What’s for breakfast? Hosts share tips, plus an important update from Airbnb

[Airbnb]

Homemade muffins, eggs, coffee and tea—we love that hosts go the extra mile to welcome guests. So many Airbnb hosts enhance their stays by offering breakfast items, ranging from grab-and-go cereal bars, to continental breakfast, to homemade buffets with local ingredients. It’s not required, of course; but, adding breakfast details to your amenities and listing description can help show off your hosting style, improve the guest experience, and make your property stand out in search.

Starting this week, adding breakfast details will be even more important because Airbnb has new criteria for classifying property types such as bed and breakfasts. Many hosts have asked us to help them distinguish their listings from professional listings such as hotels and traditional B&Bs—as those businesses require specific licenses and have different tax implications, depending on where you live—and we’re responding. If you’re a host who has selected “Bed & Breakfast” as your property type, we’re asking you to confirm your business license or adjust your listing in the next 30 days to help us clearly separate your listing and set expectations for guests.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to adjust your listing and make the most of Airbnb’s breakfast amenity, as well as some tips from hosts like you.

3 easy steps to add breakfast details

1. Update your listing

Go to Airbnb.com, and click on your listing. Next to “Rooms & guests,” click “Edit.” If you have a licensed hospitality business, you’ll see a notification to review your listing and enter your business information. If you don’t have a license, change your property type from “Bed and breakfast” to “Apartment,”“House,” or another category listed in the drop down menu. 

2. Add breakfast as an amenity

Under “Amenities,” next to “Additional,” click “Edit.” Then check “Breakfast” if you offer it. Breakfast isn’t a requirement, but some hosts find it can go a long way to help guests feel at home:

• I check off breakfast because I stock the kitchen with breakfast staples, including coffee (French press), tea, hot chocolate, organic oatmeal packets, cold cereal, an assortment of yogurts, a dozen eggs, and fresh fruit. I let guests know in my welcome message that this will be provided and also ask them to tell me which kind of milk (whole, almond, etc.) they prefer so I can stick it in the fridge for them. But the most popular thing is the homemade muffins I bake for all guests.

—Susan, Groton, Connecticut, U.S.A

• We don't have breakfast checked, but we do have ground coffee, tea, hot chocolate and instant oatmeal in the pantry.—Mark, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A.

3. Share details

Next to “Title and description,” click “Edit” to add any information or photos of what guests can expect. When writing about what you offer, use it as an opportunity to showcase your hosting personality, tell guests what’s on the menu, specify what time breakfast is available, or, if you don’t offer breakfast, let guests know there are grocery stores or cafes nearby. These hosts offer up some great examples**:

• I provide breakfast of tea/coffee with fruit juice, cereal, fruit, toast or freshly baked croissants (from our wonderful local bakery) in the large, bright kitchen diner which opens out onto the garden, or at the table in the garden on warm days. Breakfast is available between 7.00am and 9.30am, although I can provide it a little earlier if you have a plane or train to catch, or work commitments. I can provide a gluten free breakfast plus nut or soy milk if required. Please mention any dietary requirements when booking.—Rachel, London, United Kingdom
• We provide a 24 hour "Refill Station" in the dining room where guests can get coffee, hot chocolate, tea and light snacks 24/7. In addition, we serve a "Light Continental Breakfast" of various cereals, yogurt, toast, fruit and baked goods along with beverages.—Francesca + Dave, East Burke, Vermont, U.S.A.
• Breakfast with coffee, juice, toasted bread, etc. A good start to the day!

—Yuliana, Madrid, Spain

• Our legendary breakfasts, with homegrown and homemade preserves***, are served from 6 to 9 a.m. in our dining room or on the veranda in summer

—Mary + Buster, Sandton, South Africa

When you’re ready, click “Publish.”

With the updates to property-type classifications, hosts have an opportunity to set expectations and stand out to potential guests by confirming or adjusting their listings. Plus, adding breakfast details can also help foster personal connections with guests and set the table—pun intended!—for a five-star stay.

Just take it from host Alan, of Angaston, Australia: “It’s rare to find accommodations [in the Barossa Valley in South Australia] that doesn’t supply cooked breakfast provisions. A little extra work for the host makes a happy guest—the smile on their face says it all!”

