you first started the company. I met a lady there, and we got married – you changed my life.’”
Stories like that, Tomazetti says, are what keep him going.
“They inspire me to keep helping people,” he says.
Writing a new chapter
With a desire to help as many people as he can, coupled with a knack for storytelling, it’s not surprising when Tomazetti shares his goals for the future include penning a bestseller.
“I’ve been talking about writing a book for years now,” he says. “I have so much to share and want to help as many people as possible.”
Over the years, he’s been humbled by the number of international students who have approached him, thanking him for sharing his story because it inspired them to travel to new lands.
“They’ll message me, saying, ‘I saw your story, and now I’m here in Australia. And I want to thank you for sharing your story,’” he says.
“That’s pretty much the reason I’m here today, doing what I do. Coming to a new country and not speaking the language is hard. Because if they don’t speak the native language of the place they’re visiting, nobody can understand how intelligent they are.”
“Sharing my story with people helps them keep moving forward – and that means a lot to me.”
Over time, Tomazetti says he’s seen people walk away from their dreams because of these challenges.
“They give up because it’s not easy. It’s really hard,” he says. “You need to learn the language to keep growing. But, the reality is, you often have to take a step back in order to keep moving forward.
“Sharing my story with people helps them keep moving forward – and that means a lot to me.”
Motivation beyond money
Tomazetti learned quickly that success is most easily found when it’s passion – not money – that stands as the motivator.
“I’ve seen people try to do things, and their only motivation is money. Normally, these people don’t succeed, and they’re also not very happy,” he points out.
“Successful people, on the other hand, end up being successful because they’re helping others. They’re also doing what they love.”
He emphasizes the importance of perseverance, especially when it comes to migrants looking to succeed as entrepreneurs in a new country.
“Never give up,” he insists. “There’s a large chance you’ll succeed if you stick with it.”
“Successful people … end up being successful because they’re helping others.”
Another critical lesson he’s learned is the value of a close-knit and well-considered inner circle. Reflecting on his journey, Tomazetti acknowledges the importance of surrounding himself with individuals who share his values and drive.
“If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self to write down the names of the 10 people he spends the most time with. If less than half of them are successful or share the same values, then I’d tell him to rethink his circle,” he says.
While the ideal time to take this advice was all those years ago, he realized the next best time was now – and he acted on it.
“Over the past few years, my life has completely changed because of the people I surround myself with. Now, most of my friends are entrepreneurs, so we talk about business ideas,” Tomazetti says. “We love each other and have the same goals in life. Overall, they’re good people, which is the most important thing.”
This focus on building meaningful relationships led to a significant development in 2017 when Ana Carolina Spiazzi joined the company as Marketing Manager. What began as a professional collaboration soon evolved into a personal partnership, profoundly impacting both his personal life and the business.
Spiazzi became not only his wife but also his right-hand person in the company. With her strategic vision and management skills, she strengthened the business’ foundations and expanded 2Stay’s market presence. Together, they complement each other’s skills, exemplifying Tomazetti’s belief in the importance of collaboration and surrounding oneself with the right people.
The challenge of the century
Tomazetti’s journey with 2Stay Accommodation Group has been widely discussed – and celebrated. Recently recognized as a finalist at The CEO Magazine’s 2024 Executive of the Years Awards, and awarded the Global Power Leaders 2024 award, his entrepreneurial spirit was evident at a young age.
“I’ve always had this entrepreneurial spirit inside of me. New business ideas come into my mind every single day,” he says.
However, even that couldn’t have prepared him for the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018, 2Stay took a bold step and began investing in its own properties to expand its accommodation offerings. Everything was moving towards a promising future until 2020, when the world came to a standstill.
The pandemic hit Australia hard. With borders closed and international students unable to enter the country, accommodations started emptying out. The company, which had been growing rapidly, suddenly faced an unprecedented crisis. The team was large, and operations were complex. Every day, the risk of bankruptcy became more real.
Faced with this challenge, 2Stay made a bold decision: it started offering accommodations for just US$50 per week to support students experiencing financial difficulties. Meanwhile, the Australian government launched relief programs for accommodation providers, but 2Stay’s applications were denied three times.
“I’ve always had this entrepreneurial spirit inside of me. New business ideas come into my mind every single day.”
That’s when Spiazzi came up the idea of using their extensive network in the education industry. They reached out to Australia’s top schools – their longtime clients – and requested recommendation letters to prove 2Stay’s genuine importance in the education sector. At the last moment, when all hope seemed lost, the approval finally came through.
From that point on, with resilience and collective effort, the company began rising from the ground up, overcoming one of the most challenging periods in its history.
A company with heart
With 2Stay Accommodation Group firmly established as a respected leader in student accommodation, Tomazetti is quick to credit his team for their success. Like him, they too came to Australia not speaking English.
“They understand what the international students we help are going through,” he explains. “And because we understand, we care.”
That understanding has shaped the foundation of 2Stay Accommodation Group, which Tomazetti describes as a company with the heart of an Aussie and the soul of a migrant.
“At 2Stay, we’ve created a culture of Aussies, which we are in our hearts,” he says. “And we thank Australia forever – not only for us, but for putting us in a position to help others.”
Beyond 2Stay, Tomazetti continues to expand his horizons, investing in new ventures. But his purpose remains true and goes beyond profit – he wants to inspire other Brazilians to follow in his footsteps.
With that, he leads networking groups with Brazilian entrepreneurs, encouraging them to grow, connect and become industry leaders. His mission is clear: to strengthen the Brazilian business community in Australia and help build a future of quality and innovation across various sectors.
What started as a personal dream has turned into a movement of transformation and growth. Tomazetti has not only built an empire but has also paved the way for other immigrants to achieve the same success. He’s proving that, with vision and determination, there are no borders for those who dream big.
