2 Different guests requesting within an hour of each other--one now longer has the option to book?

[April3]

I've been a host for quite some time now, and have never come accross this before:

Guest A sends me a message (but not a booking request) to make sure dates are available and to ensure that a 2 night stay is ok. She also says that she is still finalizing the details of her stay with her friends. I pre-approve her.

Guest B sends an actual booking request 30 minutes later (for sure they are with different parties) Now I need to decline or accept quickly, as I like to do so to keep my response rate high.

Both are worthy guests and I have no problem hosting either group, but I would like to give the first right of refusal to guest A. But now the calendar is blocked, preventing Guest A from booking, because I need to approve or decline Guest B first.

Any way around this? I don't want to lose a sure booking (Guest B) but it seems a catch 22 that I must decline this guest in order to even give Guest A the first option!

[Matthew285]

@April3, you are definitely in a tough spot.

But it isn't a Catch 22. A Catch 22 is a dilemma that has no escape. You have a simple escape: Choose Guest B.

The only catch is trying to favor Guest A when Guest B was the first to put their money down. 

If it were myself in the situation, I would not hesitate to give the Approval to Guest B.

Guest B sent an actual Booking Request, which showed they were serious and willing to commit.

Yes, Guest A was first in time, but they weren't ready to book.

So, in my eyes, Guest B was first in the only way that counts.

Myself, I would apologize to Guest A, and let them know this is the risk one faces when one is not ready to make commitment to book.

The choice is yours.

You already know the risk you face if you decline Guest B based on the assumption that Guest A will give you a confirmed booking.

I hope whichever way you choose, it works out in your favor!

[April3]

@Matthew285

I know, you're right! And of course I have to take the sure booking (which I just did) as this is one of my co-hosting accounts so I cannot gamble with another hosts money. I think the thing that bothers me is that Guest A is automatically excluded from booking, even though they were pre-approved. It is my opinion that the option to book should have still been allowed to Guest A even though Guest B had made a request

[Matthew285]

@April3 I agree with you; that would be very nice to somehow allow them both to send booking requests.

The next time this happens, if you are willing to roll the dice, you can block off the dates when you Pre-Approve someone for an Inquiry.

[Marzena4]

@April3 Generally, business model of sales supports more decisive customers, hence the setting of the algorithm on Airbnb. Airbnb is more interested in such a guest that will book quickly. That's why they press for Instant Book too.