Many hosts will say that Superhost status is not worth aiming for, because it's an award that they have no control over. It is awarded by guests and every guest has a differing idea of what perfection is!
Hosts who place importance on that badge find themselves in a downhill spiral doing everything possible to try and build up a happy guest base and, in the process disadvantaging themselves, both mentally and financially........you just can't please everyone!
OK, let’s have a look at a few stats shall we:
- Only 19.4% of hosts achieve Superhost status.
- 80% of Airbnb hosts receive a 4.5+ star rating.
- 57% of Airbnb hosts failed to achieve Superhost status because they didn’t meet the 10+ minimum stays.
- 9.8% of Airbnb hosts failed to achieve Superhost status because they didn’t meet the 4.8+ star review average.
- Superhosts receive an average value star rating of 4.9, standard hosts average 4.6 stars.
- Superhosts charge 11% less per night than standard hosts.
- The average occupancy rate for a Superhost is 47%
- The average occupancy rate for a standard host is 27%
- Superhosts earn, on average, 60% more revenue per day than standard hosts.
*All data and statistics provided by Airdna, who specializes in providing insights and performance metrics for Airbnb.
Now point 6 seems to be at odds with point 9.....how can you charge less but earn more?
The answer of course is.....occupancy.
Those last 3 bullet points are the important ones for those hosts trying to optimise what they do.
The stats speak for themselves.
Airbnb Superhosts have higher occupancy rates, receive better reviews, and make more money.
We see here so many times,"My guest stays are drying up, how can I get more reservations" !
I am all the time receiving personal messages and emails from hosts wanting to know how to increase their guest traffic. Rather than answer them all personally I hope this post can be of some help!
Here is my list that might be of some assistance.
1/.........Make your listing description fun, not boring. Make it grab a searchers attention.
2/........Complete your listing thoroughly........Fill in every detail possible. Guests are not good at guessing.
3/........Stay away from 'fashion shoot' photography. Guests don't want to be let down when the reality doesn't meet the expectation.
4/........To improve your listing search placement, keep some activity happening on your site. Keep changing details, photos, description.
5/........Make sure your place is super-clean. Many guests think old is dirty, you have to be not just thorough, you have be seen to be thorough!
6/........Adjust your listing to suit the season. Guests don't want to see snow when they are after a summer getaway.
7/........Send guests a warm, welcoming personal message. They don't want to feel like they are a small cog in a big wheel.
8/........Answer guest enquiries/requests immediately. Guests will look elsewhere if they have to wait 10 hours for an answer.
9/.........Provide an awesome guest experience. Give them something nice they were not expecting.
10/.......Remember, last impression will be their lasting impression. Send them a nice departure message wishing them well for the future and hope your paths will cross again some day!
If you can put these suggestions into your listing, guests will reflect them in their reviews of you, your business will increase, your Superhost status will automatically follow you......and you will have money in the bank!
Good luck.
Cheers...........Rob
