@Emiel1
I suspect you were more astute about it than me. I remember reading about the HAB being established and assumed it would be a good thing. I was then invited to apply to join it.
I wasn't very active on the CC at this particular time so didn't see the invite straight away, but did respond to it when I did. I was then told that I was no longer invited to apply. I didn't mind, because it seemed to involve quite a lot of participation, e.g. monthly meetings/reports, with no renumeration mentioned, and I simply did not have time for that due to my work schedule.
What I find odd about the whole thing, as you hint at, is the total lack of transparency about what the HAB actually does, how they affect decision making (if indeed they do) and what they are basing any of that on. I mean, I don't see the HAB members being active on this CC which is surely where a lot of host feedback is posted.
On the odd occasion that a HAB member comments on a thread here, I have noticed it's some bland comment extolling the virtues of Airbnb or something similar, in contrast to the other hosts' comments on that particular subject. The last one I remember, for example, was a HAB member responding to a thread RE the summer release where hundreds of hosts were talking about how their views and bookings had simply stopped, with a comment along the lines of "But I am doing better than ever so this can't be true! I have not noticed anything wrong. Why don't you make some pointless amendments to your listing and everything will be fine!"
I understand that there is probably some confidentiality agreement where HAB members cannot reveal what they are talking about (if they are indeed still talking about anything at all) but it offends me when they occasionally dip into this CC where they are not regular contributors, telling us that "everything is just super duper!!! :)) ::)"
