Request for Suggestions to Improve Airbnb Bookings

[Mihiri0]

Hello Team,

I am relatively new to hosting on Airbnb and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or feedback you may have to help improve my listing and increase bookings. Your insights would be invaluable as I work towards enhancing the overall guest experience.

Here is my listing link https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/1233311015042745636?source_impression_id=p3_1759990124_P3SNKpbRHrta8U...

Thanks

Mihiri

[Elisa]

 Hi @Mihiri0 😊, 

Congratulations for the new beginning!

Where are you hosting from?

I’m tagging a few hosts to see what they can advise you: @Doan39, @Gregory781, @Michele-and-Dana0, @David11470, @Kirti18, @Marie8425 and @Kwabena9.

Thank you in advance, everyone!

[Kwabena9]

thanks for the tag Elisa, i have reached out to him.

[Michele-and-Dana0 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Mihiri0 !

Such a beautiful home! I love the modern style! I have a few suggestions and questions for you:

Amenities: Your listing has 9 listed amenities but truly you have lots more. It might help your potential future guests if you selected the amenities you do have so they are populated in the listing. That makes them easy to find and understand. Otherwise I have to scan what you've written and that's much harder for people to find the information they want. AND if you don't have to list every amenity, you have the chance to share your knowledge of what's near your house that you guests might enjoy or need (grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)

Photos: To my eye, your photos have almost no natural light and are sporting a blue hue that I've not encountered. I'm wondering why you chose to use that hue because, to me, it makes your photos look flat - all of which, to my eye, makes the rooms look a bit cold and harsh.

I would recommend using photos with natural light and without that blue hue because not only does natural light show off the space by highlighting all the archetectural details, paint colors and textures, natural light creates a warm, inviting and welcoming feeling.

Photo Tour: From my point of view, it's very helpful for guests if you arrange your photos as a sort of tour through the house. With the caveat that I would use the most compelling photo as the cover photo, I would start at the front entrance and move through the house as you would walk through the house. This helps people understand the layout and size and helps them understand how far one room is from another.

For example, if I want a late night snack, where is the kitchen in relation to the living room or bedrooms? How close is the bathroom to the 2 additional bedrooms? 

The important thing is, unles / until they fix it, I would follow these directions to make your photo tour: https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Ask-about-your-listing/Disable-photo-tour/m-p/2052389

The space

🛏️ Accommodation
• Three Air-Conditioned Bedrooms: Each featuring a comfortable double bed with mosquito nets. ⬅️ I finally found the photos of the beds with the netting. I would change this to say canopy beds with sheer curtains (or netting) - UNLESS you really need mosquito netting in the house?? 

• En-Suite Bathrooms: Equipped with hot-water showers, free toiletries, and bidets. From the photos it doesn't look like bathrooms 2 and 3 have showers. Also I can't see how the other bedrooms have access to the bathrooms - it might help if people could see that they're en suite.

• Shared Lounge & Kitchen: Fully equipped for self-catering, ideal for preparing meals and socializing. I agree with @Marie8425  - if you're offering the Entire Home, then nothing should be Shared.

• Spacious Front Porch: Furnished with wooden chairs, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the garden views. - I would recommend either removing "Furnished withwoodenchair" OR adding some other text indicating the porch is furnished because "wooden chairs" don't sound comfortable.


🌐 Amenities - I would remove this section and go through the amenities list and select the amenities you actually have. 
• Free Wi-Fi: Available throughout the property.
• Flat-Screen TV: In the lounge area.
• Fully Equipped Kitchen: Includes a refrigerator, oven, stovetop, toaster, and dining area.
• Laundry Facilities: Washing machine provided. ⬅️ No clothes dryer? It may be too hot there to run it. Do most visitors know that? Do they know where to go to dry their clothes?
• Free Private Parking: On-site parking available.
• Breakfast Options: Continental, Asian, or vegetarian breakfast available upon request.


🌟 Why Choose Shinestar Villa Mirissa?
• Exceptional guest satisfaction — the property is rated around 9.5 /10 “exceptional” by guests. for cleanliness, comfort, and hospitality.
• privacy and shared spaces: The layout gives both privacy and shared spaces — so you can relax separately or enjoy time together.
• Peaceful Garden Setting: Experience the beauty of nature with morning visits from peacocks and monkeys. ⬅️WOW That's so cool! I've never experienced that and so I wonder if you could show some photoso of that so your guests could understand and know what to expect?. 
• Attentive Hosts: The owners and caretaker are highly praised for their warm hospitality and helpfulness.
• Ideal for Groups: The villa's layout provides both privacy and communal spaces for relaxation and socializing.⬅️ This is pretty much the same thing as your second bullet (privacy and shared spaces)