*Listing photos courtesy of hosts.

**Host tips have been edited for length and clarity.

***If you are preparing homemade food for your guests, consult your local rules around food service and safety.

[Lyn68]

To Airbnb, I always think a good breakfast is essential since it's in the name "Airbnb", the last ' b'  being for breakfast. It is what I expect of a B & B.

If Breakfast is not the norm and it is to be a stand-out feature as this article suggests then why don't you list it under "Amenities" as the next item under the first one in your list (Essentials being top of list), instead of Hairdryer?

 Breakfast is far down  your Amenities list on the right hand side and most guests don't read that far down to the right. I state Breakfast is provided in first line of  my description after many experiences of guests not realising breakfast is included.  I have found that Breakfast being included is terribly important to guests just as it to me when I travel.

Late arrival precludes foray to shops to source food for a cheap DIY brekky for a traveller as I know to my peril from my travels, so you should place Breakfast at top of Amenity list.  It would also serve as a quick price/night comparison to guests so they know what they are getting for the price at a glance rather than booking elsewhere cheaper but unknowingly, without breakfast.

[Patti114]

Spot on! I include up to 8 fresh fruits (no cantelope or honeydue melon), 2 flavors of yogurt, and prepare a hot, from scratch, breakfast (blueberry pancakes, french toast, eggs any way they like them, waffles w/homefries, bacon and/or sausage, homemade muffins or butter croissants) at no additional charge. I decide the evening before what I will be preparing. Each guest is served at a time they choose (b/w 6:30 - :30 AM). I cater to food / dairy allergies, vegans, vegetarians, etc. I have breakfast checked off on all 3 of my listings, although most don't see it. So, in my greeting to them, after they have booked, I state I offer a breakfast option at no additional charge. If interested, do either have any food allergies. I receive many comments of how wonderful and tasty my breakfasts are. I may have to discontinue though due to Airbnb competition. Many in my area don't offer breakfast. Their rates per night are lower and sometimes I don't receive the bookings. Breakfasts that I offer can be a cost of over $25 per couple per day. I would prefer to continue to include breakfast, but agree that the amenity should be a high priority on the amenity list. When Airbnb states others in my area are charging xyz and suggest I lower my price per night, a complete comparison (apples to apples, not apples to grapefruit) should be performed.

Patti, Super Host, Dundee, NY

[Siân1]

I don't add breakfast as part of the deal but always put in the house a simple offering of homemade bread, butter,  homemade jam and some biscuits as a friendly welcome. I do this because my 80 year old Mum thought AirBnB meant Bed and Breakfast and was so embarrassed when she asked her host where breakfast would be served, and would also have been very hungry had the host not been so kind to explain the deal didn't include breakfast but then rustled up some cereals and toast for her. I'd hate my guests to make the same mistake! 

[Geoff117]

Hi, I couldn’t agree more. I couldn’t bring myself to turf people out first thing in the morning to look for something to eat. I provide cereals, fresh fruit salad, yogurts, juices, toast, homemade preserves, tea and coffee. Eggs are available on request, and for European guests I add in ham and a cheese selection. I feel it’s about the minimum really, but there again I really enjoy my breakfast ! 

[Margaret199]

Your 80 year-old mum is quite correct in expecting breakfast to be served in an establishment that declares that it is a B&B. I have written at length on this thread on the subject of the great British bed and breakfast and I feel that Airbnb is slowly giving us the heave-ho in favour of self-catering. I still believe Airbnb means Bed and Breakfast but if it does not then they need to change the name, at which point I will take my business elsewhere ; )

[Gaga0]

That’s not a great or even a good idea for a full apartment rental !.. reasons are :- 

1. The access service cannot be possible as no way to enter the apartment to prepare and serve while they’re sleeping ..! 

2. The cost of the breakfast will be added to the rental rate which will make it higher than others and will not be compatible to other similar rentals..!

3. The host will have extra responsibility of making sure all provided food is very fresh and even though he will be blamed for any problems the guests could complain later if they get sick or unhappy with..!

4. The host must get health municipality certificate to allow him to do so otherwise he will be penalized for any health issues that may arise to the guests or claims  against him ..!

From the above you can see how this subject is very serious and how it can be very dangerous for both the host and the guest...!

