Guest Profiles

[Sharyn15]

Hi Everyone,

I am a host who hosts guests inside my own home.  I am getting more and more annoyed that many more guests do not have photos of themselves and have not completed any description about themselves.

My arguement is if I get a photo prior to their arrival and I have a little knowledge about that person, my greeting comes across much friendlier.  I am feel I know the person prior to their arrival.  Their story also help with great conversation and the flow of conversation.

I am not getting much support in this area from Airbnb.

I wonder how many other hosts who host just a room in the home feel the same way.

Sharyn

[Rachel177]

@Sharyn15 I have a room in my apartment that I host guests. I've had instant book turned on for the last 2 years (of the 3 I've been hosting), so not seeing a photo before they book is not a problem for me. I've updated my house rules to state that I need a clear profile photo & name before booking + the reason for visiting. I've not had any problems with my guests with communication, they've all told me why they're booking with me. I need to prompt a few of them to get their arrival time, and I have a saved message for that. It might be worth having a message template for guests who don't give you that information when booking?

[Gordon0]

If you want to know the answer, to >>I wonder how many other hosts who host just a room in the home feel the same way<<, @Sharyn15, why not look at one of the many other threads on the subject?

[Ange2]

@Sharyn15   

If you have IB (not sure about non IB) there is a section on the listing under 'booking', where you can choose what you require. I do not have a problem with not seeing the photo before they book, but I do want to see it after they book so I know who to expect, especially given that 3rd part bookings are not covered by Airbnb.  You can also put what you need in your rules and as @Rachel177   suggests send them a message. I find most guests are happy to comply with what I ask for, those who aren't I never hear from again.

But, I do understand hosts who find this lack of information about a guest frustrating, especially given the guest is allowed to see all host information (including profile pic) prior to booking.

[Emilia42]

@Sharyn15 

I am one of the hosts who doesn't care about a photo. But I'm likely the minority. I just responded to a booking this morning without a photo. I don’t share the space with my guests but they book an apartment attached to my home and book my actual home. If the communication is pleasant and polite that is enough for me to feel comfortable. I put a lot of trust into my guests, as I am sure they put a lot of trust into me (they can be just as nervous when they show up at my place hoping to receive what I have promised.) When I look back at the few problem guests, all of the red flags were in the communication, never the photo. I would never have known how they were going to treat my space or break my rules but looking at their photo, but their communication gave me the gut feeling that I should have listened to.