I say to guests when they leave, if they enjoyed their stay and wish to return in the future send a new enquiry via the Airbnb search page, put in the required stay dates and I will send a special offer for the new booking.
In the past it has worked, a new enquiry has come with the option to send a special offer.....not any more! The Airbnb bot recognises that this guest has stayed at this listing before and the enquiry option is removed from the mix and simply goes straight into our existing message stream. The guest is then taken directly to the 'Book and Pay' page, they are not given the option to make an enquiry.
My reaction was, ok proceed with the booking and I do have the option to refund you money, I will refund 15% of the amount I will be paid for the stay.
Another brick wall, the guest books at the full price and when I hit the send money tab it asks me for the date change for the booking as the only option to send money.....I can't proceed with a refund unless I manipulate the dates.....and on a two night stay that doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room!.
This platform is becoming entirely unworkable, it has now got to the point where I can no longer reward past guests for their loyalty to me and to Airbnb.
In future I won't let this happen again, this is robotic madness.....all I want to do is reward a past guest for their loyalty an yet still involve Airbnb!
What this is doing is encouraging hosts to do deals outside the platform....can't this company realise how they are shooting themselves in the foot!
I have to say, I have had a great relationship with Airbnb but, over the past year they are severely testing my patience and my loyalty.
Cheers........Rob