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.

[Bez8]

I really hope we can come back to this in a couple of years and have a laugh (whichever way it goes)

I want to prove you and the CC wrong. I really do. 

But I guess really wanting something doesn't always mean you get it. 

@Anonymous 

[Sarah977]

@Bez8  Not one host on this thread has expressed any "hatred" towards you nor any "anger". It's really interesting that you perceive it as such.

It's odd to me that you seem surprised and miffed by the responses you have gotten, that you were totally unprepared to be put on the hot seat regarding whether the members of the host advisory board will really be representing hosts' interests. 

When Airbnb announces this host advisory board, without consultation from hosts, hand picks the members, and pays them, can you not comprehend why other hosts might be skeptical about whether their interests will be brought to the table? And that you would be questioned as to your motivation and intent? You aren't just another host, you are being monetarily compensated by Airbnb to supposedly help drive policy that will benefit all hosts.

To some of us here, it's rather like being a defendent in a court case, who can't afford a lawyer, and is eligible for legal aid, so is assigned representation. But instead of the legal aid lawyer being assigned by the legal aid office, she's assigned by the plantiff. How confident would you be that you would be fairly represented?

Further to what Andrew mentioned about your age reflecting an attitude and communication style, which just happens to be the same age demographic as those who run Airbnb, my youngest daughter is in that age range, too, 38 to be specific. And while she is very bright and hard working, and I value her ideas on many things, her personal attitude is much the same as yours and many people in that millennial range. 

A huge aversion to having their ideas or behavior questioned, and an aggressively defensive response to that, turning it back on the questioner as if they have done something really offensive and out of line. 

[Bez8]

@Sarah977 

I see all of that Sarah. We've talked about it before. 

I can see it all and can even put myself in your shoes. 

All I'm asking is to trust that I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think we'd be able to make positive change. This is more of a volunteer gig than anything.  The main reason I'm doing it is because I'm genuinely passionate about hosting and I want to help. 

I know about the past and I'm not taking that away. But the HAB needs to be forward thinking while having the past as a guide to where we want to go. This HAB will have input on how future HAB members will be selected. 

I can assure you that the HAB members are as diverse as it gets (age/race/etc)

There are 4M hosts from so many different backgrounds. Some of which who don't actively post in the CC or the FB community. This is going to be an on going adventure until we get to the right formula. The HAB is in place to have meaningful input in decisions that will impact hosts and the overall business. 

I think we're just lacking transparent communication at the moment. That's something I hope is addressed sooner than later. 

[Emilia42]

@Bez8 

I think the waters are getting muddied here with so much "bending/misinterpreting" what each other have said. 

In response to your question to @Anonymous, what we want is:

1.) Ability to add a pet fee. Just like the extra person fee which is added to a specific reservation during the booking process. Many hosts are willing to accept pets but want to charge extra for them since they likely do require more work or wear in tare. 

2.) A real-life/actual security deposit. An authorization to the guest's credit card (just like a hotel.) Not some fairy tale magical guard dog that holds no weight what-so-ever.

[Bez8]

@Emilia42 

exactly. Well said. 

I'm just honestly tired of the way some hosts address me. I will speak out when there is a blatant attempt to misquote me to prove a point. Nothing productive can come from that. A lot of the negative actions in our world comes from manipulation of the truth. I just don't stand for that.  I'm here to learn and listen in order to help the greater host community. That's all. 

I really appreciate you summarizing it in that way. I really do. 😚 

[Helen350]

@Bez8 

@Anonymous knows what he's talking about.  He has absolutely NAILED IT in these above statements/ analysis, as he usually does. As @Mike-And-Jane0  observed too. 

You clearly don't know what you're talking about. I don't want to to rude or unkind, and this is not personal, but your lack of understanding re Airbnb's policies is staggering & beggars belief.

Even AFTER Andrew explained crystal clearly. Please LISTEN to Andrew Bez, he is not being rude to you, but he does understand these things better than you do!

I'm not convinced by this HAB malarkey.... sounds like another PR exercise to beat the 'seen to be doing drum'..... There are hosts in this forum who I'm sure could do a better job, (not me!) 

[Bez8]

@Helen350 

I'm not disagreeing with what Andrew is saying regarding a proper deposit policy. 

I have said multiple times that I agree with that

I don't agree with having my words manipulated to make a point and assumptions about the HAB that aren't true. That is all. 

I've agreed with hosts suggesting a proper damage deposit since day one. I am one of those hosts. 

I'm just trying to navigate through the unnecessary noise. Please read what I wrote. I am not disagreeing with Andrew on his actual suggestion 

[Anonymous]

@Bez8  Thanks, I appreciate your support on that topic and I hope the HAB is more successful than thousands of hosts before them of getting Airbnb to actually address it. 

[Bez8]

@Anonymous 

I don't have all the answers . The HAB as a whole will look to the experience of the CC and others for guidance. I'm sure it will be easier for the next HAB. But we're literally starting from scratch in terms of process. We want to hand over a workable structure to the next HAB. The whole process will improve over time. This is my hope and goal. 

[Lorna170]

@Bez8     I am not sure that I care for your tone or for your wordiness.  But you are in a position to assist other hosts in achieving some success in relaying needed changes to the powers that be at Air.

1.  Add a Pet fee option to the booking process.    I accept pets.  I have to put my fee in the description and I then send a request through the resolution center.  This is a FEE, not a deposit, and should be collected at Booking.

2.  Fix the resolution Center.   Several times I have wanted to request funds from a guest for extra services that the guest has requested and we have agreed upon.  However, when I go to the resolution center to charge the agreed upon fee, I cannot because there is some problem, and the resolution center will not complete the request.  I am unable to obtain payment for the agreed upon services on the Air platform.  I have to go elsewhere.

3.  Charge an actual damage deposit.  Hosts should feel secure that damages will be paid for.  Guests need to know that this money is on the line and they will be held responsible for their actions.  

[Mary996]

Really helpful @Lorna170 

I have cats so cannot receive other pets but your strategy could be duplicated perhaps for some of the many who do want to accept animals....?

[Bez8]

@Anonymous  

This is a thread for suggestions and I'd actually like to stay on topic. We've had some great feedback and conversation. I know how easy it is to go off course. 

you can message me your comment or start a thread and tag me. But I don't want to take over what we have here.  

[Sharon1014]

**[Off-topic content hidden in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

[Liv]

Hi everyone, 

Thank you for contributing to this thread. It's been great reading your suggestions here. 

Several members have made important points that have developed into interesting discussions, so to make sure we can make the most of this conversation, I have to ask you to please do your best to stay on topic.

Keep in mind that if you have something else that you'd like to say that's unrelated to this thread, you can always start a brand new topic of your own. 🌝

Thanks,

Liv

[Sharon1014]

Awwww @Liv  my comment wasn't off topic.  But one would need a lateral mind to make the connections.  And a lively sense of humour.  Contrary to what some might think, the contributors here are actually all grown-ups and can handle our own conversations, including such awful things like occasional humour interjections and musical reflections of a conversation.

A rather sad over-reach, imo.  And reflective of the paternalistic over-reach of the company itself.  Or is that too "off-topic" to say as well.  

@Bez8 is going to need all the help he can get (given he's been thrown in the deep end without any prep from the CC mods or the company), but I think you missed that point in my post.