Do I want to be an Airbnb Plus Host?

[Jill96]

Yes, but not under the conditions Airbnb will hold me to.

I am feeling very disillusioned about this.  I feel they are pushing hosts to attain unrealistic goals.  Bully tactics really to get you to accept anyone, under any circumstance and I feel they are being extremely harsh on hosts.  Hosts seem to get the short end of the stick as Airbnb earns more fees from the guest.

I hold "Superhost" status, however I am not eligible to join Host Plus as my "Acceptance rate" (which is not listed anywehere as far as I can see) is apparently 90% instead of 95%.  All my reviews are 5 star, 100% response rate etc. BUT I have declined 3 bookings in the past 12 months out of 28 possible bookings.  Two of them were fake bookings, one from a property management marketer wanting to add my listing to their portfolio, another from people wanting to fit loads of extra people in a one bedroom apartment specifically marketed for a maximum of two, and the third being a film crew of 6 students making a movie including all their lighting equipment and camera gear.

If you dont give a hoot about who stays in your home and you want to grovel to anyone and make their stay as wonderful as possible even if they may have their helicopter parked in your driveway, their football team staying over one of those nights, a porn movie being shot on Sunday and a pipe smoker in the bedroom because you only said no cigarettes.  Then good luck!

Unfortunately I feel like I'm been dragged into some kind of club were the further I get in the harder it is and the more I feel they are trying to control me to change, to conform and be part of it.  Quite frankly getting sick of it.

Lots of things have happened lately which really affect hosts negatively, such as hiding the surname of the prospective guest, reordering reviews to geographical order instead of chronological, the change in cancellation policies, lots of things which make a massive difference when Airbnb is your livelihood.

Hmmm, and next it's airlines and planes.  Bit over it ........

[Rebecca181]

@Jill96 I resonate strongly with all that you expressed in your OP. I made Super Host 30 days after I listed on Airbnb. I have out-performed my local 'competition' by 540% as of this last Airbnb 'report' I got  (yet still get notifications that I should lower my prices - I have a 100% occupancy rate since opening last May in a HIGHLY 'competitive' area); and yet, I feel that my efforts as Super Host have done very little to benefit me or my listing (which is an important source of income), i.e., I have never seen my listing featured at the top of a results page and I imagine not many travelers use the 'Super Host' feature. My high Occupancy rate has come from a tremendous amount of consistent effort on my part and my marketing knowledge as a former VP of Marketing in Silicon Valley. And this is likely true of most all Super Hosts who are not part of a property management firm - They are successful by their own efforts, for the most part, without much marketing support from Airbnb.

So I felt very excited Feb 22 when Brian C. announced that Super Hosts would be recognized and valued in new and awesome ways. I eagerly looked forward to seeing Airbnb's new home (search) page last week, assuming that Super Hosts would be featured strongly and quite visibly in some fashion. What I saw instead was what is basically a gigantic billboard for 'Airbnb Plus'. I had to scroll so far South to find the 'Stay With a Super Host' section (it is 'featured' after 6 or 7 other categories, such as 'Homes Around The World' and 'Experiences') that my hand and wrist got tired trying to find it. And when I went in to do do test searches as if I was a traveler, I saw several user interface issues that greatly concerned me, which I won't elaborate on here. Let's just say that if Airbnb Plus is not available in the area a traveler is searching in, every single home in any search result would appear to be an Airbnb Plus home - There is no notice saying 'We're sorry, Airbnb is not in your desired location as of yet'. My partner, who is a PhD Chemist and did a Post Doc at Stanford got so lost on this new Home page doing a 'pretend' search that he gave up in disgust (he kept being routed back to the Home page, for some reason, and couldn't ever get results for the location he wanted). 

Having 'Categories' is a great idea. But not when you only roll out two of the categories and these two categories eliminate many, many hosts- including Super Hosts. I have sound reasons for not having children under 12 at my place (for their own safety), so I am not featured in the Family Category. I AM in the 'Work category', but please, somebody tell me, why on earth would someone come to stay at my BEACH VACATION rental and use the 'Work' category as a filter?

My head hurts from trying to fathom all of the many changes that have been thrown at us hosts this past week. I see my bookings already going DRAMATICALLY down since 2/22 and I now realize that the fantastic partnership I had with Airbnb may have already peaked, and is possibly over. I have no doubt that with continued hard work and smart marketing strategies that my Cottage rental will be successful with or without Airbnb. But I genuinely enjoy and appreciate being a part of this community, and my preferred 'customer' is an Airbnb one, and we are a really good match for their (former) platform. Just seems we may not fit into it now, given that Airbnb Plus is unlikely to ever be available in my rural beach area; and even if it were, my days of being a 'Slave to The (Corporate / IPO-driven) Machine are long past over. I work for myself these days, and partner with others. I am not owned by them. And Airbnb does not own my home, and I will only bend so far to accomodate their IPO-driven vision. I will not sell my soul in hopes of still being thrown a few crumbs or the sloppy left-overs from their 'new and improved', preferred 'host', Airbnb 'Plus'.

