What's that one thing new hosts don't know about hosting? 🧠

[Alex]

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! 😊

I hope your week is going well so far. We often chat in the Community about tips and advice that new hosts can use to improve their bookings, learn something new, or simply expand their knowledge. Today, I’d like to focus on things you should know before hosting. 🏡

What’s one thing that new hosts don’t usually know about hosting? Is there something you wish you had known before you started welcoming guests? Share with us what you consider crucial but was never mentioned to you! 🤗

Looking forward to hearing your experiences!

Best, 

Alex

[Simi617]

Honest guest reviews are important. New hosts should not give bad guests good reviews because they are scared of retaliation.

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Simi617 

Airbnb reviews are blind-sided. 

This system is designed to make reviews more honest and unbiased, since guests and hosts can’t be influenced by the other party’s comments before submitting.

[Oksana127]

Nobody told me hosting was gonna be like this. Guests eat three rolls of toilet paper in one night, type the Wi-Fi password into the microwave, and somehow make all the spoons disappear. Forks? Safe. Knives? Safe. Spoons? Gone. Honestly, I think there’s an underground spoon mafia out there.

But the real joke? I signed up to be a host… turns out I’m also tech support, plumber, therapist, and part-time detective. (“Why is there a shoe in the freezer?”)

Still—when a guest says, “This place felt like home,” you almost forget about the spoons. Almost.

[Alex]

This is the first time I’ve read about disappearing spoons  @Oksana127🥄😅. Is this a recurring mystery that keeps happening in your reservations, or does it only happen every now and then? Are you planning anything to solve this issue? 🏡

[Oksana127]

@Alex  I keep buying new ones! I guess some guests like to take a teaspoon as a “souvenir” from Riga 😅. Luckily it doesn’t happen all the time, but every couple of months when I do inventory, I suddenly discover that out of 6–9 teaspoons there are only 2–3 left. Forks and knives survive, but spoons… they have their own destiny 🥄✨.

[عاصم0]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[عاصم0]

I thought that having more than one nationality in a place might cause problems, but the fact that more than one different nationality is present for dinner or breakfast creates a wonderful environment for hosting. I happened to meet guests from China and South America, and they were extremely nice.

[Alex]

Hi @عاصم0! 

Thank you for participating in the conversation! That’s one of the beauties of hosting—sharing and discovering cultures from all around the world. Did they share any local recipes? 🍽️

[عاصم0]

في الأكل لم يشاركو ولكن تحدثنا سويا عن ثقافتنا النوبيه في الزواج وكان السؤال هل فعلا أهل النوبه هم اصل الشعب المصري وما هي العادات النوبيه المشتركه مع المسيحيه وامثله اخري 

_______________________________________________________________________
 
Google Translation added by Community Manager:  

@Alex They didn’t take part in eating, but we spoke together about our Nubian culture, especially regarding marriage. The question was whether Nubians truly are the original people of Egypt, and what Nubian customs are shared with Christianity, along with other examples.

[Alex]

That sounds like a very interesting conversation, @عاصم0! 🤗 I'm sure everyone learnt a lot during that conversation. Have you welcomed guests of other nationalities in your listing?

[C197]

@Alex @simi617 @عاصم0 

@Oksana127  @Patricia2526 @Rebecca @guy991 @Alejandro2196 @Akram67 @Elisa @John978 @James4819 @Kwansook0 @Danielle1997

 One of the biggest things new hosts don’t always realise is that hosting is less about property management and more about relationship management. The physical space sets the stage, but it’s the emotional experience that shapes reviews and return bookings.

Something I wish I had known earlier is that every guest interprets “value” differently: for some, it’s pristine cleanliness, for others, it’s thoughtful communication, and for others still, it’s a sense of local authenticity. The real skill lies in anticipating these varied expectations, balancing them with consistency, and creating an environment where guests feel seen rather than processed.

Another overlooked aspect is that hosting is a continuous learning cycle. Each stay teaches you something—from refining house rules, to streamlining check-in, to recognising cultural nuances in communication. Hosting is never static; it’s a craft that matures with every guest interaction.

In short: new hosts often focus on “what” to provide (towels, Wi-Fi, tea), but the deeper question is “how do I make a guest feel at home in a space that isn’t theirs?” Mastering that distinction transforms a listing from being just accommodation into being a meaningful experience.

Lastly, as a host, we're so good at looking after others, remember to remember yourself in all this and give yourself a treat, big or small - you deserve it!🥰

Peace ✌🏼 Cyn