Say hello to the Host Advisory Board members

[Lizzie]

Hello everyone,

When we announced the Host Advisory in December, we said we'd look to this group of hosts to represent you and help highlight the things that really matter to hosts within Airbnb.

To make sure they understand the needs and perspectives of our global community, the Advisory Board members are active in different ways: from contributing here in the Community Center to leading local hosting groups, to participating in product and policy feedback sessions.  

All of the Advisory Board members are active hosts and represent hosting from countries all around the world. They all have different stories and reasons for why they host. They are excited to get to know you, and we hope you will get to know them. 

Introducing...... 

 @Anna1403 , @Bez8,  @Antonella78, @Susan208, @Till-and-Jutta0,  @Nutth0, @Norma17, @Peter1, @Merrydith0, @Pascale144, @Omar202, @Pooja30, @Tiffany204, @Vinícius0, @Shinya0, @Ningyi0, @Samuel604 

Many of you have already been speaking with Till, Nutth, Bez and Peter, here in the EN CC. 

I ask you to support the Advisory Board members by continuing to surface the great knowledge and insights we see here everyday. Make them feel welcome here and get to know them, they want to hear your ideas and make a difference for all of our community. They need your support to do this. You can also use the tag #HostAdvisoryBoard to highlight topics to them.

What’s next?

Each month a different Advisory Board member will be representing the group and providing an update in the Resource Center and we’ll be carrying on the conversation here on the CC. In the meantime, @Susan208 is our first spotlight of the year, please take a look here.  You can also meet Susan at our Community Center meetup on Tuesday February, 23rd 1PM (PST)–to join view this post here. 

@Omar202 will be providing a February update, so do look out for that in a couple of weeks. 🙂

Thank you,

Lizzie (and all of the EN CC team) 

[Susan208]

Hi there!

Great to meet you all.

I am excited to have the opportunity to serve and support you in your local communities as a member of the HAB. Looking forward to speaking with you more.

Susan

[Merrydith0]

Hi @Clara116  @Ute42  @Lizzie  @Susan208 

I’m @Merrydith0  from Tasmania and I am so proud to be a member of the HAB 2021 - I look forward to serving the wider host community in any way I can. I have been a leader in my Tasmanian host community for over 4 years and really enjoy empowering hosts and moderating a Facebook that engages hosts and gives them a voice.

[Mark37]

Hi Susan, so you are a member of the HAB?  I have been trying for months to figure out how to get in touch...this is great.

So my number one request is for AirBNB to offer trip insurance to guests, that would pay hosts, if a trip is disrupted.

I see you are in Denver, so you know Breckenridge...for others, Breckenridge is a ski town.  Usually multiple stays per year will get cancelled because of weather.  Who carries that financial load, I do. It can cost me thousands of dollars...every year I pray we don't get smacked with blizzard over the holdiays....my places rent up to $500 a night, that is serious money.

When a blizzard happens, AirBNB is happy to refund the guest, but us hosts are left holding the bag. I don't think that is any way to treat a partner.

When I travel internationally, with AirBNB, I purchase travel insurance...it covers my lodging and air, in case there is a problem. 

Want are your throughts?

Best regards, Mark

[Till-and-Jutta0]

@Mark37 the HAB is discussing this issue too.

[Mark37]

Am I missing something. I must be.  Has anyone seen any communication from the Ambassadors? Are they requesting info?  What feedback are they providing to AirBNB? What are their priorities????

My personals priority is for AirBNB to offer trip insurance to guests.

[Till-and-Jutta0]

Hi @Mark37 , thank you for sharing your thoughts about trip insurance by Airbnb!

Airbnb encourages every guest right at the time of booking to buy a travel insurance. There is an official cooperation, depending on the guest’s place of origin: https://www.airbnb.com/d/travel-insurance.

You are mentioning the Ambassadors. There are two types of Ambassadors:

1. Host Ambassadors: experienced hosts which help other hosts to list their accommodation
2. Support Ambassadors: all the staff working with hosts and guests at the customer service.

If you like to get updates about the Host Advisory Board, you can follow the official HAB site or subscribe to the Newsletter (in case you missed one, see the archive)

The April was focused on sustainability, see also @Anna1403's comment in the resource center (and sorry if you missed the Host Talk) and on the Community Fund. Consult your local Host Club to help selecting the funding priorities.

Did you notice the new review policy: Dispute reviews from guests who violate our party ban?

More exciting news coming in May!

[Mark37]

I had lost this thread.

Questions. 

1) How does AirBNB promote that guests should take out travel insurance?

2) If this is true, why is AirBNB so quick to refund guests for travel problems, weather, family issues, etc?  That is what insurance is for.

3) The links you provided do not seem to have the USA as an option.

4) How do I get in contact with an advisory board member that represents the USA?

Many thanks, Mark

[Lisa1015]

Hello Susan,

Soooo...., I am VERY upset about a recent issue which I believe airbnb has handled very poorly. I want to be sure the support specialist's decision about my issue is following airbnb policy and I want to understand how airbnb justifies such a policy. 

Who do I report my situation to? It must be someone who can get airbnb's ear on this matter, or it is not worth my devoting even more time to the matter than I already have. I would appreciate your guidance on this.

Lisa

[Ute42]

.

@Susan208 

Hello, great to meet You too.

[Clara116]

@Susan208 hello from Clara in Pensacola....till next time 😁

[Susan208]

Hello Clara.  Love Pensacola.  Happy weekend. 

[Cathie19]

Hello @Susan208.

This is a welcome from Darwin,  Northern Territory - Australia! 🐊🦘🌴🌏⛈⛅️☀️

[Susan208]

I love your beautiful country.  Hope to meet someday. 

[Ann72]

Hi @Susan208 - welcome!  I enjoyed your origin story.  Looking forward to hearing more about "host empowerment with new tools and education."