[Jill96]

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for your reply.  I know exactly how you feel.  I have really tried hard as a host to make sure I am at the top of my game.  I can beat the pants off a 5 star hotel but I just can't beat the weird and wonderful Airbnb systems and all it's penalties!

You are right I wouldn't sell my soul either.  I value what I have and offer to my guests too much.

I was aware of the Plus scheme last year as a home I set up and managed on behalf of an overseas owner was chosen in the pilot programme! 

I worried that as just a regular Airbnb, especially in the area in which I live which is a major tourist area and highly competitive, I will disappear into the ether once the Plus scheme is introduced.  However to be able to maintain it even if I got it would be near impossible unless I sold my soul.  

I have absolutely loved being an Airbnb Host for the past 18months and have sung its praises to one and all.  However over the past few months I have really felt things have changed so quickly and none of those massive changes have been explained or pointed out to hosts until we have found these things ourselves.  

One of the strangest things is this geographical order for reviews.  If you have one npot so great guest review from for example Canada, it may have been 2 years ago and you haven't had anymore Canadian visitors. All Canadians looking at your accommodation will see that review as the top review.  No matter how much you have done to improve your listing.  You may have even added another room or renovated, added new beds and linen, this wont be reflected.  As reviews are shown by local geographical areas first.

I am looking at listing on other platforms also.  As I don't feel as confident in the systems they have in place anymore.  Even the staff on the phones can't keep up.  Poor things!

Thanks for the chat.  Best of luck!

[Rebecca181]

@Jill96 It is the oddest thing - I have not received any notifications to this comment of mine, and some others, so I just saw your response today. I did want to say that one thing I did to help my listing overcome this bizarre review-ordering strategy (my own listing expanded from a one floor 480 sf suite to a 3 story, 1435 sf entire home) is use up some of that critical real estate space in the summary to alert people that the 'suite' is now a large cottage. I had to do this, because when I did a search on my listing on my mobile phone, the reviews that came up under it were ALL several months old and calling my listing it's old name and saying it was a 'lovely little space' and things like that. Here is what I did, in case it sparks ideas for you - And best of luck to you, as well! - Rebecca

'Heceta Beach Vacation Cottage (formerly 'Sapphire Sands') has expanded! All 3 stories of this enchanting 1435 sf Cedar-Shingle home w/ kitchenette are now available for your stay. Nestled on 1/3rd acre just 300 feet from the shore, the Cottage is a two minute walk from public beach access and local eateries and a 10 minute drive to town. An ideal choice for couples or a small group of friends seeking stylish accommodations in a beautiful, serene setting. Great place to reconnect, unwind, and relax!'

[Donna51]

@Rebecca181, Sorry. The app is acting weird. I was just curious what marketing efforts you're doing to augment your listing. Appreciate it. 🙂

[Rosemarie9]

Hi Jill, I am a northern beaches girl living in Ireland. I feel completely frustrated with the way airbnb is going also and I am now going on other platforms. Like your area, I am in a very tourist based town. Airbnb are no longer the site they started as and I now just see them as another booking site like booking.com. Are you able to diversify and join other sites? I have decided to concentrate on listing my whole home in the future due to my unhappiness with airbnb support on the phone, other hosts here are finding that renting rooms attracts a lot of the more difficult new guests, that I don't feel are educated with the whole house sharing concept. For me whole house rental means much more money for less trouble and I can stay in my studio or be close by in case of trouble. I refuse to sell my soul to the site when they cannot even solve the software and support issues everyone has been complaining about for ages. I hate being forced to put instant book on just to appear anywhere near the top of a search. Superhost means nothing.

Hope you have success with other options and stay strong.

Rose

[Danny21]

I couldn't agree more. AirBnB is NOT what it used to be, doesn't treat the Hosts how they used to/SHOULD be and the Hosts are becoming the victims.

AirBnB are NOTHING without us and yet they treat us like battery chickens.

I feel less and less connected and valued the more ridiculous things they bring into effect.

