Introducing new Airbnb Categories

[Airbnb]

In May, we introduced Airbnb Categories – a new way of making millions of unique homes discoverable to guests who would have never known existed otherwise. We want to ensure guests looking for a unique space, like yours, can easily find it in categories and feel enticed to book. 

So, we’re introducing new Airbnb Categories:

• New: Listings added to Airbnb within the past 10 weeks
• Trending: Highly rated homes receiving more listing views than the previous week
• Hanoks: Traditional Korean homes constructed of natural materials 
• Top of the world: Places guests can stay around 10,000 feet above sea level, often with stunning views
• Adapted: Spaces confirmed to include accessibility features, like step-free paths to the guest entrance, a bedroom, and a bathroom
• Play: Listings with basketball courts, game rooms, trampolines, water slides, and more
• Private rooms: This update to our Shared Homes Category offers 1.2 million beautiful and affordable spaces of all types, excluding hotels

Additionally, starting early in 2023, you’ll also be able to check which category your listing is in and provide more specifics about your space – we’ll share more info about this soon. 

Read more about it on the Resource Center.

[Deb75]

apparently was NOT just 'city centers'.  Happened to me and several other hosts in our small mountain community here in Tennessee (NOT the Smokies)...where there are many cabins of all types and locations....many of us, including me (superhost for five years, 4.9 star rating always) have had to leave Airbnb and try and figure out something else. To go from being booked solid months in advance to getting NO bookings after this disaster....

[Lori2666]

When scanning through the categories are strange and hurting many hosts. For instance you simply need one for downtown or “close” to cities. I just want to be near where I want to go and most others do also. 

[Bhumika]

Hello @Lori2666 ,

Noted your concern. But I would like to highlight here that the main goal of categories is to organize homes based on their style, location, or proximity to a travel activity. This enables guests to discover millions of unique homes they may have never known existed -- or have thought to look for. 

Listings in categories are ranked based on a number of factors including quality, price, popularity, proximity in the case of location searches, and photo quality. So even if your search is limited to ''downtown'' or ''close to cities'', It will give you a variety of options to suit your demand.

I hope this helps resolve your concern. Thanks.

Bhumika 

Can't find what you're looking for? Click here to start a conversation!

[Deb75]

This is so false...so misleading and untrue.  In my community (mountain/tourist/small) we were devastated as a search would take the traveler far far away from our listings. From being booked for 5 years, to no bookings.  STOP trying to decide for travelers what they want!  STOP IT...they wanted OUR area and the stupid site took them miles and hours AWAY from our area. Are you folks that clueless about what people want, especially for a getaway weekend?  We are within 90 minutes of a large city. OUR clientele were in search of a quiet, secluded charming mountain property.  IN THIS AREA, reachable within 2- 7 hours by car.  These particular Tennessee mountains (NOT the Smokies)  are very popular for visitors from 5 states within that time frame.  Why send them to something in the Smokies or North Georgia when they want OUR area?  I was even 'sent' to Mexico on one search when I entered a price point!!   Ridiculous.  And we have all checked this 'program' and it's insane.  You cannot find the properties in this area that you could find before. Like mine...

[Kristy216]

I absolutely agree!! Smaller secluded mountain rentals are on the back burner and feeling the separation between upscale accommodations and rural seclusion. Intimate is a important to some. Small mountain areas have that option in smaller but exceptional listings.

[Bubba-Lee0]

That's all well and good regarding the goal of categories but what you people simply are not getting is, aside from Brian Chesky, **[Content removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines] maybe 0.03% of AirBNB users, no one cares about the stupid categories.  

The vast majority of guests have a place they need to go at a certain time for a certain number of people. They are looking for traditional accommodations that suit their needs. They aren't looking for a tree house. They're not looking for a yurt. They're not looking for a cave.  They're certainly not focusing on places with pianos. (Seriously? How entitled!) Y'all are completely out of touch with reality here.

They're looking for a house or a room share that accommodates X-number of people within X number of miles of where they need to be on this date.

