Conversations, Connections, and Community: Learning @ Bali Summit, Sept 11&12, 2025.

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

The Airbnb Summit in Bali brought together host leaders and community builders from India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.  A fitting backdrop- Bali, its serene landscapes, rich culture, and warm hospitality, Bali reflected  travel in the first place: to feel connected, cared for, and at home, even far away from home.

Beyond the natural beauty, the summit was a vibrant platform for conversations  about the future of hosting,  the evolving landscape of hospitality and the connect of a community.

Exploring New Platforms & Policy Issues

Sessions shed light on emerging platforms and tools that empower hosts to connect and perform better . Candid dialogues on policy frameworks highlighted how regulations are shaping the short-term rental industry, and why host voices need to be part of the conversation.

Customer Support: Current Challenges & the Way Forward

One recurring theme was customer support: a cornerstone of trust for both guests and hosts. Many hosts shared their challenges, from delayed resolutions to inconsistent communication, and the emotional toll it can take. What stood out was a shared belief that customer support must be more than transactional. Team CS was represented responsibly and created the connection that had been elusive for long. Kudos to Airbnb for listening to host leaders and being responsive. It was warranted - with greater patience, empathy, and transparency, the bridge between hosts and guests could be strengthened , making problem-solving less about frustration and more about partnership.

Deep Dives into Listing Insights

Discussions on listing optimization revealed how  small tweaks have big impacts. The power of the algorithm and the essence of clear manoeuvres taken through on virtual but personal data was interesting and an important aspect for the optimal hosting process. Practice to bring in perspective improvements.

Connecting with Leaders & Fellow Hosts

The summit created opportunities to engage with volunteering leaders who are fellow hosts across the region. These exchanges were not just informative but deeply inspiring, offering clarity on the platform’s direction while reminding us that our collective experiences form the backbone of the Airbnb community.

Community, Activities & Shared Learning

Hearing stories on hosting during/for calamity and crisis, civic engagements, collaborative activities were inspiring and insightful. Participatory workshops and activities added momentum, sparking fresh ideas we can take back into our own hosting journeys and community engagements.

Hospitality & Networking That Resonated

The summit embodied what we strive to deliver as hosts, the genuine hospitality!! Every interaction, from casual coffee conversations to formal sessions, was infused with warmth and openness. The networking here was impactful and lasting, building friendships and laying the foundation for future collaborations.

A Journey Forward:

As I leave Bali, I carry home learnings, memories, and gratitude. The summit wasn’t just an event; it was a reminder that hosting is a craft, a community, and a commitment. With empathy-driven customer support, shared learning, and stronger connections, we move closer to making travel more meaningful and hospitality more human.

Here’s to creating better stays and continuing this journey together. Kudos to Team Airbnb and the host leaders to make it happen.

Do bring in your comments on what we can do more as a Volunteer - Community Leader(s) ?!!

Happy Hosting 😎

[Bhumika]

Hi @Dr-Jayanthi1 , thanks so much for sharing about this meet-up! Sounds exciting to meet hosts and exchange ideas 😍 

Of all the topics at the summit, was there a particular idea or discussion that resonated with you the most or inspired a new approach to your hosting style? I'd love to hear all about it!

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Hi @Bhumika , the learning we have through the summit is immense, we learn cross cultural skills and challenges. Also hearing from the team is a huge privilege. My personal takeaway on this summit was to play around with the App on “hosting insights”. 
Thank you for bringing this up. 

[Boba40]

keep it up!

[Bhumika]

"Hosting insights" does sound like an interesting and important topic for hosts @Dr-Jayanthi1 ! 

Do you mean the insights and performance of the listing that's usually shown in the app's menu? 

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Hi @Bhumika -yes you are absolutely right. I did have an understanding on the “insights” earlier- however the summit gave me more clarity and also showed the possibility on tweaking it to improve my booking opportunities. Wish to bring it in for the host community too. Will try my best to bring it out theoretically- however an “in app” walkthrough could be the best 👍

[Bhumika]

Thanks for sharing @Dr-Jayanthi1 ! We look forward to more such insights from you as they are super helpful for many hosts out there 😄

[John9167]

Thank you for such a heartfelt and insightful summary of the Airbnb Summit in Bali! It’s inspiring to see how the event not only showcased the beauty of hosting but also emphasized the human connections that truly define hospitality.

I completely agree—customer support is the linchpin of trust, and it’s encouraging to hear that Airbnb is listening and moving towards more empathetic, transparent, and partnership-driven solutions. The focus on community voices in shaping policy and platform features is vital, and I love the spirit of shared learning and collaboration that came through in your reflections.

As a Volunteer and Community Leader, I think continuing to foster open communication channels between hosts and Airbnb, localized workshops to share best practices, and amplifying host stories—especially those navigating challenges—could strengthen our community even more.

Looking forward to seeing how we all can contribute to making hosting not just a service, but a meaningful, supportive experience for everyone involved. Here’s to building on this momentum and creating more memorable stays together! 🙌✨

[Karan173]

It was so great to catch up with so many host leaders from across south east Asia, Sri Lanka and India!! Lots of learnings and takeaways from this summit! And a very nice write up to sum it all up.

[Bhumika]

@Karan173 , thanks for sharing the excitement with us 😍 

What were some of your biggest learnings and takeaways from this summit? 

[Karan173]

If I had to pick one, I would say the session with Maxime from CS was the most insightful. 

Biggest takeaway of course has to be the connections and bonds we created and strengthened by meeting with our colleagues and peers (host leaders from South East Asia, Sri Lanka and India)! 

[Bhumika]

I can read your beautiful sentiment @Karan173 , it's always so amazing to build genuine bonds with people who have the same yet seemingly a diverse vision, especially with hosting and creating life long memories through such meet ups!

Were you meeting some of these community leaders for the first time? 😍

[Karan173]

So the majority of us had met before at the summits in Bangkok, Thailand last year in 2024- and earlier in Delhi NCR , India in 2023! It was lovely to have a few new CLs join us each year, great to see our family getting bigger 🙂 everybody brings something to contribute to the table and that’s the best part of gathering so many CLs from such diverse backgrounds and putting our minds together towards the larger goal of creating spaces where anyone can belong. 

[Bhumika]

Absolutely!! I did read about the Thailand summit through @Dr-Jayanthi1 's post. Must have been so exciting! 

Do you have any host meetups lined up in India or particularly for hosts from Goa? I know there are several host led meetups as well for hosts to gather and discuss about hosting 😍

[Karan173]

Yes- in fact we just did a meetup in Goa, India in the first week of September 2025 where we had about 60 hosts attend. We had a pretty informative and engaging session. 

We also do micro meet-ups over coffee/tea - smaller more informal  gatherings.  

And we are currently planning our next in-person meetup for the end of this year.