In the UK version of the show, Alison and Mike fail to get their hotel up and running. During the five seasons, they’ve attempted multiple endeavors to bring in money. In Season 1, they offer the estate to a film crew, but part of the floor collapses during the filming, ending that revenue stream. In Season 2, the couple hosts ghost tours since people are eager to spot a real-life spirit. But when the ghosts are unavailable, Alison pretends to be a ghost. She’s discovered, and the whole operation is deemed a hoax. They also try to rent the home as a wedding venue, but this doesn’t bring in as much dough as expected. They try to sell the property to a hotel chain, but the option is stymied when the ‘plague ghosts’ bodies are discovered in the basement. Throughout it all, Alison and Mike persevere, but don’t ever have full-fledged business plans or the necessary financial acumen that would lead to long-term success for the venture.
Although Sam and Jay in the US adaptation face their share of struggles (renovating an old home comes with unexpected expenses!), they seem much more successful than Alison and Mike. The couple is more entrepreneurial and organized with their finances and overall plans for the project. They have clear goals that they execute because they’re a good team. Their business sense is also much more impressive than Alison and Mike’s; although Sam and Jay are not making millions of dollars right away, they plug away towards their dream at a steady pace. Sam and Jay lean on their previous work experience to make headway. Jay uses his culinary skills to make Woodstone a dining destination (he’ll be opening up a restaurant on the property in Season 4), and Sam takes on extra freelance writing projects to supplement their income while they get Woodstone Manor off the ground. They also use things like social media and rewards programs as unique and creative ways to bring in more customers.