[Mary1173]

Sometime early in my hosting experience Airbnb was explained to me that the Bnb part of Airbnb stood for bed-no-breakfast. Initially I included the cost of breakfast in my pricing, but then some guests needed to leave at 05h00 or brought their own breakfast. I then decided to offer it as an optional extra. This means I'm not catering for wastage (anathema to me!) and guests aren't having to pay for something they don't want. It also allowed me to bring my pricing down.

If guests don't want breakfast there are always rusks (a very South African thing) or a few home-made muffins they can warm up to accompany their tea or coffee. 

That said, we love serving breakfasts as with our open-plan dining room/kitchen that's when we really get to interact

[Rosie35]

My guests always appreciate breakfast. Cereals, yoghurts, home baked crossants, toast, jams, marmalade real coffee, tea.  Fresh fruit salad is a winner.  I am usually out walking the dog when they have breakfast so it's easy.  It means they can start sightseeing as soon as they leave the house instead of wasting time finding a cafe.

[Michael-and-Jacqui0]

Like others on this forum, I find it surprising that breakfast is considered as optional.  In the UK, the term B&B (as in the name AirBNB) means bed and breakfast.  I am tired of AirBNB telling me that I should reduce my prices as potential guests are booking "similar" places at lower prices.  That's because the "similar" places are not providing breakfast (or some of the other amenities that we pride ourselves on).  AirBNB should be doing much more to distinguish between self-catering and bed & breakfast establishments in my opinion.  And given that BNB is in the name, this should surely be the "norm".

[Elaine35]

I agree -here in NZ people expect breakfast.... longer stays sometimes wish to self cater though. I've let them do so and don't discuss a discount unless prior arrival.  I think AirBnB keeps suggesting lower prices is not constructive. It annoys me, knowing the local scene, and that I offer something better than those priced lower!! Just need to look them up on each site!  So I become annoyed, feeling ABnB is after more booking $$$.   Its obviously analogged in the system

[Sandra369]

In the UK and Ireland the traditional B&B needed government approval for safety and food clearance etc and they they received a listing # etc. Airbnb is not like that. There is absolutely no comparision. So thinking you are like them and expecting the same standards in one as an airbnb is dilusional and misinformed of the industry. In Ireland the government stepped in and is requiring hosts to adhear to the same standards as the amount of rogue cowboys renting properties in unsafe and unsanitory and illegal locations. The tax man has also stepped in. All good things and even more regulation is needed because they people give us all a bad name but Airbnb and the traditional B&B are different in all aspects of regulation. 

[Jackie208]

Hi 

There is a difference between self catering and a bnb house shared with the host.

Sadly Airbnb use the word host to include absentee landlords. 

Jackie 

[Margaret199]

Exactly! 

[Margaret199]

I couldn't agree more and it seems that I am not alone after all! As I have just said in another reply box(!) I have today written at length on this subject in yet another earlier section of this thread so will desist here but you are correct about the great British B&B. 

I am resisting a relaunch of my dissertation but I would only add that I too find the dumb emails from Airbnb suggesting that we drop our prices to be a pain. Their algorithms are simply set to do everything possible to generate revenue for the "mothership"! They have no way of telling (well actually they do if they CHOOSE to) whether they are comparing us to all the self-catering places in the area so you have to ignore what amounts top junk mail! The thing to remember is this: these are our business, large or small. Airbnb does not own us. 

It's a shame really as I have loved my experience with Airbnb for the most part and have made good friends along the way...and it has saved my neck financially but if they continue to hold up higher and higher hoops then hosts will go elsewhere...

[Alyson26]

I fully agree with the last comment, we are constantly getting messages to lower our prices as similar places are up to £18 per night cheaper. As we charge £45 per night per couple with continental breakfast even in the high season here in Cornwall, I would love to know where in the same area I could stay for £27 per night, If so I would consider moving in full time!!! As for the issue of breakfast we include a continental breakfast of a choice of juices, a selection of cereals ,home made bread/toast jams and marmalades teas and filter coffee. We also offer tea and coffee making facilities in the room as a matter of course.  We can do a “full Cornish” on request at an extra charge but to be honest by the time we source local sausages and bacon, free range eggs from the hamlet, home grown tomatoes in season, hash browns and mushrooms, there is little or no profit margin.