People with bizarre places are getting featured, meanwhile the rest of us are wondering why we're not getting booked. The home screen when you log on to "traveling" features exotic homes in South Africa, Brazil, etc.

What's even more confusing, especially people new to AirBNB, they see the search engine at the top that implies you have to book for a week. Who the Hell thought THAT was a good idea? Again, completely out of touch with your client base.  #MarketingFail

What's even more of a #MarketingFail is pre-populating dates for people. The implication is, "This is the earliest date this accommodation is available". Really, really REALLY dumb idea. Only a cubicle dweller would come up with something that bad.

Instead, you should have a traditional search engine that doesn't focus on anything special, that doesn't imply you have to book for a week (just put "Dates") and then if you reaallllly must insist on people being able to search for Cycladic houses (wouldn't it have been easier just to say Houses in Greece? <rolleyes> ), put in a key word search function.  That way the 0.00002% of AirBNB clientele who need something bizarre or extremely specialized can look for a Yurt with a Grand Piano in the Desert.  And the rest of us can easily find a traditional home where we want and when we want. 

[Casey242]

You described my FRUSTRATIONS to a T! 

Since the Summer updates, I have dropped 16% on my occupancy rates! If I'm confused with the new search functions, categories, etc. I'm sure my potential guests are as well!

[Tina9064]

This is spot-on. Every other travel accommodation search engine out there sticks to the basics....enter where you're traveling to, the dates you want and maybe a filter or two.

Where did AirBnb come up with the idea that the vast majority of travelers are just sitting at home, swiping their cell phones, with money to burn, thinking, "hmmm, maybe this weekend I'll look for a yurt, out on an island in the middle of Timbuktoo, that's got a tree house for my kid, and a tent for my cat."

Unique homes are a nice idea, but ones that usually charge a hefty rate, which is probably why AirBnb likes them so much, more fee money and the rest of us who try to make the most out of our spare bedrooms, AirBnb's bread and butter of the past, are left out in the cold.

Are these "ideas" ever run through a trial committee, or even just an assorted group of hosts?

[Bhumika]

Hello @Bubba-Lee0 ,

As a part of community , we welcome the feedbacks we receive from the hosts regarding any new updates. As I acknowledge your feedback, I would also like to tell you to be respectful and refrain from using words that do not align with the community guidelines.

Thanks, 

Bhumika

Click start a conversation to ask the Airbnb Community! 

[Patricia1945]

You nailed it 

[Huma0]

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@Bhumika 

Well, this is partly what is problematic. Instead of showing guests what they are actually looking for, Airbnb is showing them 

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@Bhumika wrote:

unique homes they may have never known existed -- or have thought to look for. 

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In most cases, that is NOT useful. Before the Summer Release, and the introduction of categories, I found it easy to navigate the search as a guest and find what I was looking for. After, it became a complete nightmare. 

Last time, it took me several attempts (I kept giving up and then trying again another day because it was so time consuming) to find what I was looking for, even though I know there were MASSES of listings that fit my criteria as I wasn't looking for anything that niche. 

Eventually, I found something ideal, but the dates I was being shown were in November and I wanted to go in the summer. If I wasn't a host who was already aware of all the issues with the new search functionality, I would have assumed those were the first available dates. Instead, I had the knowledge to go to the listing and scroll through the calendar and find weekend availability every month from July to November and book the dates I wanted.

If I had not been a host, or if I had not had a Superhost voucher to use up, for sure I would have given up on Airbnb and booked elsewhere.

I am sorry, but I don't believe denying customers what they want and trying to shove something they don't want down their throats is the best strategy.

[Laurelle3]

@Jenny, for me when travelling I am not interested in the categories and I am only interested in place where I want to stay. Next for me is the price per night which then leads me to the thumbnail picture of accommodation that might interest me.

When scanning through the accommodation pictures there is often too many with wine glasses, coffee machines and views of the local area, they are a turn off for me. It is not the desired feeling or experience that I can have but it is what are they not telling me about the rooms or space that are not shown, what is wrong with the accommodation or missing. Or it is it clean and do they offer me the items that I may require or use for the stay. I then look at the list of items that the property offers and has available.

