Guest Bookings are really down this year

[Helen3856]

Hi everyone 

I’m just wondering if anyone else’s bookings are down this year ?

Ive had no bookings made at all this year.  Not sure if my prices are too high or my description needs improving .

Any advice ?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen3856 Only you can determine if the price is suitable. Just search for other local properties and use your knowledge to determine if your price is acceptable. Do be aware though that you are only comparing to unbooked properties so it may be that all the reasonably priced properties have already rented.

As a guest (I was a host) I am always amazed at how expensive properties are in England compared with abroad. Even taking into account flight costs our 3 day trip to Bucharest will be cheaper than a 3 day trip to Yorkshire!

[Edith541]

Hi its the same for me. So incredibly slow this year. Its actually so stressful 

[Alexandra2538]

Came here to ask the same question. I have noticed a significant drop in Airbnb bookings. Luckily I am listed on other platforms and they are keeping me afloat. I'm starting to wonder if the bottom is dropping out of the holiday let market. All I see online is how much people hate airbnbs and the people who run them. Then I see guests complaining about airbnbs being rubbish, over priced and asking for cleaning fees etc. I see very little kick back from Airbnb itself extolling the virtues of airbnbs for income, jobs etc

I am a professional host but I have started to see numerous new airbnbs coming on the market that really should not be accommodating guest. People setting up airbnbs in their sheds. Tatty ex rentals, modern family homes on housing estates set up as places to take a holiday.  I think airbnb have allowed a saturation of the market and its coming back to bite. Airbnb used to be most prevalent booking engine but poor hosts and slap dash properties are ruining the vibe. I've been hosting for 10 years and have excellent reviews but if people arent logging on to airbnb to book then there wont be any bookings.

[Greystone0]

Hi @Helen3856  - we experienced a crater shift in our AIRBNB business starting around Oct 2025 - for us this seemed to coincide with the new method of representing guest cost (the total fees).

We don't have answers for ourselves but our rental activity via other methods has picked up the slack here. It's just odd.  As it is the same listing, photos, description and so on. 

We partially think your ideal guest is no longer using this platform given the uptick elsewhere.

And then there is this: the guest search experience seems to be really poor for our market  via AIRBNB(so something to check for your market). I hadn't really paid a whole lot of attention to this aspect previously, but when I do a blind search for our area the search results suck. AIRBNB is including properties well outside our geography market and littering the first pages with nonsense, thus 'pushing' valid-criteria-fitting listings to the back of the line. If that makes sense?

So I think this poor experience is changing how guests are using this product.

Good luck!

[Clare28]

Hi, which platforms are you using? I trued VRBO last year but didn't get many bookings and im a bit wary of booking.com as the annex is part of my home. Be good to hear your experience. Thanks, Clare 

[Marie8425]

@Helen3856 

I think the category is wrong it says Home but your renting a Room?  Different category.

I rent rooms, what I noticed for mine with the new pricing display since Airbnb just wraps my cleanung fee un without saying what it is, then if the potential Guest was just searching with the default not having put their dates in, my room looked $100 per night for 1 Guest.  Alot more expensive.  I took off my cleaning fee but raised my nightly price a few dollars.  I am back on target Haha 4 rooms rented for Narch.

[Joan2709]

@Helen3856 

Airbnb's algorithm recently changed and is very sensitive to amenities; especially ones that Airbnb considers important. Your listing says you don't offer "Essentials" which are TP, soap, towels and linens. I'm sure you do offer those, but the algorithm says you don't as you haven't checked Essentials as an amenity in the amenities list. Suggest you update that ASAP, as not having it checked means the algorithm will place you lower in search rank:

Lock on Bedroom Door

Not having a lock on the bedroom door is a big deal to Airbnb when offering a room. They go out of their way to point out you don't have a lock with the strike-through on it. I strongly suggest you put a lock on the bedroom door, as most guest renting a room prefer one.

[Clare28]

Hi Helen, my bookings dropped off a cliff with the new pricing approach from air bnb. Literally not had a booking since. Ive got 10 yrs+ experience and usually fully booked may thru Sep. I was already thinking of changing to another platform because air bnb are just awful now, especially for hosts, and this has made my mind up.

[Helen3]

It won't be the new pricing @Clare28 - the guests see the total price when they go to book so it doesn't matter whether they pay the airbnb fee or you include it in your day rate - much more likely to be falling demand. 

[Clare28]

Time to leave air bnb i think, they were already more expensive than other platforms.