Host Advisory Board - Top 3 Suggestions

[Mike-And-Jane0]

As The host advisory board members appear to have been instructed to engage with the official Airbnb Community Centre perhaps we could suggest the top 3 concerns for them to take forward to Airbnb. Not an ideal method but it may encourage them/Airbnb to actually do something more efficient to canvass hosts.

My top 3 are:

Reviews - Allow hosts to remove the star rating of 1 review per year. Comments would stay.

Cancellation policy - Apply the hosts cancellation policy EXCEPT where it is inconsistent with the law in the host's country.

Payment - Take responsibility (ie pay) if a guest is introduced to a host but their payment method falls over at a later date.

[Colleen253]

@Lawrene0 “I wouldn't want it to take the place of something in the top 3 that would be of more benefit to all.“

Yup. Definitely an interesting idea, but let’s keep our eyes on the big prizes and not muddy the waters. It’s already pretty much only a daydream, the idea that we might be granted even ONE of our top 3 wishes. 😕

@John5097 @M199 @Sarah977 

[John5097]

@Colleen253  the entire purpose of this post is for host to share and post their ideas, so I don't see the point of singling out one post to take issue when it has nothing to do with the other post. @Lawrene0  $200 isn't that much, so I don't think its necessarily the extra money,  but more importantly would be a thoughtful gesture for ABB to extend and acknowledge host with who are making an extra effort to improve ABB experience for everyone. They already do this by offering $100 guest credit for superhost and no one complaining about that. This would have nothing to do with the other suggestions I also liked. Instead, I would suggest in general commenting on the post you do like. I also see a lot of host blame everything else if they aren't getting as many reservartions as they would like, when they should improve their own listing. Just trying to help here, everyone has their own approach. I really don't care and doing great with my listing and try to be considerate to other host here.  

Its a shame I was enjoying this topic and felt good to be included. I don't see the point in being so negative and inconsiderate to other people. All I can do is control my own behavior, and simply won't respond to comments like this anymore. The truth is more than a lot of people deserve. 

[John5097]

@Colleen253 @Lawrene0 

Couldn't edit that one in time.. sorry just woke up having coffee here.. 

At any rate, my final suggestion for this topic is to have a priority list or start a new thread. Its does say top three ideas so you would think that was implied. 

Each host could phrase it like, "While I love all these ideas, this would be my top priority. I realize everyone else might have a different priority." 

So far that was only my second suggestion. The first one was at the top of the page. 

I did say my last suggestion was different. In fact it is so different that the other suggestions, that it would be better to discuss the individual merits of the other suggestions, as I don't think the final decision is a competition based on expediency or popularity among internet forums. For those to be successful it would be best to put more effort into understanding the challenges of each one.   

[Lawrene0]

Hey, @John5097 , I loved the idea of that $200. I should have been clearer. It's me who missed the memo, so to speak. I thought we were discussing what we would put in a top 3, so I went ahead and discussed that, not imagining that it looked like dissing rather than discussing. 

So to be clear: Your idea is the bomb. It will be great, especially for places like yours and mine already saying yes to all. After the lockdown (if it ever ends...), I've got a lineup of newbies plus a 3-star guest who keeps asking specifics about privacy. Should be a bonus for that one! 🙂

I want things fixed first, but that's all it is: just what I want, what I would prioritize. It doesn't take away from cool forward-thinking ideas like yours. You've caught the eye of a host advisory board member, and that's what's going to count, likely, in the end. 

Sorry to have been negative and inconsiderate. The pandemic appears to be eating away at my tact. 

[Bez8]

@Lawrene0 @John5097 

I think the main takeaway from John's suggestion is to reward hosts that take on more upfront risk with newer guests. The reward and the amount is secondary. 

I really like that idea because it helps build the guest community  while acknowledging the risks that come with being brand new. 

I love all the feedback we've received on this thread so far 

[John5097]

@Lawrene0 

Thanks for the follow up. Really appreciate the encouragement. I agree a bonus for new guest isn't high on my radar either. There are so many other issues. Well, on the bright side, at least host can't give each other one star reviews. 🙂  

[Colleen253]

@John5097 I said “interesting idea”.  I wasn’t tearing you or the idea down. I’m simply in agreement with others in that there are big things that need fixing before anything new is launched.  