Next, for me is looking at the reviews and this is the last decider. Now that I have been hosting and reading host views on CC forum you can get a feeling from the guest reviews. if these reviews are are positive or negative. You have to read the star score and the words written to see if they match because some guests don't understand the star system and some people never give 5 stars. Like many hosts before me have stated "there are to many categories and where does my accommodation/property fit." The new number of categories is 55, my question is; Do I have time to look at all of these categories and how can I put words into my description to fit in as many as I can for my accommodation/property. The number is overwhelming.  

I have been doing my own verbal research from guests staying. I ask them: What do they look for on the Airbnb web page when they stay. Most of our guests travel from within our NSW state or they are passing through from northern or southern states.

There answers have been; location on the map, dates available, price and how close to the shops and beach, then they check the reviews, 

[Kristina46]

LOL regarding wine glasses. . As a newbie host in 2010 I probably threw a couple of wine glasses in the photos.  It’s hosts doing that you know. They think they are setting up an architectural digest photo shoot. 😅

but up you did make me think I should look over my listing just in case I missed an errant wine glass 😅

[Laurelle3]

@Kristina46 I often think the wine glasses is saying come here and drink have a good time, party and what follows who knows. Maybe this is why there is some complaints from hosts.

The coffee machine was a marketing tool which Airbnb recommended to have and promote. Yes we have a distant photos on the bench and leave different strengths of pods which are rarely used.

I think we are becomming puppets, robots and forever changing and adapting to the "New " suggestions, ideas that are arriving from Airbnb.

However, we need to make our own decisions as we are all grasping for the samething - Bookings. Some want more and some want fewer bookings for our buisness or money making machine with the help of Airbnb or other platforms.

[Sybe]

@Laurelle3 Very interesting and thorough strategy, though it makes sense what you look out for and why. All guests are different and while some may use the categories, others like yourself may look out for very different things. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😃

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Laurelle3 interesting feedback on photos. For 2 of our listings we have a picture of the building. for 1 a picture of the bedroom. Do feel free to have a look and let us know if they would put you off looking further.

[Mathilde100]

I've had a look also, what a lovely property you have there! I'd like to add that for me it depends for what reason I'm looking. Traveling to the UK, to stay in a historic building like yours, I might adapt my route somewhat. A photo of a cozy inside living room and bedroom does draw me in, as well as the photos of the building in your case. As has been said before, number of beds, price, and full kitchen are important too. I like to see the beds and the kitchen in the photos too. 

[Laurelle3]

@Mike-And-Jane0 thank you for the offer to have a look at the 3 pictures of your property "The Old Rectory". The photos of the building and gardens are calling me to look at in preference to the photo of the Entire home/apt. 1 bed.

But as I have said it is the cost and number of beds that you are offering. All 3 listings have kitchens to prepare meals (cost saving while travelling) which is great. 

You should be proud of your property that you share with guests and the reviews are all complimentary to you and your helpful information about your local area and walks. Your pets even got a mention along with the sheep and birds.

For me I would stay at your place for the history, gardens, open countryside and not to far to the shops and resturants but I would be using the kitchen. A tick from me. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Laurelle3 thanks for looking. I shall switch the picture of the outside to the 1 bed apartment as well. I suspect the age of property is our USP so we probably should focus on that.

[Michael5047]

more categories?

I thought Airbnb was removing this because their search algorithm wasn't working that great.

I do like it though.

[Huma0]

@Michael5047 

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@Michael5047 wrote:

more categories?

I thought Airbnb was removing this because their search algorithm wasn't working that great.

Who told you that? As far as I can see, Airbnb are clinging on to the idea of categories for dear life. They can't, after announcing it as 'their biggest change in a decade', or whatever the wording was, just scrap it after a few months and admit that it was a disaster.

No, Airbnb claim to have had one of the best quarters ever. Meanwhile, the share price continues to drop... So clearly, not everyone believes the hype. Time will tell, but they seem hell bent on pushing this whole category idea no matter how many hosts and guests say they hate it (none of my guests have found it useful at all).