Classifying my listing within a “category”

[Molly396]

Can someone please help me optimize for the new category search feature? We have a very high end unit with a chefs kitchen. It’s displayed in photographs, mentioned in descriptions and captions, and we get stellar feedback from our guests. When I go to view the new category “chef’s kitchen”, it does not come up. In fact, no listings in our city (Pittsburgh) come up. I would understand maybe if there were better more equipped “chefs kitchens” in my area.. but there are zero being advertised, and we have one! Can anyone help me get our place classified? We have another unit that is a tiny house. It’s not coming up under category “tiny house”.

I would love some guidance! 

[Paul-and-Donna1]

You do have an option to request additional categories to be added to your listing.

Under your listing, Property Type section, you can view all your existing categories.

above the reflected categories is a link “Learn More”. If you click on this link, new page will open. Scroll down until you located another link embedded in the text - “Elevate”. Once you click on this link, you will be prompted to “log in”. If in you app, you just need to click on it and it will take you to new page where all your properties are listed with all categories.

Above each property (right top corner) there is an option to “add/remove” categories.

You can select up to 5 categories to be added / removed. 

The pop up will ask you to allow for up to 15 days for the categories to be updated.

HOWEVER, many requested categories are REJECTED within 24 hours regardless of correctness!!

AND many other requests will stay in “pending” status for lot longer than 15 days until eventually rejected. 

Regardless of WHAT you may have clearly listed/shown in your listing description, professional photos, what’s in your reviews, communication etc.

The system is EXTREMELY flawed.

It took 3 requests and over 3 months to be added in a vineyard category for us even though we are 6 minutes from one of the most popular vine yards in our area and within 13-15 of 4 others.

We are repeatedly rejected from the “chef’s kitchen” category even though we have clearly reflected in our listing LOADED, new/modern/huge kitchen with top line appliances AND reviews from professional chefs AND restaurant owners!! So frustrating!! 
99.9% of our reviews are mentioning stunning design, attention to details etc. but the system is rejecting “design” category!!

It is all based on HOW the categories have been programmed and what the AI is looking for.

I guess I wish there was a process in place where a real human can review and re-evaluate the ‘category request’ and ensure that properties are included in proper category.

[Frances3408]

@Paul-and-Donna1. Hi Paul and Donna. I can sympathise. We finally got vineyards added to our categories a month ago after 2 failed attempts and my query to CS. I note that it says within 10 minutes drive. We have four vineyards within that timeframe so I'm just wondering if google maps can prove your point? I also had a whole section to my Guide to show the others, all within a 30 minute drive, but I have no way of knowing (like you) how its being read by CS/AI but my guest reviews do mention the vineyards.

We started by being allocated National Parks only, for which the requirement is 1 hour and our little town borders one so its a 2 minute walk to the edge! Had to battle over Beaches when the Pacific Ocean is 600m away. And now they've added Countryside (I didnt ask for) but yes we are in a rural setting!

I suspect anything done via Elevate actually uses real people to review so keep persisting 🙂

[Paul-and-Donna1]

Hi Frances, 

appreciate the sympathy 🙂

it's really frustrating. 

The first time I have reached out to Airbnb in regards to the categories was in May when our listing suddenly reflected "Lake front" and "10 minutes Walk to Lake' categories. At the same time this 'glitch' was happening we received 2-3 instant bookings and I panicked that we will have to deal with bad reviews.

I contacted Airbnb and they suggested I place a "disclaimer" in my listing??

Once I refused and told them that any negative review as a result of the incorrect categories will have to be removed and I want this in writing, they walked me through the categories request steps. It took almost 2 weeks for them to remove the category!! BUT it took less then 24 hours to reject the vineyard 😞

Same for the design. It's even more frustrating as we have a professional chef in the family and they will tell you - gas range oven over electric, large working space over small cramp kitchen (no matter the appliances), lots of storage for cookware/equipment over cute design etc. 

We have all of that and more! Yet when I search our area for chef's kitchen, most have electric range oven, no cabinetry/storage, small cramped space, no counter top space for food preparation BUT they all (or almost all) have one thing in comment - metal exhaust above the stove (ranging from funny tiny things to a real professional ones)  - so it seems to me that the Chef's kitchen is programmed to get approved as soon as they see the exhaust in the photos.. regardless of what else is (or is not) in the kitchen...

My brother has a listing that is literal Castle (stunning property) and while correctly listed in the "castle" category, it is also reflected in the "farm" category 🙂 We have no idea how in the world this happened... There is not one photo, description that could somehow get the AI confused so much to place it in a farm category.... 

His property is Lake Front but he keeps rejected for "lake front' category (tried 4-5 times already) 

I mean I could go on all the funny facts and issues we have noticed.. 

Although I'm not very active on this forum, I do have 15+ years experience with 2 accounts, 4 houses, and now I also get to see what's going on with my brother's account....  