How about some basic respect from Airbnb to start with? Give hosts a real damage deposit with some control over it, provide us with the information we need on the absolute strangers we are letting into our properties, such as REAL names, and addresses etc.

Cease allowing bad guests and bad CS to run roughshod over experienced hosts with proven track records. Pay hosts what is owed to them, on time, every time.

Honor a host’s decision to uphold their cancellation policy and not refund a guest, instead of making them fret and worry that the guest will be refunded anyway, at the whim of a CS rep 6 months to a year later. 

I could go on and on, but this forum is already littered with the wishlists of thousands of hosts whose voices have been ignored for ages. This one will soon get lost and buried  among the many.  It may come across as negativity, but it’s skepticism that anything will change for the better for hosts, this time around. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, and that’s ok. Time will tell. 

[John5097]

@Colleen253 

I agree any of those issues concerning security would be in completely different category than a bonus for improving inclusion and diversity by accommodating new guest. Maybe the Host Advisory Board could help facilitate a discussion on some of those more important issues? My favorite aspect of these forums are identical to the points you make. I always enjoy reading those post, and also like to improve things and make progress. I think we all keep growing and learning. Even though its challenging, at least for me, hopefully I can improve how I respond. Sometimes I think its easy to forget that we each might have different stuff going on each day. I'd be surprised if they didn't approach some of you to the on the HAB? Anyway appreciate the response. I was afraid to check back here but glad I did. 🙂 

[M199]

@John5097 

Thankfully, maybe I'm blessed, I haven't had that issue yet.  But have to admit that I have learned a lot from all the CC posts.  Thank you for your insights, they will not be lost on me👍

[John5097]

@M199 that's great! Glad you are also doing well. I also have learned a lot reading these CC forms. A lot of host have said that sometimes newbie guest will leave 4 star review thinking its a great review. And your great success rate with new guest is beneficial for ABB and other host, hence the suggestion of a bonus. Keep up the great work!  

[Bez8]

@John5097 

I love the idea. I really do. 

Some review metrics are actually cultural as well. 

fairness and other review metrics are so hard measure from a baseline. 

That's why I love the idea of offsetting what you can't fully measure with rewards towards experienced and trusted Airbnb users.

[John5097]

@Bez8 thanks yes I agree and appreciate your focus on trying to create more security and reward for experienced and trustworthy host. 

[John5097]

@Bez8My experience and approach may be different than others here. Anyone can make an instant reservation with mine. I also intentionally price it lower than the reccomened smart pricing to allow more diversity and inclusion. I'm also booked year round, and have a very diverse range of guest that includes meeting expectations for cultural and economic differences. I've included many additional features and amenities to accommodate a wide a range as possible, but sometimes an amenity or listing strategy becomes too problematic. Some listings like mine also attract guest who are in town for medical procedures at local hospitals. I bend over backwards for all of my guest. Its more challenging than offering a summertime retreat to privileged people. I don't think a lot of host could even begin to appreciate the challenges of being that inclusive among a much more diverse range of guest. Eventually I might also just be open for summertime reservations and increase my rates. Having an open and respective dialog would be a good start. 

Besides a small gesture of appreciation for host who are actively promoting more inclusion and diversity doesn't detract from other suggestions or issues posted here, and would be more productive for other host to make their own suggestion or create a new topic, as my suggestion would in no way interfere with their existing hosting experience or options. 

[Bez8]

@John5097 

I have so much respect for that. You're a testament to inclusion at it's purest form. Your suggestions are valid and on point. I personally sometimes forget the diverse range of guests that use the platform. From so many different countries and economical metrics. 

[M199]

@Bez8 , @John5097 

Just a suggestion, forward thinking...

Why not have the ability to remove 1 of the worst  and 1 of the best reviews  to even out the totals.  I think the two would cancel each other out and make for a more fair review  rating.  I have heard of this being done elsewhere, but not sure if it was a performance review or some other rating system.