How Can I Opt Out of "Contributions to Hosts" ?

[Jennifer1421]

As part of the help and support to hosts announced by Brian Chesky yesterday, one of the initiatives announced was that Airbnb will be sending emails to previous recent guests, asking them to consider making a contribution to the host they stayed with.

I do not want/need anything sent on my "behalf" to previous guests, asking for donations/contributions.

How can I opt out? Guidance very much appreciated...

[Huma0]

@Lizzie 

Thanks so much for following up on our behalf. Fingers crossed!

[Lizzie]

No problem at all, thanks @Huma0 and I hope you are doing ok. 

Lizzie

[Geri26]

flagging this thread so it doesnt get lost in the plethora of Covid discussions as need to know if I have to send messages to previous guests if this 'initiative' becomes opt out and I forget about while living my day-to-day, not Airbnb life.....

[Sarah977]

@Lizzie  Well, I couldn't help but notice the absence of anything that addressed this issue in Mr. Chesky's message today.  Instead he talked about giving guests the ability to send hosts thank you messages. Seriously? Is this something any host has any interest in right now? Or ever? My guests thank me by being lovely guests and leaving nice reviews and often send a personal message after their stay, thanking me. There's nothing else required or wanted.

Is this what he heard in the listening sessions? "Can you please create a way for guests to send us thank you notes"? I highly doubt that. 

[Jennifer1421]

@Lizzie 

Have you heard anything more about an opt out option since your post on Thursday?

Thanks, Jen

[Susan17 · Accepted solution]

@Jennifer1421  @Sarah977 @Helen350  @Geri26 @Huma0 

[Susan17]

What happens when I receive a card or contribution from a guest?

To show appreciation or encouragement, eligible guests can send personalized cards to hosts they’ve given five-star ratings, with the option to add a financial contribution. The cards make it easy for a guest to reach out to a host who’s provided excellent service during a stay or an Airbnb Experience. If a guest sends a financial contribution, you’ll receive 100% of this payment. If you have an outstanding balance with Airbnb, the amount will be deducted from that balance, and it will show up as an adjustment in your Transaction History.

Both cards and contributions are completely voluntary for guests.

How It Works

Eligible guests will receive an email from Airbnb letting them know they can now send cards to prior hosts to show their appreciation. If they choose to send a card, the guest will be shown a selection of prior hosts whom they've given five-star ratings. Next, they can choose a host, select a card design, and include an optional contribution, if they like.

You’ll get an email as soon as a guest sends you a card. Some cards will include a personal message from that guest and/or an optional financial contribution. Below the message, you'll find some information about your hosting history with the guest. If you want to respond, select the Reply button in the email you received to send a message. You’re not required to respond.

If a guest includes a financial contribution with their card, it will be sent to the same payout method as the reservation. Please allow for processing time depending on your payout method. Once the funds have been posted to your account, we’ll send a second email to confirm the transaction is complete.

 

Managing Contributions

You can choose to automatically allow or decline all future contributions from guests. The default for receiving guest contributions is set to On. If you want to automatically decline to receive any future contributions:

• In Account Settings, click or tap Payments and payouts
• Under Guest contributions, set the toggle to Off

If you decline future contributions, any payments you've already received will remain in your payout account—they will not be returned to the guest.

Passing along contributions: If you’d like to support COVID-19 responders, you can donate to nonprofits supporting those responders who need to stay near hospitals or stay isolated from their family. Learn more.

[Huma0]

Thanks @Susan17  for this information. I had not seen it either. I went to my account settings and saw that the option to receive contributions was automatically turned on, so I turned it off, but if you had not posted this, I would not have known! I do wonder if any of my former guests had already been approached, or were Airbnb still planning to do this starting from the end of the month?

[Lawrene0]

Thank you, @Susan17 !  I never would have found this without you. 

[Susan17]

How can I send a card or contribution to a past host?

To show appreciation or encouragement, eligible guests can send personalized kindness cards to hosts they’ve given five-star ratings, with the option to add a financial contribution. Airbnb will charge no fee, and 100% of your contribution goes directly to the host. The cards make it easy to reach out to a host who’s provided excellent service during a stay or an Airbnb Experience.

 

How It Works

If you’re eligible, you’ll receive an email inviting you to send a card:

• Click or tap Send a kindness card in the email.
• You’ll be taken to a page where you can choose a host.
• Select a card design and add a note, if you like. You can also include an optional financial contribution.
• You’ll be able to preview your card before sending it.

After you send your card, you’ll receive a confirmation email including a copy of the card. Once you send a card to a host, you won't be able to send them an additional card.

You may not have the option to add a financial contribution to every card. Some hosts may not be able to accept financial contributions because they live in locations where local regulations prevent them from accepting contributions. Other hosts may have decided to decline contributions from guests for personal reasons.

It’s your responsibility to determine the tax deduction or credit eligibility of your contribution.

Helping first responders: If you’d like to support COVID-19 responders, you can donate to nonprofits supporting responders who need to stay near hospitals or stay isolated from their family. Learn more.

[Jennifer1421]

Thank you for this, @Susan17! Was this guidance in a new help article? Not sure how I missed it, but I'm very grateful to you for posting it!

[Helen350]

@Susan17 I'm still confused..... If I opt out, does that mean a guest CAN'T send extra money? I'd rather receive it, than have the guest's sincerely sent cash disappear into a black hole (Airbnb coffers). 

- But I'd rather the scheme didn't exist! - Guest paid at time of stay, - end of!

[Sarah977]

@Susan17  @Lizzie So no mention of which past guests will be sent this (All of them since we started hosting? Guests we've had in 2020? Guests we've had for the past year?). No mention of what happens if a host declines to receive contributions- does that mean our guests won't receive these messages? Or they'll still receive them and any money they contribute Airbnb will add to its coffers?

@Lizzie  So Airbnb didn't listen to us AT ALL. They just pile one insult after another on hosts.

[Helen350]

@Sarah977  @Susan17  @Jessica-and-Henry0  @Lizzie It says guests will be asked to donate to hosts they gave 5 stars to..... Will this mean guests STOP giving 5 star, for fear of the consequences, or out of a desire not to feel manipulated? And of course SOME guests give 5 because they truly were impressed, & others will give 5 out of politeness, the done thing...... It would be adding insult to injury for a guest who'd forced themselves to give 5, to then be asked for more dosh, on a mediocre experience.... A crafty ploy to get guests to rate more honestly, perhaps?????

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Susan17 

Thanks for posting an update about the contributions....... this is such BS. 

So agree with what @Helen350 and @Sarah977 posted. 

As always.... Airbnb has no decency  AT ALL.

What kind of people think it's okay to send out spammy emails begging for money?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!