A simpler Airbnb inspired by you

Lizzie
Former Community Manager
Former Community Manager
London, United Kingdom

A simpler Airbnb inspired by you

Simplify Hosting

 

Hello Everyone,

 

As constantly reflected here in the Community Center, Airbnb hosts put an incredible amount of time and effort into providing great hosting experiences to guests. This make your time very precious, so it is important that the tools you use on Airbnb are accessible and easy to use.

 

Recently, many of you have shared ways in which the Airbnb website could be improved to support your hosting activities. It inspired a redesign of the website.

 

Over the coming weeks, you’ll see changes based on feedback from hundreds of hosts and that have been designed and tested in collaboration with the host community. Here are some of the changes you’ve inspired:

 

  • Navigation is now consistent whether you’re on your phone or your computer
  • Key hosting features and tools like messaging and the calendar are more accessible 
  • Hosts who travel on Airbnb can now easily switch between hosting and traveling modes

 

For more information on what the team has learned from your feedback and how you have influenced changes to the site, please take a look at this Airbnb blog article.

 

We know how important it is to you that you are informed of changes on Airbnb and so we hope you welcome this information. We would love to hear from you, so please do share any thoughts you have on the process and what you think of these changes.

 

Thank you,

 

Lizzie


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87 Replies 87

Thanks Christine, that should sort it out clearly, Valerie

Hi Valerie,

 

I think the basic explanation is that it is completely separate. You either rent a room in a house (with whatever, a bathroom, a kitchen ) but the Entire place is where the guest has complete privacy, their own entrance and a bathroom and a kitchenette (hotel room style) or a full kitchen.

Hope this helps. Sounds like you need to change this listing to a private room with ensuite etc. or do a renovation to separate this area off so that it can be an entire place for guests.

All the best Ruth

Fabrice47
Level 1
Flic en Flac, Mauritius

Dear Airbnb,

 

We are new to the hosting on airbnb and we would like to get some tips regarding the listing and the calendar.

 

We have 2 categories of rooms on the website, but on the calendar we cannot differentiate which one is available or not. How can we do to specify the type of room. This would be easier for the guest to choose and know exactly the availabilities.

 

I hope to get a quick response and feedback from you.

 

Regards,

 

Sandrine - Lariad BnB

Gwyneth5
Level 2
Haverfordwest, United Kingdom

Similar issue! Lets hope we get answers!!

Gwyneth5
Level 2
Haverfordwest, United Kingdom

I have a double and a single room in my home. I regulary book out the double room but have recently made the single room available to be book alongside the double ( to attract families with a child over 2.)  I really want to avoid two sets of air B&B booking the rooms separaretly as my bathroom facilities would make it a uncomfortable stay ( I have a small home too) How do I manage this? Do I advertise the availability on the double ? Or list the single separately as available only when the double is booked? Thank you for listening!

@Gwyneth5, A simple way for you to manage this is to leave the listing pretty much the same as it is, however you can increase the number of guests that you can accommodate, continue to set the charges the way you wish. If it eventuates that people come with a child and require the second bedroom then that's the one that  becomes available. Would this work for you? it has the protective effect of preventing a separate booking from unrelated guests.

The risk in including a separate listing for the second bedroom is the doubling up of security fees, booking emails and Airbnb fees when one group has to book both rooms. From what you described, I think you will find it easier to manage this way. If you decide to include a pic of the second bed, ensure that it is described as a "child's" bed, and if you find that you have 2 singles who are requesting to come under the one booking, then you can send them a special offer with an adjusted tariff, to allow for what you feel is fair to yourself and your guests.

Good luck, and write back and let us know how things work out for you.

Best regards, Christine.

Sheila108
Level 1
Gourdon, France

Although I can access the calendar on my airbnb phone app I am unable to edit it from there for all months.  So I have to go home to the computer to make changes that may be urgent.  It is rather a nuisance.

Also I am regularly asked to do smart pricing and when I look at this the suggested prices are very low and insulting to what I offer.  I have given the price that I consider reasonable and am not prepared to do the work involved plus tax for less so would appreciate not receiving this advice.

Thank you, Sheila

Hi Sheila

I agree with you 110% regarding the calendar on my phone & the "smart pricing", I also feel that it is an insult and I have told them so in the survey they sent me to fill out. How do they know better than us who live in the country, the town, the street etc. what prices we should charge, they don't live here.  They are taking a "general" stab & saying this is what you should be pricing your rooms at... B.... S...! Sorry but it does anony me, I feel that we should know better & ok they might suggest but that is all.  I always had to wait until I got home to do the calendar on my desk top as I couldn't change it on my phone, has they changed? I don't know as I haven't tried again.

Thomas400
Level 1
Cary, NC

The covenants in my community do not allow rentals for periods of less than 30 days. I was an Air BnB host before they caught up to me and  with good reviews. Any thoughts on how to get around this restriction ?  Tom Williams  tfwill41@gmail.com

David126
Level 10
Como, CO

Rent for longer than 30 days or move.

David
Claudia487
Level 1
Jonesborough, TN

I am hoping to get ideas for my Airbnb guest.

Hans-and-Floor0
Level 2
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hello Lizzie,

 

As we've never met.. my name is Hans Knol and together with my wife Floor, we've hosted over 3000 bookings and welcomed close to 10.000 people into our private listings here in Amsterdam.

 

For our new show "Superhost Stories" we would love to interview Superhosts from Airbnb, but are not sure how to go about approaching them.

 

I'm a bit reluctant to use the Airbnb platform for this as that's not really what the platform is for.

 

Do you have any idea, suggestion for how we can effectively get in contact with Superhosts?

 

Thanks!!

 

Hans and Floor Knol

Amsterdam

Yvette-and-Joe0
Level 2
Funchal, Portugal

Co Hosting has worked great with a neighbour living in the UK but wanted to have guests in their holiday home in Madeira.

I have just received the first guest and the new tool for messaging etc worked perfectly, thank you

 

Ellen12
Level 3
Brookfield, WI

Glad site has been improved; it was hard to navigate.

 

Now, if you could improve Customer Service.  I've been trying to get an answer to a serious question for SIX WEEKS!!!!  with no response except "a specialist will be in touch."  Please please please.  Has to do with incorrect information given regarding lodgings taxes collected.  Website is still giving false information. 

 

Thank you

Oomesh-Kumarsingh0
Level 10
Pamplemousses, Mauritius

@Lizzie Thats very good that they updated their website, wish they will update their customer service too. Have a nice weekend!!!