Hi Lizzie,
I understood that Airbnb stood for Air bed and breakfast. Breakfast has always been a bit discretionary, but now with "essential amenities" also becoming discretionary, only Air and an unmade bed are left!
It could be argued that the name Airbnb is becoming misleading. Moreover, it is a contradiction to make something that is essential, discretionary.
However, we are a community and the community has spoken.
If essential amenities are now going to be discretionary, I too, would like to be given an option to charge extra for them so I can drop my nightly rate to compete with others not providing the basic amenities. (Having a cover charge for breakfast items would be appropriate too.)
In my area there has been a flood of holiday rentals listed on Airbnb by a local real estate agent. He ticks the box saying essential amenities are provided but then adds a little note somewhere down the bottom of the listing where it might not be noticed, that if linen or towels are needed, extra unspecified fees apply (and I understand those extra fees are considerable). I don't know what happens when people arrive expecting sheets and towels, the shops are closed and they cannot get hold of the agent.
I would like to see hosts who mislead people by stating they provide the basic amenities, when they don't, booted off Airbnb.
Afterall, how many people travel with sheets, towels, toilet paper and soap in their suitcase, if they think they have booked into a bed and breakfast? Guests are likely to become disillusioned by their experience, leave our community and spread the word about their upsetting experience.
Unless what is or isn't provied is made very clear, Airbnb seems to be in danger of losing its point of difference and could end up being viewed as a flaky version of Booking.com
That would be such a shame having come so far.