Brace yourself: The Airbnb Winter Release is Coming

[Huma0]

Not sure how many of you know, but Airbnb is about to announce its Winter Release. Yes, that's right. It's the follow up to the Summer Release that caused quite a stir.

I have heard a few things about this, including:

- It will be announced within hours as part of the Q3 Earnings Call.

- @Catherine-Powell will be doing interviews about it over the coming week.

- There may be revisions to the review process, including how Superhost is assessed.

Now, I don't know any of the above for a fact and that information came from more than one source. I was also sent this article below, which speculates about what might be coming. I have no idea if the publication has insider info, or is simply guessing based on what happened with the Summer Release, but some might find it an interesting read:

https://www.rentandrelaxus.com/2022/10/31/airbnb-2022-winter-release-rental-scale-up-2/

[Huma0]

@Sudsrung0 

Ah, right. That's an oldie...

[Huma0]

The guy on the left appears not to have rubbed on his sunscreen properly...

[Laurelle3]

@Sudsrung0 I think you are being very entrepreneurial. Good luck as you are able to gave the spin off with the Airbnb platform. Thailand is popular with Australians.

[Sudsrung0]

@Laurelle3 

Many Aussies like Phuket there is a few who live here, they drink themselves to death hahaha

[Helen427]

Good points @Huma0 

 I don't offer 'experiences' as such separately but have my listing including local experiences not only amongst Nature  and plenty of local activities  for those venturing to a different location enjoy - they are attracted to my listing in part because it stands out with my photos.

I've had people choose my listing because of the photos who are dyslexic as it's easier to visual and interpret.

Guests will choose a place based on their own needs and desires and the type of person they want to be with and trust and have a safe trip.

I also know from feedback in person from my Guests they choose my home because I offer a wide range of delights and experiences of Living like a Local.

At the moment travelers from Europe who are here on Working Holiday visa's  are wanting a knowledgeable welcome to a foreign land to assimilate into our communities.

Today a group of my former international Guests,  (German and Italian) together with my current guest ( a lady from France) and  I and their new found friends from overseas and I are meeting up for a Dog Date with my friends dogs and dinner.

Should I offer that, as a paid experience?

No, I won't, to me it's part of 'Little things mean a lot' and welcoming those who are in Nieuw Zealand and my home for whatever reason and esnure they are not lonely and have other like minded people they can contact and meet up with when they want as they all have someone (staying in my home) and something in common.

Will @Brian and @Catherine-Powell consider those factors as part of their overall business model?

The reality is, us local hosts and longer term Hosts and others value those as part of our day to day living.

I notice in Remuera we know have Dog water bowls around the place with 'Woof, Live, Local', written on them, perhaps I should offer that too so people know there's Dogs out their to have a moment or two with along their travels.

Whilst I appreciate that some will want accommodation expressly for summer activities - beaches, swimming pools, etc or winter wilderness and snow activities, perhaps that's why ABB have now included Seasonal roll outs for those wanting such places.

It goes back to education and ensuring young one's and those living in countries where 'Climatic change' is a very serious issue, learn that the Earth is not flat, and that once upon a time the Four Seasons existed in many parts of the world, just like trees are not dead in certain seasons...and don't need to be cut down.

[Ana2038]

Exactly, @Mark116. We are currently working  with our city to approve STR (have them regulated, taxed etc…). The city main concern re STRs is the disruption to communities (loud parties, lack of housing, changing the community feel…etc…). A group of us, STR owners, met with the city planning commission to explain and dispel the stigma STRs receive. We explained the benefit to the city in having a regulated STR program in place (preferably one that is not overly restrictive ). The planning commission decided to hold off on banning STRs and to suspend any code enforcement violations until after the new year (2023) at which time they will determine whether to implement a regulated STR program or ban STRs. 

Airbnb desire to add new hosts/properties to its platform is not what cities on the fence regarding STRs want to hear. 

[Helen427]

@Ana2038 

Ask your city officials using Official Information Act for a breakdown of all Noise and other complaints they have received across the board and that of those who were Airbnb properties and hold them to account.

People will party and create disturbances regardless if they are hosting parties, and in general terms it's no different to screaming children and babies or those who talk loudly or play loud music etc in properties occupied by Owner Occupiers , or Residential Tenancy Regulations.

All the best

[Gillian166]

@Huma0  if that isn't code for "drop your prices" i don't know what is! how patronising, to help us "better understand pricing" and "be more competitive". Sounds like a race to the bottom, for hosts.

[Huma0]

@Gillian166

Yes, that exactly how I read it.

[Ruth413]

Oh no, my heart has just sunk @Huma0 .  I am still recovering from the Summer Release !  I just hope it somehow fixes the wreckage of that release and ups the views and bookings. 

My bookings are way down still and I am sure most of it is because here in the UK, people just don't have the money at the moment, but they started to go down after the summer release and never picked back up.  I got so excited the other day because we got a booking request - our winter bookings are looking bleak to say the least - this booking was for September 2023 though !

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Ruth413 I have a theory re the Summer release reducing bookings in the UK. I don't think it was the Summer release but rather the fact that Airbnb allowed (encouraged) Cottages.com/Hoseasons to list all their properties (thousands) on the Airbnb site. As a result there was a massive increase in supply for Airbnb guests to choose from.

Strangely the Cottages.com listings show up as being hosted by professionals (ie cottages) whereas the truth is they are still hosted by amateurs but with another company inserted in-between to make communication harder.

Oh and one more thing while I am on. Cottages.com is leading the race to the bottom on price. If I search Airbnb  in my area there are some stupidly priced properties that are unlikely to even cover their costs this winter. All of the low prices are via Cottages.com.

[Gillian166]

@Mike-And-Jane0  this winter season might be the make or break for some places, esp if they have low prices and no consideration of energy costs, and perhaps by next year the herd will be thinned.

[Huma0]

@Mike-And-Jane0 

That could have been a factor, but there were many, many hosts (including myself) that were adversely affected and are not competing with those cottages.com/Hoseasons listings. 

I'm offering long stays in private rooms in a shared house and, according to Airbnb, demand for long stays is higher than ever and makes up a big chunk of bookings. Very few of my guests are tourists. They are in London for a purpose (usually work or study) and they NEED accommodation. In this market, which is indeed highly saturated, my listings normally stand out. They might not be for everyone, but my target customer is not going to find better value for what is on offer and the location (I know, I have spent a long time checking out the competition).

While my views and bookings took a nose dive from mid-May, guests since then have been telling me that it's been extremely hard to find decent rooms that they can afford. They say prices have gone up, not down. There are of course some listings that seem to be priced rather low, who are maybe trying to undercut the others (I wouldn't be surprised if they lowered their prices after the Summer Release because their bookings crashed), but there are not that many of them. 

And there are many other examples posted here from hosts around the word, again not competing with the cottages.com type of listings, who experienced a massive drop in views/bookings after the Summer Release. It can't be coincidence. 

[Sudsrung0]

@Ruth413 

Have you tried other platforms? Like @Mike-And-Jane0  mentions cottages.com 

Look at booking.com, 

Might just pick up some slack 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Ruth413 don't go to cottages.com. If your rates are reasonable then their charges are extremely high. Basically they charge a higher percentage than Airbnb and then add on a £40 booking fee for the guest. It can work out around 40%+ commission on a weekend stay.