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?

[Sandra126]

Here is one of my bathrooms, with a shower curtain! I am the opposite to you, Ivo, in that I am not a fan of glass screens and it would have been impossible in this room anyway. The other bathroom in this house just has air. Easy to clean, nothing there! I will not be eligible on Plus regardless, have no WIFI.

[Fred13]

Interesting take. This is my generic approach to encompass most visitors, regardless of where they are from:

1- provide oils, salt, pepper and such items. We also provide cake mixes, etc, Few are used, but always there and appreciated.

2. bathrooms (of course) have all the items listed and curtains are cleaned spotless between all guests.

3. filtered water provided for drinking. Cheap and why not, eliminates guessing.

4. Basic local ground coffee and Instant coffee provided, want some rare breed we never heard of  - bring it.

4. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors provided - because they are cheap and easy to install.

[Jiw0]

It was fun watch Brian Chesky's keynote.  You could tell from the audience responce that they were also thinking they'd never be able to provide a 'Beyond' experience. 🙂

I think I know why so many hosts ended up feeling a little apprehensive; speaking for myself, I used to be the top of the top on AirBnB, a Superhost!  And now there's a whole new league being added that not all my listings will qualify for, and then the 'Beyond' category is not somethign I'll ever achieve in my lifetime..

Brian is a reasonably good salesman, but some of the Plus improvements are actually really urgent.  ("Use Plus, then we'll actually check that there is a fire extinguisher, and if you call we'll pick up the phone!" 😉 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

I think I  know why ABB introduces new categories -  as it is now, listing search ranking depends of the price. Listings with lower prices are on the top, expensive listings are burried on following pages. 

It is logical if luxury and expensive listings are on top, and now with this "plus" category they will be . It makes sense. 

Guests with lower budget will skip first few pages and find cheaper listings , don't worry.

[Jeff158]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 what happens with the 1000s of hotel and B&B rooms that are going to be added by the trade. With the new software airbnb have introduced for hotels etc, it will be just like booking.com

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/hosttools

This article is interesting

what-does-airbnb-have-and-what-does-it-lack-to-revolutionise-hotel-distribution/

[Louise231]

Anyone know if you can be rejected for plus for not providing access to the kitchen?

I keep mine seperate to the airbnb guest area and want to keep it that way, although my listing looks not so great in my photo's it's a bit 'prettier' atm.

I usually just go with the mantra that it's better to be nicer than expected when they turn up than replace the photo's and dissapoint somone because I took a rug out to be cleaned ect. Most of the requirments seem fine to add even if i dont think i need (like putting a carbon monoxide alarm in seems pointless when I dont have gas/a fire installed in the flat?!) But if i completed the rest of the checklists would i be excluded entirely on the basis that i dont let people access the kitchen?

It might seem weird not letting people in there but its nice to have the privacy when hosting all the time, hardly anyone wants to use it and means i dont have to obsessivly clean it all the time. They already have tea/coffee & fridge set up in the room , plus a bunch of stuff extra that i dont bother adding to the listing (again a nice suprise extra rather than a dissapointment if they expect something not there) and I live slap bang in the middle of a city centre surrounded by restaurants, convieniance stores and every deliverroo/uber eats ect you can think of.

I'd be interested to see if anyone knows...

Also randomly somone mentioned, pets... are you excluded if you have? most guests dont see my dog at all (he stays in main flat area) but they are aware he's there and lots of guests ask to see/cuddle/play with him.

[Nick213]

Hi All,

The features that Airbnb have introduced do seem to aim at the few not the many I am interested by the Airbnb plus scheme but like many things Airbnb they are not available in Wales. Does anyone know when it may be available? I would really like to start hosting experiences & be part of the family collection but there seems to be no information as to when it might be available in my area which is a bit frustrating as they can be new ways to increase bookings.

[Rene-and-Zac0]

@Angela608 a great indicator of future behavior is to evaluate PAST behavior. 

Lets take the “free photography” that was previously offered. 

Lets say Airbnb has 2million listings, 100k listings would be the top ten percent. 

How long would it take to photograph, inspect and certify 100k listings? 

Now if you pay $149 and you’re not listed “first”, what then? Do you just settle for page three or four? 

Because now your paying for your spot on the page. 

This is a huge undertaking and the staff to complete this would be in the tens of thousands. 

One inspector doing maybe three inspections a day, could complete what? 15-20 a week? 

I didn’t see any job listings for “inspectors” on Airbnb corporate. Where are the inspectors coming from? 

How long would it take to train 5,000 inspectors. 

I don’t think it can be done in less than five years. 

