In Case You Missed It: 3 product updates to catch up on

[Airbnb]

You’ve told us that we need to do a better job of keeping you in the loop about the changes we’re making to features, tools, and policies that impact your hosting experience. We agree! Check out our new In Case You Missed It series, a regular update that helps hosts like you better understand the improvements that our product and engineering teams are making at Airbnb. This includes changes to the host and guest experience because we know both impact your hosting business. Read on to see what our teams have been working on this month.

A more effective way for guests to compare listings

You might have noticed that we’re testing a new view of ratings in place of the star-based system that guests currently rely on. Guests will now see your overall rating measured by a number with two decimal places (for example, 3.82 or 4.79). This new view doesn’t affect your rating or the overall rating system at all—we’re just updating how your rating appears to guests.

Why the change? Our research showed it was difficult for guests to tell the difference between listings rated with stars. For example, we found that 75% of listings fell between 4.6 and 5 stars. With a star rating that rounded to the nearest half point, guests saw all of those listings as having either 4.5 or 5 stars, which they felt was too vague and left them wanting more details before booking. With our new numeric rating view, guests now have a more accurate way to compare listings—which gives them more confidence to click that “book” button!

Updates to Work and Family Collections

Last year, we launched the Work and Family Collections, groups of listings to attract business travelers and families. To meet travelers’ needs, we asked you to include specific amenities, like self check-in and a laptop-friendly workspace for business travelers, and a TV and kitchen for families. Many of you have since told us that you don’t understand or agree with some of the eligibility criteria for being featured in these collections.

We heard you, and instead of asking you to add amenities that enable you to “join” the collections, we’re now relying on ratings by vetted business travelers to let us know which listings are a good fit. We’re then surfacing top-rated listings based on that feedback. For example, guests can now search for a place to stay when traveling for business by selecting the “Work trip” toggle—results display places with high ratings from other business travelers who were searching for similar criteria. We’re still thinking about how we can highlight the best listings for families, so stay tuned.

The bottom line: Less work for you and no more subjective amenity checklists, but our smarter algorithms will make sure your listing is still getting in front of the right types of guests for your space.

Your new host dashboard

We’re always working to make your dashboard a place that can help you manage your hosting business, coordinate and communicate with your guests, and grow as a host.

Based on your recent feedback, we’re refreshing your dashboard with four key updates:

• Easier-to-find info: Important information, like guest inquiries and requests, will now always appear at the top of your dashboard, so it’s simpler and quicker to find.
• Eye-catching updates: The latest on Airbnb’s new tools and updates will now always be displayed up top to help you stay in the know.
• Clear performance data: A snapshot of your performance (overall rating, reviews, response rate, earnings, and more) is now bigger and more obvious.
• More relevant tips: You now have the option to dismiss the tips we share if they’re not helpful to you. You’ll then only find our tips that matter to you.

These changes are rolling out gradually so not all hosts will be able to access them right away, and hosts using professional hosting tools won't get these dashboard updates at all. We hope these improvements continue to help make hosting easier for you. Happy hosting!

[Jo56]

...and do you tell guests that the rating is significantly impacted by the increasing and exhorbitant Airbnb service fee charged to guests?

The"value" rating, which has been hit very hard by Airbnb's recent increase in add-on service fees to guests, (of up to %20?!) is making it virtually impossible to get a '5 star' "value" rating from guests.  How will guests (including myself, when I travel) consider that a nightly rate which ends up at, for example, $220 PER NIGHT, after initially viewing at $200, is "5 star value"? Of course guests are marking their 'value' ratings down and this is significantly impacting on us, the hosts, the ones who are bringing in Airbnb money and doing all of the work to keep guests happy.  DELETE THE VALUE RATING. It is the only fair and reasonable response!

[Jo56]

or lower the service fee to a reasonable rate.

[Tom2427]

Agree. The service fee seems high. Is it because Airbnb wants an IPO soon?

[Aaiyn0]

I would only hope that Airbnb proves itself to truly be a leading star in the 'New Economy'  and imagines / offers the people in this Company - all of us - in the 'office' and in the 'field' the opportunity to buy it ourselves ~ ~

[Claire46]

For the 1st time, I compared Airbnb to a hotel and opted to stay in a hotel this time for 3 days as we are going to Chicago.  We are loosing the competitiveness. 

[Linda1359]

I completely agree.   Although the maths is incorrect ... 20% on $200 equals $240, which is even worse for guests.

[Lynnie1]

If you add in local Occupancy Taxes, Cleaning Fees and AirBnB's own Currency Exchange Rate, it gets overly expensive and drives guests to hotels.

[Charity18]

So agree to DELETE VALUE RATING. The guests already agreed upon the value they are paying even before booking, and therefore have agreed upon the price when they book the place.  When a guest rates the value as a 4 star but then rates the rest as 5 stars plus an awesome written review, that wouldn’t make sense at all! I don’t like that when my guests say they had a great stay, all 5 stars but dinged me on value with a 4 star. 

[Allison138]

Boy,...I agree!  How can my place rate 5 stars for all the other ratings and a 4 for value?  It's offensive, really.

[Vi20]

Agree everything is 5 star and than they

feel it is not value for money Huh

DELETE VALUE RATING not fair too hosts, we work hard, pump in money all the time  to be able to offer 5 star 

[Sarah3111]

I wanted to mention that I specifically have avoided being designated as a work listing. My partner has booked places on Airbnb as he often works away for 2-30 days at a time.

We found the work listings often didn’t meet his needs and needlessly restricted the listings - he has never needed a “hair dryer” etc.

We specifically avoid the work “toggle” as it’s clunky and has always resulted in it being harder to find a place for him.

I find this one to be in the top three most disliked options on the platform for us.

[Linda1220]

I totally agree that the “workplace“ designation will unnecessarily limit the visibility of my listing. I hope airbnb will ditch it.

[Phuoc-Dung0]

Agree.

[Karen658]

Agreed.