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!

[Donna371]

I am constantly being asked to absorb the cost of Airbnb commissions as part of guests bargaining requests as people are shocked at how much it is.
So as a host, I am "expected" to take the loss so Airbnb can keep 100% of their commissions. Without hosts, you wouldn't have a business.

[Diane933]

Hi Air bnb

Thanks for info! I listed my house a few years ago & it is now rented long term. I can’t figure out how to delete the listing. All I can do is block dates. I want to take it off for income tax reasons 

Please advise how to delete listing. 

Thank you

[David569]

With respect to the ratings change as well as the "work" and "family collections", it would be great if Airbnb could find a way to strongly encourage guests to ask questions BEFORE booking if they are unsure of amenities, location, value, etc.  We recently had a guest that instantly booked, asked no questions ahead of their stay, but gave us a 4 star rating rather than a five because in the guests own words, it was his fault because his expectations didn't match well with our property.  As hosts, we're paying the price for that 4 star rating dragging our overall rating down and it wasn't our fault at all.  Had this guest inquired, we could have shared more information with him about our property's location relative to things he wanted to do while here.  He could have made a more informed choice and we could have (quite possibly) avoided having a guest stay with us that would have preferred a different location altogether.

[Cori2]

Wouldn’t it make more sense to make the rating system out of 10 instead of 5? If you want to give more precise information you need to provide the ability to input more precise information.  People who give a rating of 4/5 might have given a rating of 9/10 bit there is no 4.5/5 option. 

[Nikita3]

Agree with the rating - Guests want one pay out with no added extras, it makes Hosts look bad.

[Kerri28]

Another addition to the family collection would be the ability to specify the max number of adults and kids we’d ideally want. Our condo sleeps 8 but it’s geared towards families with kids so I discourage more than 4 adults (because of bed size and privacy). I’d love to specify 4 adults and 4 kids max. Of course that’s in the first line of my description but it’s surprising how many guests don’t read that and Either auto book or request to book. In the end, of course it’s the guests choice, but many opt to cancel once they realize it’s better suited for 4 adults and 4 kids. 

[Karen2371]

You need to Ledbetter up date on guest example where they live  Dropnfees

[Kelly777]

This all sounds great! I work Super hard on standing out and being absolutely the best Airbnb experience they have ever had. I wish I had a way of knowing how to price my home. We leave our home fully stocked. And offer full size shampoo and conditioner. High comfortable beds with high end sheets etc. over 80 Amenities are home is almost 7000 ft.² single level with 10 acres next door to Winery’s with all the walking distance and three heated Jacuzzi’s. It would be great to get advice on this. Kelly 

[Jo335]

Wonderful!

[Penny302]

Reading all these has totally put me off doing Air Bn B'

[Sandy47]

I want Airbnb to re-think how they rank listings as "a place for business travelers". I would like them to weigh EVENLY between having the right amenities and getting a great review.

I usually have at least 1 -2 or more business travelers stay with me per month. They are NOT self booked but are booked through their company or a company if they are interviewing for a job r doing contract work. I find that while the guest claims they had a great experience and thank me that the company rep who booked the stay frequently does not give me a review. So, I get unfair placement/exposure because of who does the booking for the business traveler and thus whether there is a review or not. HELP!!!

[J-Renato0]

Well I've said it before, and I'll say it again! Sorry for insisting.

Testing a new view of ratings in place of the star-based system that guests currently rely on is a great idea.
To me, to call it "A more effective way for guests to compare listing" needs to indicate the top grade.

I find it odd to display just a "number" without the reference scale.
For example, if rating is 4.85 you must display the "scale" or "maximum value reference".
You need to highlight whether the top grade is 5 or 10 for example.
It makes all the difference.
In a few days there will be guests saying that in Airbnb you only have bad accommodation ... value less than 5 on a scale of 1 to 10! It is natural for anyone to think that the scale is 1 to 10, unles another top grade is displayed.

In my view the correct way to present it is like:

4.85 out of 5 (131)
Or
4.85 / 5 (131)

E x p e d i a    for example use this system. Please, see the attached file.

[Roxy-and-Bill0]

This is about Super host rating.  I enjoy earning our Super host badge, we worked hard for it but during the winter time here on the rural Oregon Coast we don't get the travelers thru here like the summer 3 months, therefore with not many bookings during this time we stand to not make the quarterly requirement to keep our Super host statice.  This is madding because we work so hard to achieve this badge.  They offer us to slash our nightly price to entice travelers to stay...…...No way, to much work for nothing, this is not a good investment in that regard for rural-seasonal Airbnb hosts. Happy Everyday - keep chugging along.

[Cat4519]

Totally unrelated yet I'll say it; your decision to ditch the guest's family name on their profile space means  hosts can't check them on FB therefore can't prep (themselves or the house) acordingly.. Shame, as the heads up was super handy.

[Abderrahim14]

agree.