Bought existing ABB house - how to redirect to new listing

[Bob297]

I bought a house at a resort where I already have two places. This house has quite a few reservations. To get there, you have to fly.
I have become a co-host and know I cannot become a host there.
Direct booking is on. I want to turn that off now so that no new reservations are added, and I can refer guests to a new listing.

I have created a new, identical ad where I am now a host.
I've tried putting the link from the new ad as the first text in the "taken over ad," but ABB does not accept a link in the ad.
When I search for the property's name, I only see the old ad. Oddly enough, not the new one.

Does anyone know how I can refer guests from the "old ad" to the new one?

I've had the new ad live for six months and haven't received a single reservation, while the reservations on the old ad continue.
However, I don't want that to continue.

Asking the old guests to cancel their reservations and re-book on the new listing seems to me to create a lot of distrust and problems, especially since payments have already been made to Airbnb by the guests.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
bob

[Anonymous]

@Bob297  I think what you'd have to do is block all remaining dates on the old listing's calendar, and deactivate it altogether when the confirmed bookings are fulfilled. 

A duplicate listing under a different profile might present problems if someone thinks it's a scam.

[Bob297]

@Anonymous  Thank you
Your suggestion would solve one problem: the old listing cannot be booked anymore.
I still have the challenge of how to get people to my new listing. It would have been nice if I could refer them from the old one. That's why I am thinking about having people send a booking request. I can then refer them to the other ad with a link. I think sending a link to an airbnb listing is allowed the messaging system

[Anonymous]

@Bob297  The old listing is probably getting all the hits because it's showing up before the new one in search results. Once it no longer has availability, this won't be the case, so there will be no need to redirect.

I think the advantage of having all the reviews on the old listing is somewhat cancelled out by the inconvenience of making guests withdraw their requests and start the booking process all over again on another listing. That's a surefire way to lose bookings that you would have otherwise had in the bag.

[Debra300]

@Bob297,

I suggest snoozing the original listing, and offering a discount promotion on the new listing to appear higher in the search results, and get bookings and reviews.  

[Bob297]

@Debra300 If I snooze the listing, will the listing still be visible for people who have already booked? They might want to see the correspondence we had.
The discount is a good suggestion

[Bob297]

@Helen744 @Helen3 @Anonymous @Debra300 
did some research:
Snoozing seems like a nice option. Guests who have already booked still have access to the communication. The ad won't appear in new searches.
Unfortunately, I could set snoozing to a max of 3 months.
That's not enough because I often get reservations (more than) a year in advance.
I solved it temporarily by setting the minimum stay to 60 days, combined with direct reservation off and snoozing on for the max period.
I will continue to search for more options. Maybe limit the window during which I accept reservations.

[Helen3]

You can set the listing so the calendar is only open for three months . 

[Bob297]

@Helen3 
I will do that too, thank you

[Helen3]

I agree with @Debra300  snooze the current listing then you won't get further bookings on it .  What arrangements did you make with the the original Host about payment as it will continue to go to them. 

Then set the new listing up under you own profile. 

[Bob297]

The original host has changed the bank account

[Helen744]

@bobby 297 You cannot book guests into one house and then switch them to another . you must take down your old listing and build a new one . your gust reviews will follow you but not your gusts . If you booked guests past the point where you gave up your old property then you should not have ,as this is misrepresentation and I am not surprised your guests are suspicious . What gave you the idea that they would be happy with 'the bait and switch ' ? correct me if I am wrong H

[Bob297]

@Helen744 
I don't understand your reaction.

I did not book guests into one house and switch them to another

I did make a new listing

I switched direct booking off in the old ad to prevent new reservations from being made there.
There is no old property. It's the same property. I'm just the new owner.
My guests are not suspicious. Present guests are informed of the new ownership.
The official ABB-way would be that I ask all guests who have already booked to cancel their reservation on the old listing and book on the new one. That would create a hassle for the guests and might make them suspicious. 
It would have been nice if ABB could do this in a trustworthy way without canceling and rebooking, but I understand the complications.

There is no bait and switch.
I am just asking for input on how I can tell new guests that find my property in the ad of the previous owner (where I am cohost)  to go to the new listing where I am the host
@Debra300 @Anonymous @Helen3 Thank you for your input

[Helen744]

@Bob297 sorry If I misunderstood you Bob , but I believe there is no way to do what you propose as all reviews belong with the host not the house . H