Host Advisory Board members

[Mike-And-Jane0]

Interesting to see that some board members who haven't posted here since 2017 are suddenly posting multiple times. The cynic in me suggests that Airbnb have asked them to do so to find out what is going on in Airbnb land.

Perhaps they should have just invited some of the more prolific posters on the community centre to be on the advisory board!

[Bez8]

@Sharon1014 

that's a great idea Sharon

[Inna22]

@Nutth0 there is a difference between making a post once a year (no matter how thoughtful and helpful) and all over sudden being around here daily. It does appear that Airbnb chose the members first to meet whatever criteria (beats the party drum, diverse, likable, willing to work for free for access to execs) and then sent you off to post here so they can justify electing you. You do not represent me or my interests at all, neither does @Bez8. Luckily I do not have high hopes for this entire enterprise and you probably will not make things worse.

I did notice the same pattern as @Mike-And-Jane0 but wondered if I was just a bitter conspiracy theorist. I guess I am not, not this time anyway.

[Bez8]

@Inna22 

"Luckily I do not have high hopes for this entire enterprise and you probably will not make things worse."

haha I will take that

[Anonymous]

The million dollar question with this "Host Advisory Board" thing is:  who is advising whom?

The concept was presented to us as some novel way for hosts to catch the ear of the executives. But all I'm seeing so far is ventriloquy. 

[Sharon1014]

That is why @Anonymous  some transparency is required around their original brief.  Roles, functions, boundaries of actions and influence.  The job description.  The "compensation".  The position and board as a whole reports to .... whom?  Hopefully there will be further info forth-coming this week.

Do hope it isn't just an exercise in deflecting attention from company earnings due out Feb 6.  WSJ are expecting a loss per share of around $14.80 but it may be much worse than that.  The broader market is looking ripe to short.

Nice as it would be if the group could put some runs on the board early up (and perhaps necessary for them to make something stick fairly soon out of the gate), credibility and engagement are rather contingent upon the line of reporting and who in that chain of command within the company is going to take responsibility for acting upon any recommendations.

Just hope they aren't going to be given the royal runaround.

@Bez8  @Nutth0  @Till-and-Jutta0  @Catherine-Powell 

[Bez8]

@Sharon1014 

Transparency is key. I do agree. I did answer your questions regarding the roles and responsibilities with what we currently know. I foresee an announcement on HAB's communication with the broader host community in the near future. 

[Helen350]

@Anonymous 

Did you know that 'ventriloquy' means literally 'talking out of the stomach'? - Could be worse, I suppose?!

[Bez8]

@Anonymous 

communication in a partnership is fluid and boundless. It can flow in every which direction. 

Another important question is how effective the collaboration will be. The success of this HAB is also dependent on the support we receive from the broader host community. I foresee this to improve year over year. The first year will be more difficult to work out all the kinks and optimizations. 

[Nathalie-Et-Gilles0]

@ All

This board is just marketing.

Let’s be serious for a minute.

How could these board members could help hosts when writting that Airbnb listens hosts and do the opposite?

- refuse to apply local laws,

- do not apply the contract

- obliges hosts to act as a travel insurance which is illegal because insurance is a regulated activity (link banks).

@Bez8 

If Airbnb does not apply the contract and the deposit, all your work and speech are helpless.

[Bez8]

@Nathalie-Et-Gilles0 

Only time will tell my friend (everyone is a friend to me on here)

[Liv]

Hey everyone,

I think it's great that so many of you are interested in knowing more about the Host Advisory Board (so am I)! More information is indeed coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled 👀

I'm also enjoying reading this thread filled with well thought out suggestions, let's keep them coming.

I'm sure the Host Advisory Board members will have a lot of work to do, so I think it will be more productive and interesting if we can join forces in order to drive change. 

As you are aware, the CC is a place for hosts to support each other in a positive way. Let's please keep it that way in line with the Community Guidelines.

Thanks,
Liv

[Bez8]

@Liv 

It's been a treat getting to know some of the CC members. I have really appreciated the honesty and dedication for improvement. 

This is such an active community with a wealth of experience. I'm glad to be a part of it.

[Liv]

That's great to hear, @Bez8! We're happy to have you 😊

[Till-and-Jutta0]

Dear fellow-members, as I grew up in the German-speaking CC, you will find many answers to your questions there. When we (my wife Jutta and me, we are hosting together), started hosting 11 years ago, I was nearly double-aged compared to Brian. As gentlemen never ask for ladies’ age, I assume that I’m the oldest HAB member 😉

Long before the CC started, I organized meetups and co-managed local groups, as well as the DACH-group for hosts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

There you find my intro to the German CC, which officially started (together with most of the other language platforms) during the Airbnb Open in Paris (November 2015). Often in teamwork with others, I’m a frequent author of tutorials and FAQs. There you find a community Spotlight from three years ago. New spotlights about all HAB members will follow this year.

I loved the Host Voice, from which regrettably only some ideas have been realized (e.g. correct VAT calculation, replacing some extenuation circumstances by a travel insurance (it took some time, but now we’ve got it), no more group payments, clearer house rules presentation (now at 4 different places), instant book is not more the default for new listings, options for European bed sizes, calendar settings: definition of no check-in days, listing copy for new listings. And there has been a bunch of more modifications the last years, sometimes too many so we go mad.

When Airbnb told us about installing a new HAB I immediately relaunched an informal idea collection (Airbnb Host Feedback), which I intend to transfer to a new formal feedback tool this year. Personally I love the idea of having an arbitration board installed, which could come into effect if a dispute can’t be resolved to the host’s satisfaction. And I’ve got many more ideas – but at the end it will be the community who prioritizes.

The new Host Voice will only be a certain part of our workload – @Bez8 already gave you other details.

For measuring the HAB’s success exist two different approaches: undersell and overdeliver – or – starting with high expectations so at least a few objectives get realized. I personally am more from the realistic side. We have to keep two things in mind:

1. This is the very first HAB round. We still have to redefine all procedures, for Airbnb it is new (not totally, as some may remember), for the community as well, as for the participating hosts. I expect that the next round 2022 will find a good basis and we can hand-over the work easily.
2. Our success will be largely based on participation and cooperation of the entire community, and – of course – on Airbnb’s will to listen (I know, some of you can’t hear that word any more) to the community, chose the right priorities, and really will regard the hosts as a partner. I wish we all can help to shape Airbnb’s future; times are tough and changing, so we need a firm basis.

I’m no native English speaker, so I apologize that most of my linked information has to go through a translator before you can understand it. It will be a challenge to build a common platform for the entire CC, so we can synchronize the content of all existing nine system languages easily. A start has been done by creating this landing page.

More about the HAB coming soon, I appreciate your patience, thank you.

Open Your Heart and Home

[Sarah977]

@Till-and-Jutta0  Thank you for introducing yourself here. This is what hosts would appreciate from all the board members.