[Stephanie215]

Hi Jill 

I have been a part of Airbnb Plus since its launch in Sydney (Feb this year). I have just asked to opt out of the pilot program as it has not been at all successful for me. I have spent excessive amount of time responding to requests that were not relevent to my property (free accom, guests with large dogs, guests with small children, guests with more numbers than the apartment can accommodate, requests for less nights than my minimum required stay, requests for photo shoots, requests for a stay of a few hours to sit around the fire pit only etc). Previously I had 1 or 2 mis matched requests per year compared to 5+ a week since joining Plus program. I believe this is occuring because on the new look listing page' there is a portal for communicating with the host. However, when I recieve the communication it comes to me as a booking request which means my amount of 'declines' has escalated greatly. Airbnb provided free of charge the new look photographs which are not complimentary to my property. Hosts have very limited ability to change or edit anything of importance on the new platform. Most importantly of all I have not had any bookings despite charging exactly the same nightly rate as I was last year (when I was fully booked). Each time I have spoken with Airbnb regarding my concerns - it was suggested I reduce my price or reduce my cancellation policy or reduce my 2 night minimum stay. These changes have made no difference. The nightly rate of my property has definitely gone up - but only because Plus charge the guest a higher % as well as the host. We were unable to view the photographs taken prior to launch of our new look page. My listing had only 5 star reviews and I already offered ALL the comforts of a 5 star boutique hotel. 

So - please do not feel you are missing out on something great by not being in the Plus program. I was assured I could opt out at any time if I was unhappy. Guess what, it appears this is also more complicated than promised. My request has been made. Lets see how long it takes to get my old listing re-instated. Stay tuned. 

[Jill96]

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks so much for your message.  Wow!  I did wonder about all of that.  I had no idea that you have no control over photos and page format etc.  Also I didn't realise that the fees are higher in both directions.

I have been contacted since writing this post with regards to joining the Plus programme but you have now convinced me that I should just stick to the way things are. 

It seems that joining the program removes total control as a host of your own listing.

Thanks so much for sharing that.

Best of luck!

[Danny21]

I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people will agree with me on this.

MY home, MY rules.

AirBnB are only out to look after themselves.

If we refuse to use their stupid extras like Instant Book and Superhost + then they will have to listen - at some point (we hope).

[Matthew285]

@Stephanie215 did you get a chance to preview what your listing would look like as a Plus listing before it went live as a Plus listing?

I was reading through the Plus requirements, pushed the wrong button, and inadvertently requested to join the Plus program. They are coming out to look at the place and take photos soon. If they approve the listing, does the host have a last chance to see what their listing would look like before they choose to go Plus? How does that part of the process work?

[Stephanie215]

Hi Matthew in my experience I was asked to upgrade a few things (after the photos were taken before the listing was launched). The only way to read the list was to download the app on phone (not available on laptop) - all of the items on this list were actually already supplied but somehow missed by the photographer (garbage bags, salt and pepper, tea, frypan) each of the items were out on display shelf or benchtop rather than in the pantry cupboard so perhaps this was how they were missed??? I was then required to photograph all the so called missing requirments and upload each pic via the app to prove they were supplied. I was sent the new listing page without pics in order to fill in info (starting from scratch). Unlike normal listings each section of information is limited to a very small number of characters. There is a program which asks you 5 key questions about your listing and from your responses it formulates your listing headline. The editors may alter this headline fractionally based on various inclusions/ammenities you supply. (ie the editors included "with fire pit" to my headline). Once you are sent the pics (on launch day) you have very little input for alteration. Basicslly you can only delete photos you dont like. You are unable to change the hero shot selected by the editors. Other weird additions were made to my listing (ie the sofa is a sofa bed but I deliberately do not advertise this as I only wish to have 2 guests not 4 in the apartment but the photographer obviously noted it was a sofa bed so the headline included "2 beds" and I could not edit that out either. Hope this helps. I would not have been as deeply concerned about any of these issues if the results of the new listing had been rewarding or even the same as it had been - instead it has been terribly disapointing.

[Achim-and-Shubha0]

Not happy with the Plus program enrollment.  The photo angles and lighting look cold and impersonal.  The structure of the home layout page is not flexible, so is misleading for guests and frustrating for hosts.  We took our own photos recently and saw an increase in enquiries, so we are not sure if changing the photos/enrolling in Plus is the right thing to do.  Does anyone know if we can still keep our old listing  if we join Plus (i.e. they are seen as two separate listings under two separate categories)?

[Peggy111]

 HI 🙂 when you opted out of airbnb plus did it all just go back to your original listing with original reviews and everything? 🙂

THankyou! 

[Donna51]

@Rebecca181 Hey Rebecca, Appreciate your insights and the details you shared. I'm curious - what marketing efforts are yo, other than the content in your listing profile?