‘You know it’s hard out here for a Host’ 

[Jeremy100]

So you have to have accepted 95% requests to stay - so that includes the requests from those with poor reviews or with no reviews, those booking on behalf of someone else ie third party booking, those who ask for 3 nights for the price of one.....etc etc.  Sounds fair to me!!!  Oh nearly forgot - no cracks in the walls or ceilings....

[Louise0]

I don't see Airbnb Plus as posing any threat to 'traditional' hosts.   I see it as the 'haute couture' extension of their main brand.  It makes sense to have diffusion brands branching off the head brand, otherwise consumers become confused about what, exactly, the Airbnb product their considering purchasing is.  It's essential for the long term future of the brand that they differentiate between different types of offering and clearly brand each.  That way guests wanting a high-end experince won't need to trawl through the detailed descriptions of every listing they're considering to decide which property offers exactly what they require.

Airbnb Plus' market would most likely be the 50+, affluent travelling couple who would ordinarily elect to stay in a St Regis, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons or similar.  I don't see that there's any risk that this segment is going to grow by cannibalising the guest base of existing hosts.  It's the luxury hotels who have cause for concern.

[Pat-And-Mike0]

 Agree with you Louise.  Am not sure that it would work either as the wealthy like their restaurants, hairdressers, boutiques etc handy which ABB + will not have.  There must be a market for it - people who want to be incognito I guess.

[Huma0]

@Louise0

But what if, as other hosts have observed on this thread, the Plus listings aren't necessarily priced higher, but are automatically listed higher in the search results? How can that not impact on the non-Plus hosts?

[Louise0]

Assuming that the Plus brand brings in a new type of guest who wouldn't otherwise use Airbnb, then the total pool of guests seeking accomodation via Airbnb will increase.  As there's no commensurate increase in the number of listings (i.e. the access to 'Plus' branding doesn't encourage hosts to increase the supply of properties on the Airbnb platform) then one of two things will happen; either all hosts will be able to charge more or, more likely, Airbnb Plus properties will attract a premium relative to ordinary hosts and ordinary hosts' business will carry on much as it is doing now.

If the Plus brand doesn't attract an influx of new guests who otherwise would not use Airbnb, then there are three likely outcomes; (1) occupany rates for Plus properties increase whilst those for ordinary properties decrease and prices for both remain about the same as they are today or, (2) the price increases for Plus properties but remains at current levels for ordinary properties  and occupancy rates are unchanged or, (3) worst case scenario - ordinary hosts decrease prices in the hope of retaining current levels of occupancy and therefore prevent their customer base from shifting to Airbnb Plus properties.  This leads to a price war with the result that the Plus properties generate the same revenue that they do today (or even less), ordinary hosts slash price to the bone, guests adjust to these bargain basement rates as the new expected price and overall revenue generated by the platform falls. 

This, of course, assumes that propensity to book is price sensitive.   What complicates the analysis is that high-end accommodation choices are largely a heart rather than head decision and movements in price don't correlate highly with occupancy rates.  At the budget end of the spectrum, it's all about price and proximity to urban amenities.   

The lesson from all this is that - if you can pull it off - have gorgeous photos, have a USP that enables you to pull away from the pack (and therefore avoid comparison pricing) charge a premium price and deliver a premium product every single time.

[Carolyn188]

So glad to hear that I am not th eonly one feeling a bit downhearted about this. While I have an eye for design, and that's what makes my listings special - they are also rustic. I cannot offer wifi - and this exlcudes me from being a part of this new program. Worried about how this will impact me in the long run.

[Robin4]

@Carolyn188

Why Carolyn, do I see a hint of resignation and despondency in your post?

You truly are amongst a select few that have made Airbnb great....look at you, a Superhost with almost 340 reviews going back 5 years, why would you feel threatened?

As it stands Carolyn, prospective guests who want Wifi are currently not going to book your listing, or if they do, they will create issues over its ommision for you! They will search for listings where Wifi is available, so the effect on your current rate of enquiries would be minimal. Play to your strengths, not your weakneses.

You may (like most of us) fall short in many of the requirements for 'Plus', but, why would you want to attract enquiries that potentially fall outside the scope of what you offer?

@Louise0 is right with her observation, If this proves to be an extension into a niche market, it will probably remove a large section of the enquiring clientele (that we mostly all dread) from a general search option.

I think this is a great idea and I want to see it succeed......but without me! If it takes my listing away from the gaze of the 'hagglers' and 'wanabees' ....that suits me just fine....bring it on!

I respect so much what you have done Carolyn, don't feel threatened by it, you are a star and nearly all your reviews back that up.

Cheers.....Rob