My main question on how the Airbnb search works is "how does the Airbnb search work?". I would like to see the search algorithm written out in English, with all the parameters that are taken into consideration, the priority given to each parameter, how parameters are combined, etc. In short, a full specification of the search algorithm (which I assume must exist, otherwise what on earth do the programmers use when writing the code?). Then hosts could understand the impact various parameters have on search ranking and would understand why their listing appears where it does, and which parameters to adjust for SEO.
For example, I can type in the name of my town, max price within £20 of my price, number of guests 3 or 4 (to eliminate listings that only cater to 1 or 2 guests), dates when my listing is available, and my listing is not shown on the map. Instead, listings across the river, in a nearby large city are shown, including some that do not seem to meet the other criteria (in addition to being in the incorrect location). Why this happens is a mystery. A full specification of the search algorithm would help me to understand why the parameters I have input seem to have little or no impact on the values returned.