Not getting any bookings.

[Debra104]

I have not received any bookings for (2025). This is highly unusual.  I've been an AIRbnb host for seven years. Any insights? Debra

[Shelley159]

Hi @Debra104 

I searched specifically for Lee University, 4 guests, and only found you on page 7. It seems that at the moment the problem with your bookings is the search ranking.

The cause of that is more difficult to know. It's safe to say it's definitely not your reviews, which are excellent. You also seem to have free cancellation, and I don't see any restrictions regarding trip length and check-in days. You seem to be doing everything right. Unfortunately, this probably means you'll have to lower the price to get the ranking back up (hopefully, once bookings are rolling again with recent reviews, things will get a little bit easier).

Try setting a custom promotion and use private mode to search for your listing at different levels of discount for the promoted dates. That should quickly show you how it moves in response to price changes. Also check your insights page to see whether there are any suggestions. If it asks for professional photos next to your photo tour (which it seems to be doing for many listings at the moment), take some new photos until the flag goes away. You can also make any other changes that will register as activity/updates to your listing.

But the algorithm may mostly be looking for a discount ...

[Muslim4]

Agree with you on ranking. That's the most probable reason of not getting bookings. But I don't think lowering a listing's rate might get it closer to the top.

In fact, the listing search is the weirdest thing about Airbnb. For example, I've been renting my flat for more than 2 years and when I try to search it on the map, I need at least 6 mouse scrolls for it to appear on the map, while other listings (with much higher price) in the area are visible immediately.   

I read the official Airbnb guidance on how to improve a listing's visibility. The most important factors mentioned were: rating (the higher, the better), availability (the longer the calendar is open, the better), absence of booking declines (the less you decline guests requests, the better).   

I tried lowering the price with and without applying Airbnb promotions, but it doesn't work. On the opposite, a too low price might be the reason why potential guests would be more suspicious, thinking that 'something isn't right with the property'. I guess that's the marketing psychology, people trust you more if a product price is not too high and not too low. 

Unfortunately, despite all my efforts, it's been more than a month my apartment not getting any bookings. Hope things get better though.

[Shelley159]

Hi @Muslim4 

If I choose a specific unbooked date range (dates coming up soon) for my listing and I add a custom promotion, I have almost complete control over my ranking. With every percentage point that I increae the discount, I move at least one space higher. This is when I search in private mode for those exact dates, specific area and my maximum number of guests.

I can't say that it will work the same for you (maybe it has a lot to do with my location and my competition), but it proves to me that price very heavily controls my position.

I agree with you that it's really not good to be one of the cheapest Airbnbs around. But it's good to at least know what the bot wants, even if one decides to do something different.

To me it looks like most of the other things that Airbnb wants you to do, are already in place for your listing.