New categories are a disaster for hosts AND Airbnb

[Will-And-Mona0]

I have a lakefront property in an area that is pretty much all Lakefront rentals. When you click the lake front tab no property within 50 miles shows up. So tech support says this is just for outstanding property. But when a renter clicks that Tab and thinks they will see all lakefront properties, and they don’t see any, of course they will think there are none available. They don’t know that it is only a select few properties. So they will decide they can’t rent or move to another platform to search for a lakefront property. Airbnb is forcing me to move to those other platforms so renters will see my lakefront property. The algorithm is a failure. My own property has amazing views and a 4.9 rating with a superhost. But it and dozens more disappear from the search when you do the obvious thing and select lakefront. I’m now searching for other platforms and classifieds to put my lakefront property in so that renters will actually see it

[Debra300]

@Huma0,

Recently, in another thread @Ann72 shared that the listing titles can now be searched.  I recommend looking on another platform for a place.  If you find one that you like, search for it on Airbnb with the listing's title.  My place is called the same thing on every platform where it's listed.  A guest could do a Google search, and the results will of links on multiple platforms.

[Jenny]

Thanks @Richard531 - I hear you. 

We appreciate all the feedback we're getting and working hard to make sure everyone's feelings are captured and fed back to the right people.

[Will-And-Mona0]

You have forced me to move to another platform. VRBO made it easy to start hosting there and there is none of this nonsense that AIRBNB is forcing on my and my renters.

 I am glad I never purchased Airbnb stock.....

[Stephanie365]

Who are the "relevant people" @Jenny ?  It certainly appears that hosts are not....

[Jenny]

Hi @Stephanie365 

I'm referring to the product team and anyone else that's involved at Airbnb's side.

I'll add this post to the feedback we're passing on as well.

Jenny

[Seth80]

Is anything done with this "passed along info"? Or is it just some jaded, unempowered employees sitting behind a desk waiting for the day to be over who get this information?

Do you know if changes are imminent? Or are they just waiting for people to simmer down and be quiet?

Thanks.

[Stephanie365]

@Jenny  something else you can pass along.  The DumbBots must be cheap Chinese knockoffs because they're broken.

My rental states it is on a working horse farm. It states there are horses on the property.  It states I am surrounded by farmland. But when I look on the farm category, I'm not listed.

So, I took a peek to see what properties are listed.
Some are actual farms.
Some are sort of farms.
And more than a few have nothing to do with farms.

For example...

We have this lovely house with a basement apartment in suburbia. No photos of farmland. No mention of a farm. No pictures of livestock. But it's in the farm category! Oh wait! I found it. It's NEXT DOOR to a farm!  
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13721300?adults=1&category_tag=Tag%3A8175&children=0&infants=0&search_m...

Here's another one. It's a log cabin. It has views of fields and farmland. But it's not on a farm itself. 
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/47952221?adults=1&category_tag=Tag%3A8175&children=0&infants=0&search_m...

Oh, another one. This is a room in a cottage in the woods. No mention of farms.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6769791?adults=1&category_tag=Tag%3A8175&children=0&infants=0&search_mo...

So that's 3 homes in a small geographic area with incorrect categories. Tell me again why HOSTS aren't allowed to designate the categories that are most appropriate for their homes?

[Suzanne302]

@Mark116   Don't give up! That Joshua Tree property that has been popping up everytime I pull up the site is no longer $16,000/night.....I can now book it for only $8,000/night! How awesome is that?! Thanks Airbnb!

*sarcasm*

[Huma0]

@Suzanne302 

So this is the kind of thing that I am automatically being shown close to the top of the listings on the homepage when I go to Airbnb:

Sure, it looks very nice, but over £12,000 a night? Why has the algorithm decided that I (who have only searched and booked places that are less than £100 a night) would, in my wildest dreams, be seriously considering booking this?

[Chris232]

Time to buy your lottery ticket @Huma0  The algorithms have the crystal ball and your in for a big win

🙂

[Nick2477]

I have the same issue as everyone else. We have a lakefront cottage, pin is on the lake, lake has always been in multiple photo descriptions yet I noticed my listing doesn’t make the “Lakefront” category for some reason. Huge issue considering everyone wants lakefront in cottage country and now I’m getting no bookings and loosing thousands of dollars. Time to list on other platforms.