Please!! New Credentials for Superhost Status

[Bernard37]

To become a Superhost, you need to have 

• Received a 5-star review at least 80% of the time you’ve been reviewed, as long as at least half of the guests who stayed with you left a review.

I truly believe the 80% 5-star requirement has to get tougher to keep up the quality and service of a "Superhost"

Please Airbnb I hear from many of my guests that were appalled by the "Superhosts" they have stayed at previously. I have heard horror stories of dirty homes, inconsiderate treatment and lack of communication coming from "Superhosts" If you want to keep up your reputation you should be rewarding your top hosts who give your company a good name and try really hard to keep their status and relations with their guests. There is no reason why someone striving to be a Superhost should get any less than 90% 5-Star reviews. I've been at 97% for over 2-1/2 years and it's simply treating people with care and concern and giving them a place they can feel safe and warm. I'm sure i speak for all of the true Superhosts out there that they don't want to be put in a box with others who don't deserve the title. Please Airbnb!! True "Superhosts" are the backbone of your company I hope you will reward us with a special title that is not so easily aquired so that we can all be inspired to work harder at creating a more profitable business for all of us. Sincerely, Thank You!

[Cormac0]

@Bernard

I would like to hear your comments on where prices should go under your proposed new regime?

Regards

Cormac

The Explorer's Club Krakow III

[Bernard37]

Not sure what you're getting at. Care to elaborate?

[Michael293]

I agree Bernard. Or maybe they could have different levels of hosts.

[Ange2]

@Bernard37  "Please Airbnb I hear from many of my guests that were appalled by the "Superhosts" they have stayed at previously."

To be fair and balanced you should get the hosts side of the story.

As a host I am finding that the few guests who complain are masters at projection, meaning they assign their faults, petty grievances, non-communication, disorganization, uncleanliness, sullen character to the host.

btw:  Superhosts are not the backbone of the company, most guests I have encountered have no idea what a Superhost is and didn't even realize it was a search parameter.

[Bernard37]

@Ange2 sorry if I offended you in any way thats not my intention. Maybe it's just the different markets we are in because in 2-1/2 years I haven't had those kind of guests although they are not all perfect they love there stay here because I work hard at it, engaging them in conversation or checking in with them to see how they are doing, helping them navigate their stay in any way I can etc. etc.  There are too many people getting into this industry just to make a quick buck and really dont care about the guests comfort and that is just unacceptable coming from someone who want the Superhost staus. Sure you can choose to run your business that way but you should not be awarded a title unlesss you go out of your way to earn it and I think 80% 5 star ratings is too easily obtained and can hurt the reputation of Airbnb which affects all hosts. "Backbone" meaning the hosts that keep customers coming back to the platform and telling their friends etc. 

[Ange2]

@Bernard37  No offense taken. Just that there are always two sides to a story. I am a Superhost and I do my best for guests and most all really do appreciate it.  But recently I have had a few absolute nightmares that have left a bitter taste.

[Bernard37]

@Ange2 I am really sorry that you experienced nightmares I hope I never have to I can understand how that can leave a bitter taste. I just hope Airbnb can find a way to differentiate and reward their hosts that truly care and go out of their way to create a pleasant experience for their guests. Reputation and word of mouth advances a platform like Airbnb and we need a way to keep the Superhosts Super! 

[Fred13]

I would also like to see a higher 'level of excellence' applied to hosts, than the existing Superhost which is too easy to get, and yet too easy to loose also; i.e. the infamous 'Guest asks host to cancel' trap, immediately comes to mind. The present extremely-bimodal 'Superhost' status is too simple, when everything is a matter of degrees, or should be.

Perhaps a Level 1-10 given to hosts based on criterias such as overall rating, but also consistency, longetivity, etc. may be a better system. Heck maybe make 'Superhost +1' and so on may do the trick, for lack of a better thought at the moment.

[Naomi91]

I never knew that you can ask Airbnb to keep your superhost status if you cancel for a good reason. I have had 2 occasions over the past 1.5 years when I couldn’t  host the guest (one due to my mum passing away suddenly). Both times I contacted the guest and explained the situation and arranged for them to stay in a local hotel, and just took the financial hit. My thinking was I would get a decent review for not abandoning them altogether and keep my superhost status, both of which would be worth it in the long run

also, as someone who travels quite a bit, the thought of my accommodation provider contacting me a few days before my travels to say I couldn’t come, fills me with dread! I think that we will 

[Yoav4]

I don't think that changing the requirement of 80% 5 stars rating to 90% will make the difference.

[Bernard37]

@Yoav4 all do respect it will definitely make some difference!! Hosts will have to work harder at creating a pleasant stay and those achieving 80-89% 5 star ratings won't make the cut so technically it will limit the amount of hosts achieving Superhost status. but if you are saying thats not the total answer then I agree with you! I am just trying to start a conversation on a way to make it fair for everyone but the title of Superhost shouldn't be so easily obtained. Some people just aren't cut out to be hosts and they dont realize that they aren't so "Super" sorry I just believe strongly that The title needs to be earned and only the hosts who go out of their way for their guests should be rewarded. Not everyone gets a trophy. sorry if that sounds bad I dont mean it to just sharing my thoughts. Kindly Bernard

[Anonymous]

I've never found the Superhost designation to be a helpful feature as a guest, and it doesn't do anything for hosts except create status anxiety. I'm sure the folks at Airbnb believe it motivates higher performance standards, but there are plenty of ways to incentivize commitment and quality without artificially creating a two-tiered class system. 

For the same reason, I'm ill at ease with the idea of adding more degrees or achievement rankings. These would have a demoralizing effect on the hosts who are great but still occupy a lower "status," And for guests, it would be confusing and in no way conducive to finding the listing best suited to their individual needs. I do think hosts who are consistent with honoring bookings, responding to inquiries, and earning positive reviews should float to the top of guests' searches, but Airbnb insists that they already do.

[Bernard37]

@Anonymous sorry Andrew I have to respectfully disagree. Many of my guests have told me they either found me searching with the Superhost filter or in the end they chose me partly because of my superhost status. Hotels have star ratings for a reason..so people could have the ability to choose a level of quality and service. It's the same with Airbnb. Whatever your market is higher or lower end (housing/amenities) you still have the ability to earn a superhost badge depending on how you choose to host. The biggest reason for the Superhost badge is to incentize hosts to step up their game which is a benefit to all hosts and the reputation of Airbnb. Just my opinion. Respectfully Bernard

[Yoav4]

@Bernard37

I think that increase the number of minimum trips from 10 to 15,20 or more will do a bigger impact. Having at least 10 on last year is enough as long as it's not just 10 trips in total.