Hello Super Host Lee,
You’ve raised some excellent points about Airbnb's current search and booking system. It’s understandable how these changes could be impacting your visibility and bookings as a Super Host. Here are some insights to help address your concerns:
Website Upgrades & User Experience: Airbnb does occasionally update its platform to enhance the user experience, but these updates can sometimes prioritize newer features like the Plus program or "experiences," which may cause standard listings to appear less frequently in search results. This prioritization could be impacting Super Hosts like yourself who are seeking more visibility. While we don’t have confirmation on future updates to Airbnb's search functionality, sharing your feedback directly with Airbnb support might help in suggesting improvements like category filters.
Impact of the Plus Program on Super Hosts: The promotion of Plus listings does sometimes lead to other high-quality listings getting less exposure. It could help if Airbnb separated listings by categories, as you suggested, which would make it easier for potential guests to locate listings that offer different styles and experiences. Many hosts have voiced similar concerns about the need for a clearer differentiation between Plus, Super Host, and regular listings.
Strategies for Improving Visibility: Since you’re already taking many effective steps—such as hiring a professional photographer and using external platforms like YouTube—consider additional promotions on social media or partnering with local tourism sites to further boost visibility. Also, refreshing your listing periodically (updating descriptions, photos, and tags) can sometimes improve search placement within Airbnb’s algorithm.
Updating Business License: As for updating your business license, Airbnb’s account settings generally allow for document uploads or updates in the “Account” or “Listing” sections. If you’re unable to locate this option, contacting Airbnb support might be the quickest way to resolve it.
Your idea to categorize listings into four distinct types (Plus, Super Host, Host, and Super Lux) is a great suggestion and could make the platform easier for guests to navigate while ensuring more exposure for different types of listings. Sharing this directly through Airbnb’s feedback channels or community forums might amplify this idea, especially if other hosts share similar sentiments.
Thank you for sharing your insights, and best of luck with your listing!