I actually have mixed feelings about this whole section and I get the feeling it's is all coming from other platforms where you've had more bookings and you're hoping it will encourage more reservations. It feels a little too much to my ear, but I'm from a very different culture 😊

📅 Availability & Booking
Shinestar Villa Mirissa offers flexible booking options with competitive rates. Guests can enjoy a peaceful stay with the convenience of modern amenities and a prime location near Mirissa Beach. For the best rates and availability, please check the listing on your preferred travel platform.       That seems appropriate for an ad but maybe not so much on the Airbnb platform 😁
We look forward to welcoming you, helping you relax, and ensuring your time in Mirissa becomes one of your most treasured journeys.

Thanks so much and I hope what I've said is helpful!

- Dana

[Mihiri0]

Hello Dana ,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed and insightful feedback! 🙂
I truly appreciate your suggestions .They’ve given me a lot to think about and work on.

Your advice about listing amenities more clearly and organizing the photo tour is especially helpful. I hadn’t considered how much easier it would be for guests to understand the layout and features that way. I’ll definitely revisit the photo arrangement and look into updating the lighting and hue to better reflect the warmth of the space.

Also, your comments about the wording and presentation of the listing are incredibly valuable. I’ll be refining the descriptions to make them more accurate and inviting, and I’ll take a closer look at the en-suite bathroom access and shared space terminology to ensure everything is clear and consistent.

Thanks again for your thoughtful support — it means a lot!  🙏

Keep in touch

Mihiri

[Michele-and-Dana0]

Thank you @Mihiri0 i I'm so happy to help and please let us know if you see positive changes in your reservations 😃

[Mihiri0]

Hello Elisa,

Thanks so much for tagging these hosts! I really appreciate your help in connecting me with people who might have some great advice.

I am hosting from Sri Lanka.

Keep in touch

Regards

Mihiri

[Gregory781]

Hello @Mihiri0

Welcome to Airbnb hosting! I checked your listing and have a few tips to help improve your bookings. Make sure your photos are high-quality and showcase your villa’s unique features, including its proximity to the beach and serene surroundings. Craft a clear and engaging description highlighting amenities, local attractions, and the guest experience. Keep your calendar up to date, consider enabling Instant Book, set competitive pricing, and offer a flexible cancellation policy. Prompt responses to inquiries and encouraging guest reviews will build trust and credibility. You can also promote your listing on social media and use Airbnb’s new tools to offer additional services or experiences. These steps can help attract more guests and enhance the overall experience.

[Mihiri0]

Hello Gregory,
Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the awesome tips! I really appreciate you taking the time to check out my listing. I’ll definitely work on updating the photos and making the description more engaging. Excited to get started and learn more along the way!

[Kwabena9]

Hi there,

congratulations on your first listing, i love long term books so i look for trades people in my local area and give them the best deal  to book on my Airbnb. make them feel special and appreciated , get professional photos if you haven't done so already and make sure to share share share within your own network and social media platforms and you will be surprised at the bookings you will get from there. .Always ask guest to leave a review after they leave and make sure they have the best experience at your property. Try and automate your systems as much as you can and use a channel manager like price labs if you can so you're getting the best rates based on demand and supply.

Just a few tips from me and i hope it helps and don't hesitate to reach out if you need tailored property management services.

[Mihiri0]

Hello @Kwabena9,

Thank you so much for the kind congratulations and for generously sharing your tips  I really appreciate it! 🙂

I’ll definitely look into automating systems and exploring tools like PriceLabs to optimize rates.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement.

Regards

Mihiri

[Marie8425]

@Mihiri0 

That one review with a low rating really causes an issue for Airbnb Display Position and add in now no recent Airbnb Traffic is another negative.

Fixable but the first thing is be clear what you are offering.  It says Entire Home and Shared kitchen and lounge.  Shared with who?  Entire House on Airbnb is defined as no shared living spaces only a yard or entry way.  

[Mihiri0]

Hello @Marie8425,

Thank you so much for pointing that out and for explaining how it affects Airbnb’s display position.I really appreciate your insight. 🙂

Thanks again for your support and guidance .it’s incredibly helpful as I work to improve the listing and attract more traffic!

Regards

Mihiri

[Elisa]

Hi @Gregory781, @Michele-and-Dana0, @Marie8425 and @Kwabena9 😊, 

Thank you so much for helping our hosts with your amazing suggestions!

@Mihiri0 Have you been able to implement some of the suggestions from our hosts?

Looking forward to hearing from you.