Hi everyone,
Thank you for your thoughtful questions and comments about the 2024 Winter Release. I enjoyed learning what you loved about the latest launch and what you think we could do better. We’ve answered the top questions from hosts in the Community Center below.
Is Airbnb moving away from “hands-on” hosting? The emphasis on co-hosting and features such as Instant Book and self check-in might shift the platform toward a less personalized experience.
By hosts: @Joelle43 and @Cheri354 supported by @Joan2709 , @Adriano78 , and @Alberto192
Every day, hosts create memorable experiences for guests, like sharing a welcome kit, a guidebook with local recommendations, or cozy decor that makes their space feel like home. Connections between hosts and guests are an essential part of Airbnb, and we’re inspired by your creativity and thoughtfulness. We remain committed to supporting our host community and all the ways you choose to welcome guests.
If hosts are looking for support, they can easily find a high-quality, local co-host through the Co-Host Network to help take care of their home and guests. And features like Instant Book and self check-in give hosts a way to simplify the booking and check-in process and help their listing standout. Self check-in is one of the top features on Airbnb, and guests often filter their search results for places that offer it.
How can I be sure that a co-host is skilled enough to craft my listing or meet Airbnb’s standards? How should hosts select co-hosts with minimal information available? Will it be possible for hosts to evaluate co-hosts’ performance?
By hosts: @Francesco602 and @Claudia331 supported by @Laurelle3 , @Clara116 , and @Adriano78
Co-hosts on the network are some of our best hosts. On average, they have an overall rating of 4.86 stars from guests. Today, 73% of co-hosts are Superhosts, and 84% host at least one listing that’s a Guest Favorite—some of the most loved homes on Airbnb according to guests
The new co-host profiles include detailed information about each co-host. You can learn about their experience on Airbnb, the services they specialize in and their pricing, the types of listings they support, and past reviews from guests. We encourage hosts to message several co-hosts to share more about your needs and learn more. We encourage hosts to set up a phone call or ask them to provide references.
We’d be interested to know when the Co-Host Network is expanding to other territories such as Latin America or Asia. What are the plans to expand beyond the current territories?
By hosts: @Maria3662 , @Bianny4 , and @Ken2 supported by @Guy991 , @Rie9 , and @Shinya0
We’re excited to see the interest in the Co-Host Network. The network will continue to expand in 2025. We currently have plans to expand to more countries in Europe and Asia.
It would be great if co-hosts who are not the primary hosts could also qualify for Superhost status. Do you plan to introduce a badge for co-hosts to be recognised as Superhosts? Will primary hosts be able to transfer their Superhost badge to their co-hosts?
By hosts: @Anton7298 and @Alberto1991 supported by @Francesco602
We know recognition is an important part of hosting. That’s why Co-Host Network profiles include the recognition a co-host, or the listings they support, has received, like “Perfect ratings from recent guests” or the number of Guest Favorite homes they host. And we’ll explore other ways to recognize co-hosts as we continue to improve the network.
Would you consider adding features to the co-hosting page where hosts can describe their property and what they’re looking for in a co-host, allowing co-hosts to send offers with their rates?
By hosts: @Samantha102 and @Chris-And-Monica0
We encourage hosts to reach out to several local co-hosts on the Co-Host Network.They can introduce themselves and share more about their property and needs. Hosts can also request that the co-host provide a quote for their services based on their specific needs.
How can my profile stand out in the Co-Host Network to maximize my chances to partner with great hosts?
By host: @Sarah5385
Your co-host profile is a great way to market yourself. Describe your hosting experience and what makes you special. Explain your approach to each of the services you provide and include examples that show what sets you apart. Make sure your profile photo is high-resolution and clearly shows your face. Find more tips for how to create a compelling profile
What are your plans to grow the number of filters and search capabilities? We’d love to see filters that can make it easier for guests to find homes near relevant locations, such as highways, train stations, landmarks, ski slopes, sauna, fenced yard (for guests with kids/pets), full-size oven (for holiday cooking), washer/dryer (for longer stays), etc. Why not open up the list of amenities/features to maximize guest experience on Airbnb?
By hosts: @Mieke0 , @Shinya0 , @Joelle43 , @Chang-Gang--David-0 , @Richard264 , @Drew80 , and @Joan2709 supported by @Marco810 , @Rie9 , @Claudia331 and @David9477
Thanks for sharing these ideas. We know guests often filter Airbnb search results to find places with specific features and amenities. Guests can currently filter for amenities like a washer or dryer, fireplace, hot tub, and more. And we continue to explore new filters that make it even easier for guests to find homes that meet their needs and help your listing stand out.
As a parent of a young man with a disability, finding accessible accommodation is challenging. While there are filters for shower features, for some, a bathtub is essential. This need extends beyond accessibility to parents with babies or young children. Currently, the only way to find listings with a bathtub is by checking photos. Could a bathtub filter be added to the amenities in the future?
By hosts: @Deirdre122 and @Joelle43 supported by @Chang-Gang--David-0 , @David9477 , @Joan2709 , @Clara116 , @Rie9 , @Silvania18 , and @Mauricio467
This is a great suggestion and one we’ll share with our product partners for exploration. Thank you for raising this important topic.
I also want to share that we’ll roll out updates to accessibility filters in the coming months to help simplify the search process and improve the discoverability of relevant filters for guests with accessibility needs. We’ll suggest recommended filters for guests who’ve used accessibility filters for past searches, and consolidate similar filters so guests don’t have to select multiple filters every time they search. We’ll also show listing highlights to help guests easily see accessibility information about a listing so they can find their perfect stay quicker.
What are your plans to enhance messages in the near future? We’d like to see features like bold text, lists, adding photos, and more automated responses.
By hosts: @Rie9 , @Pietro44 , @Joelle43 , and @Priscilla435 supported by @Claudia331 , @Mauricio467 , @Ken2 , @Chang-Gang--David-0 , @David9477 , and @Joan2709
In early 2025, we’ll introduce new quick reply templates. They contain sample answers to top guest questions, so you don’t have to start writing from scratch. You can edit and send these templates while chatting with guests, or schedule them for delivery later. We know hosts use the Messages tab regularly and we’ll continue to make communicating on Airbnb faster and simpler.
Does the free cancellation play a significant role in giving the listing priority/rankings? If this free cancellation is becoming a ‘listing highlight’, would you consider giving us the option of customizing our cancellation policy for different calendar dates/trips?
By host: @Beatriz98
There are many factors that influence search ranking. In particular, the quality, popularity, price, and location of a listing influence how it appears in search results. The free cancellation badge is a new way to highlight when homes offer flexible or moderate cancellation policies, as we know that flexibility is important to guests when they’re booking a trip. In some markets we may only highlight homes with a flexible cancellation policy. Guests can also filter for listings that offer more flexible cancellations, so this does impact a listing’s overall visibility to guests.
We’ve heard from many hosts about the desire for specific cancellation policies by calendar date. Please know this is something we’re actively exploring. We look forward to sharing an update here with you soon!
Thank you so much for your questions and feedback,
Christy