[Martin91]

@Sybe Is there a way we can send you the listing links so you can look at them to recategorize them properly or override the AI that is not picking up the clues properly? The most important would be all of the 12 mountain cabins I manage being categorized as "cabins" even though a few of them are not showing up under the "cabin" category even though they clearly are. Can we send you listing links to have them reviewed? Thanks much, Martin

[Stephanie]

This is a really great idea @Martin91 , will share it back and see what can be done.

[Kathleen260]

How often does the AI run if we update our info now....when could we expect it to be next analyzed?  Any idea why ABNB would not just review each profile for accuracy of self described categories? I find it funny that I cant simply categorize my cabin as a cabin, but instead need a machine to look at pictures to determine if its a cabin. 🙂

[Clara116]

@Molly396 I looked at your  Luxe - some of the photos show how awesome it is..... if I can be honest the first photo is your least attractive, if you are seeking Chef's Kitchen....make that photo # 1 with great descriptions under each photo. I was surprised when I read Luxe and that bedroom photo popped up, just saying. Make your listing description read about all that you want to show as special....also, your guests will review and say stuff that you want about the Chef's Kitchen and other special things and that will help. somehow focus on what makes it pop like design, style and that fab Kitchen. Good luck, plus the algorithms take a minute to be figuring it all out I would guess. It is all new and we want to learn along with all the newness. Peace, Clara

[Molly396]

@Clara116  thanks so much for your time and your feedback! The release said I could be in two categories. I’m not sure how updating my cover photo to achieve one would also satisfy a second category, without some ridiculous collage. I definitely agree re descriptions so I will work on enhancing those in the meantime. Thanks again! 

[Huma0]

Just out of interest, how does one classify a chef's kitchen, as opposed to just a nice, big, well equipped kitchen.

I looked this up, and there is no formal definition, but a few things that came up over and over were:

- A kitchen that a professional chef could cook in (also that multiple cooks could use simultaneously)

- A sub-zero refrigerator (I wonder if that's included in Airbnb's amenities list?)

- Gas range or cooker

- State of the art (or high end) appliances

- Lots of counter space and maybe a kitchen island

Other things I saw were:

- Ample storage

- Multiple sinks

- Multiple ovens

- Large dishwasher (or even more than one dishwasher)

- Warming racks

- Smart layout

Here's a useful article: https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/what-is-a-chefs-kitchen/

Just wondering if listing as many of these things as you have in your amenities, on the listing, including them in the photos etc. would result in inclusion in Airbnb's chef's kitchen category. I doubt it, as the categories search seems really, really glitchy, but you never know.

@Molly396 

Although you have mentioned it in your listing description, it's not obvious to me from the photos that this is a chef's kitchen. I think you could include some more 'detail shots' of what that kitchen includes and don't forget to caption them accordingly.

[Molly396]

@Huma0  Thank you so much. Basically, that is the description I have also found for chefs kitchen. I am going over to the property today and will try to take some great shots of the sub zero, hidden appliances, cookware. I tried to investigate properties that are currently being listed under chefs kitchen category for inspiration—- it does not appear they are doing something so different or have more descriptive photographs but I am going to give it a try! My confusion is that they also want “high end” type photos— I don’t know if the in-cabinet snaps I’m about to add will dumb it down and make it less high end! 

[Clara116]

@Molly396 I think when you call your place Luxe it is expected to have top quality photos. Also many folks do not search on mobile phone but laptops and they automatically make a collage with the first 5 pics so pick those wisely. Just some other thoughts 

[Huma0]

@Molly396 

Yes, that is an issue RE photography, because I'd also be reluctant to add my own non-professional snapshots to the professional photos already on the listing.

I have added a couple to my listings, e.g. of one of my cats to make it crystal clear to guests who do not read that there are cats! I have also added one of the roof terrace because the professional photographers came in late Autumn/early Winter when it was a bit grey and not much was in flower.

However, I have additional, new bathrooms as well as some other updates that I have not added as I've been unable to take good photos myself. I think I will just have to pay for another photoshoot at some point.

So, I would suggest you just take the best photos that you can and then have a look at them alongside your others. If you don't think they are up to scratch, you can then decide if being in the chef's kitchen category is more important than good looking photos or not. Like I said, I am not even sure that having the right photos guarantees to put you in the appropriate categories anyway.

I mentioned on another thread about these updates that my listings are not showing up in the search for the 'shared homes' category in my area, even though I have photos taken by professional Airbnb photographers. Meanwhile, the listings that are showing mostly have poorly lit, amateur photos and don't look that great.

[Molly396]

@Clara116 and @Huma0 

I am here taking some more photos! Would you mind looking here to tell me if any of them scream chefs kitchen better than others? I really appreciate your feedback and time so much. I am inserting some new photos here! 

Shoot it will only let me upload two at a time! I’m going to place two more below I think reflects a pretty different angle. Thanks!! 

[Huma0]

@Molly396 

I will wait until you have had a chance to upload more. Apologies if I don't respond soon though as it's nearly 10pm in London now...

You do have a very nice kitchen though!

[Molly396]

 

 

@Huma0 @Clara116