Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on private rooms

[Stephanie]

Airbnb began as an affordable way for travelers to stay in someone else’s home. With the pandemic behind us, more people are looking for opportunities to spend time with their Hosts and explore new places like a local.

That’s why we’re introducing Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on private rooms. The upgrades include: 

• A Host Passport, so guests can get to know you before they book 
• A new Rooms Category and redesigned search filters that make it easier for guests to discover private rooms 
• New privacy-related details for everyone’s comfort

Airbnb Rooms—and 25 upgrades for Hosts—begin rolling out this week as part of the Airbnb 2023 Summer Release. Get more details on the Resource Center.

Are you a private room Host, or have you considered becoming one? Do these upgrades make you want to try it out?

[Till-and-Jutta0]

As a Private Room Host since 2010, I love to see that the classic Homesharing is more appreciated  with this update. Back to the roots! 😍

[Bhumika]

@Till-and-Jutta0, It's wonderful to hear your take on these updates! Keep sharing more of it😍.

[Kia272]

@Stephanie 

The pandemic isn't behind us. I don't think you should make statements like that. 

[Till-and-Jutta0]

[off-topic]

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@Kia272 wrote:

@Stephanie 

The pandemic isn't behind us. I don't think you should make statements like that. 

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Our Minister of Health stated 1 month ago, that the pandemic is behind us: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-lauterbach-pandemie-beendet-100.html

All measures and regulations are finished.

Perhaps there is an endemic in your region?

[David-and-Frank0]

https://www.who.int/news/item/05-05-2023-statement-on-the-fifteenth-meeting-of-the-international-hea...

I'm happy to listen to the opinion of the World Health Organization.     I hope this news allows all of us to exhale and move on. 

[Mariann4]

-Where is the guest passport? I would also like to get to know the guest before allowing them into my home.

-Why are private rooms in homes in the same category as hotel rooms? There should be a split between those two. Staying in a home is a completely different story than staying in a hotel.

[Sybe]

Hi @Mariann4 ! 🙂

Private rooms are a separate category that won't show hotel rooms. One of the criteria of being included in the Rooms category that must be met, is that the room is not a shared room, hotel, resort, tent, camper, standalone unit, or any other property type on the list here.  

I hope that helps, and thank you so much for sharing your feedback and suggestion for the guest passport!

[Mariann4]

 Hello @Sybe 

See picture attached. It says "your own room in a home or in a hotel". That's the filter you give in search for a place to stay.

[Sybe]

@Mariann4 There's a difference between the property type "Private room", which indeed is a room just for yourself and can be in a hotel, and the new category "Rooms", which you can find in the top bar with all other categories introduced last year. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sybe If only Airbnb had a group of hosts to pre-vet the changes they make. The difference between a private room and a room is way to subtle even for people with English as a first language.

Of course it doesnt help when Brian writes 'That’s why we’re introducing Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on private rooms.'

The suggestion from one person here was that Homeshare should be the name instead of room. This seems far more sensible but I fear its too late to implement.

[Till-and-Jutta0]

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@Mike-And-Jane0 wrote:

... 

The suggestion from one person here was that Homeshare should be the name instead of room. This seems far more sensible but I fear its too late to implement.

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Was also our personal suggestion, @Mike-And-Jane0 !

[Jenny]

Hi @Mike-And-Jane0 

As always, thanks for the valuable feedback.

As you and @Till-and-Jutta0 have both agreed that you feel "Homeshare" to be a better name, I've passed your comments over to the team so that they're aware.

Jenny

[Mariann4]

How is that a sensible solution @Sybe ? How do you think guests search? They use filters. And the filter says that a private room is in a home or a hotel. The categories are buildt by machines that doesn't know what they buildt. Lots of guests says they never use categories in search because it only gets them frustrated.

If Airbnb is going back to its roots, promoting private rooms, then that filter is misleading.

Now you are saying that a room is all kinds of room. And a private room is in a home or hotel.

[Dan18198]

Mine doesn't show up in Room Category when searching..... 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/809561584784595281?source_impression_id=p3_1683647111_WZse0%2Fs87NfWoib...

You tell me what I have wrong there then, there is a bug and it needs to be fixed. Only thing that could be wrong is my legal name is Daniel, and I have Dan there but I doubt that is it!

[Till-and-Jutta0]

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@Mariann4 wrote:

-Where is the guest passport? I would also like to get to know the guest before allowing them into my home.

I understand that the Host Passport is for Homesharing Hosts exclusively. The intention behind is that guests get more trust again in this classic kind of accommodation and booking of Private Rooms is encouraged. 

We have many guests to whom the homesharing idea is still new. And communication helps to overcome shyness.

If you need more info from your guests you can either communicate after booking, or disable IB so guests must communicate with you before booking.

Communication is the key!

[Mariann4]

My IB is off @Till-and-Jutta0 . I tried it once. Ended up having an IB from a person with two big dogs. I don't allow pets... Was a nightmare fixing an issue not made by me with all the threats of sanctions and punishments.

I have no problems understanding that guests would like to trust their host. But my risk as a homeowner is higher. Both financial, physical and emotional. So this passport should go both ways if they want it. Also, a passport is meant to give entry. So posting it on hosts who are the ones who grant entry can only be an idea from someone who doesn't know what a passport is.

Also, the ton of information they ask for is a huge invasion of privacy to be left on open profiles. They already have pictures of my home for everyone to see.

Of course we communicate. I couldn't be homesharing the way I do if I didn't. And I don't like asking potential guests questions like I'm interogating them. That will put them off. I have to keep my trust in people to keep hosting. 

[Kevin129]

When my listings come up in searches it says my profession but I see in other listings information like how long someone has been hosting for and verified fast wifi. As my listings have 1Gb ethernet ports and verified fast wifi and as I've been hosting for 8 years these would be good to have mentioned instead of job. Does anyone know how this little bit of text is controlled? 

Many thanks

Kevin

[Sybe]

Great question @Kevin129 ! I'll check and let you know as soon as I have an answer. 🙂

[Patrick1224]

Without using any search criteria or filters of any kind, why does some random picture (in this case, of a desk) now appear in search results instead of the photo I selected as the cover photo (which is of the bed)?  Has AirBnb analytics determined that guests are more attracted to a picture of the desk in a corner than a picture of the room with the bed and thinks that is better suited for search results?  Prior to this change, the Cover photo was the one that appeared in search results.

[Paula]

Hello @Patrick1224,

Thank you for sharing this with us, I wanted to inform you that I have forwarded your situation to the appropriate team. I will keep you updated as soon as I receive more information.

I'd recommend also to send this feedback to Airbnb directly as well. You can do this for all Airbnb 2023 Summer Release features by going to Early Access in your Hosting menu.

Paula