Airbnb Plus

[Angela608]

Just listened to the new updates for Airbnb on their FB Live and feel discouraged as a Host.

I don't have an emaculately designed modern home with features that "WOW" guests. I have a humble space for budget seeking travelers in a very expensive city (San Francisco).

Is Airbnb weeding people out instead of including everyone?

[Huma0]

@Alexandra316

Thank you! That’s nice to hear. I do tick most of the boxes, or would if I decluttered a bit, except for the private bathroom one. 

I understand what you’re saying. I’ve only had a browse of some of the London ones so far but, with a few exceptions, yes they are a bit bland. I’d happily stay in them as they look clean and comfortable with all the amenities etc. but they are lacking the wow factor. Many of them are similar to generic 4 star business hotel rooms. I would hope for something a bit more '‘boutique” hotel personally.

[Huma0]

@Alexandra316

Also, I wonder if having pets rules me out. I can’t remember seeing anything in the checklist about that, but, of the 187 plus rentals currently listed in London, only 28 are private rooms rather than entire units, and I don’t remember even one of those 28 mentioning pets being present.

[Lilia22]

Hello everyone.

I read all about "the PLUS" experiencing last night. 

Wondering if anyone has paid the fee and joined the "Plus Club".  What are the 100 check points they are checking?  Does anyone know?

Does it mean that for all of us that have worked super hard to achieve "Super Host" level and five starts all accross the board are not going to be "featured"?

I understand the high end luxury homes and getting into that kind of market... (sincerely, I don't see "those people" renting their houses out... I could be very wrong)... but what I see is that most of us, are just trying to make a little extra money or even perhaps survive from what we make upon renting our house, room, etc.

[Matthew285]

@Lilia22 I clicked on the link where you request inclusion in the Plus program. It sort of steps you through the list. I didn't look at it all. I might do that later and write down what it says.

You might have the link yourself somewhere on your Host Dashboard.

[Huma0]

@Lilia22

And others here who have suggested that people with luxury homes do not rent them out as holiday lets, I don't believe that's true. Take a look at onefinestay and you will see what I mean...

[Fred13]

@Huma0 Not that they won't, but will tend not to, after all Onefinestay has about ~4,000 listings (early 2017) Airbnb 4,000,000 (1000:1 ratio)

[Huma0]

@Fred13

That is true, but I don’t imagine Plus will be aiming for 4,000,000 listings, maybe closer to the 4,000.

Also, onefinestay are extremely selective about their portfolio. There are many properties they reject that Airbnb might accept. For example, they wouldn’t even consider my area of London because it is not a premium location, no matter how beautiful the property. Also, it has to be the whole home with no host present. I imagine that they are more stringent about checking they are dealing with the actual homeowner and not renters trying to sublet.

I believe it is a growth area. When my friend started the company a few years ago, it only covered London. Then they expanded to Paris, New York and then LA. Look at how many countries they cover now!

[Fred13]

  Totally agree, was just making the point that the owners of such places won't sub-let their places en masse, thus their numbers will be small in comparison. Part of the reason is also ~fear~.

  Many of your friend's listing average prices are really in the stratosphere, so they are really addressing already the 'Beyond the Beyond' higher level. They will do well because of their their extraordinary profit margins not volume.

  This new Airbnb approach is really somewhere in between. They are really trying to address  the  'Better Homes and Garden' segment and taking their message direct to its owners, who are mostly going through a property-manager, who is paying Airbnb a miserable 3% and charging the owners 20%.  I think this is really what this whole Airbnb Plus is about.

  At the other end of the spectrum, Airbnb is now moving away from the simplest of offerings, and trying to establish a certain higher 'standard' in guest expectations. Of course, a new entity will rise to fill that niche. The whys, of course, is a whole other subject.

[Steve445]

so...here is some Plus feedback from a current Superhost with a place that would seem pretty ideal for the Plus moniker. I have been trying to figure out why I am not Plus eligible...after reviewing my history and stats with a rep on the phone, even he was shocked that I did not qualify...After spending an hour on the phone with him, we finally figured out that the only issue is that my acceptance rate is 87%, vs the 95% needed....so even though AirBnB says that we can deny a person for whatever reason, in reality they only want us to deny at most 1 in 20 (5%), and this includes idiots that dont read that my place is not kid friendly (open stairway), the chinese family that wanted to rent my place for 6 months, the girl that wanted secured parking, etc. We still get dinged no matter what. My only issue is that now that AirBnB has set a new higher bar to achieve the Plus status, it is basically impossible for me (or any similar host) to reach it after the fact. It is just math at this point...i.e. I have booked 70+ people and have an 87% acceptance rate. That means roughly 80 people have applied to stay at my place, and 10 have been denied for whatever reason (10/80 = 13%). I need to get that rate down to 5%. So assuming I keep the same amount of denials I have currently at 10, I would need to book another 130 people with NO DENIALS from this point forward in order to reach that 95% rate (10/200 = 5%). So in reality I cannot refuse ANYONE for ANY REASON for basically the next 2 years to be able to get my acceptance rate to 95%. I think you would all agree that this is just not realistic and thus I (and many other superhosts that are doing things pretty ideal) will never be able to reach the Plus level. Surely there needs to be some tweaking to this, like different metrics used, a 3 or 6 month rolling schedule used, rely more on reviews vs denials, etc?

[Matthew285]

@Steve445, that is an excellent analysis, and a strong argument for modifying the qualifying criteria.

This information should be posted to Host Voice, or whereever AirBnB is receiving feedback about the new programs. Your situation outlines why they should re-think that part of the program.

[Zappa0]

Wow. Thanks for that. Really shines some light. They just want us to accept everyone.

[Juliana62]

That is so true!!

[Amy38]

Steve, I never refuse anyone...I message back qiuckly why it wouldnt work, wait until the 24hours is nearly up and then...after they have moved on, accept them.

The fast reply is the important factor.

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Angela608 Airbnb plus is probably design for the big hotels and real estate agents who have been on the network for quite a long time appearing like casual hosts so i guess this will now make them standout.I totally agree with you it is unfair for the genuine home owners.Good luck!!!

[Juliana62]

Yes, this concerns me as a person who rents a home and doesn’t have a hotel industry sized budget. Already I provide more care, service, cleanliness, and amenities than most hotels. I certainly have never been treated at the swankiest of hotels how I treat my guests. And still, sometimes people’s expextations are exasperating and fill me with anxiety. I feel like Airbnb needs to change the culture back to appreciation for hosts and the work we put into our listings instead of increasing the cost and qualifications we have to measure up to. Knock on wood I’ve never had a bad review but I’ve had bad guests. Guests aren’t held to many standards and in many cases they are getting incredible amenities (kitchens, living space, washer/dryer/yards, etc or some variation as well as savings.) I’d like to hear about guest assessment. That being said, I love being a host. Where else can a mom of five get to go to lunch with her kids and still get all the benefits of being a work from home mom. I just feel like some guests forget that these are our homes, not hotels. And don’t take all the T-Pee!!!