SUGGESTION: Host-to-Host Exchange

[Cal-and-Colleen0]

Recently after hosting around 200 guests, my wife and I booked our first single night stay at a nearby location, and really enjoyed it. It gave me an idea of a feature that AirBnb could implement as an added bonus for hosts, that would not cost anything, but would make being an AirBnb host even more rewarding. The idea is to allow other Hosts to stay rent-free, in return for earning the equivalent amount of credit that you normally charge, which you could in turn use to book space for your personal use. Each host would be able to tag specific dates on the calendar as Host Exchange dates. The date remains open at full price unless and until another Host books it as a Host Exchange date. This might often be done very close to the date in question, if the space has not yet been booked, and you think the chances of it being booked at your regular rate are low. The Host who sees your listing (perhaps at the last minute) and wants to stay with you reserves the space. The only charge to anyone would be the regular AirBnb guest service charges. Perhaps they could waive the Host charge for this program? Also, you could set a limit (or there could be a built-in limit) to Host Exchange credits, so that your Credits and Charges to your Host Exchange account stay more or less balanced. In our case, we would love to have the option of looking around even at the last minute for places to stay that are within convenient driving distance and only have to pay the Guest service fee. And we would be happy to open our space to other Hosts when we have dates that don't look like they are going be booked. 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Cal-and-Colleen0 

are they from South Korea?

https://web.vreasy.com/airbnb-south-korea-cancellation/

[Cal-and-Colleen0]

I think maybe you replied to the wrong post.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Cal-and-Colleen0 

I found a few posts with the same topic - strict or flexible with a premium, maybe it will help ( I think it was the only beta and is not available anymore but if your guests booked while it was active then they can use it now... I suppose..)

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Strict-Cancellation-or-Flexible-with-a-Premium/td-p/8839...

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Beta-Allow-a-flexible-cancellation-policy-to-guests-at-a...

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Beta-7-flexible-cancellation-policy-and-strict-cancellat...

[Cal-and-Colleen0]

All of the usual rules and regulations, insurance, etc., would still apply. Any reason to believe that other hosts are WORSE behaved guests than a typical guest?

[Cal-and-Colleen0]

I'm not sure how your comments relate to my post. I am not reacting at all to the changes in cancellation policies.

[Emilia42]

@Cal-and-Colleen0 

Until a host trashes my place . . . for free . . . 

[Robin4]

@Cal-and-Colleen0 

Sorry, every host has a different way of hosting, and to me all this would do is lead to corner cutting!

I host to a quality, not a price, and the fact that I am not actually being paid, but being allocated some sort of nebulous credit is just not on.

There is no way I would want to be involved in a scheme like that. I do a reasonable amount of travelling as an Airbnb guest.....I currently have 4 upcoming Airbnb travel bookings. But there is no way I would expect a discount from the host. Running an STR cost what it costs, lets leave it at that!

Cheers........Rob 

[Cal-and-Colleen0]

Nothing nebulous about the credit at all!  And there is no discount. Its just plain barter, dollar-for-dollar, without cash trading hands. If you don't want to participate, you don't make any dates available for host-to-host exchanges. 

[Jeannie66]

I am a member of Home Exchange. I would much rather stay within the Airbnb platform. I think it would be a wonderful new opportunity for hosts to have the ability to offer their places to other hosts for points if they chose to do so or exchange locations if they chose. Maybe as an added bonus to Super Hosts? It could be a seamless transition to Airbnb, much easier than Home Exchange. 

[Lauren259]

I'd love to see a forum where hosts can do exchanges with other hosts while managing properties.  I was in negotiations with a woman from NZ to manage her airbnbs (2) while staying in her home for 3 weeks while she went on vacation.  I asked her whether she'd consider getting a cleaning service or pay me the cleaning fee collected (she has a 1 night minimum, and for 2 studios, each with private entrance/bath, that could be a LOT of cleaning).  Do you think that my request was unreasonable?  Anyway, I'm a superhost and would love to find an airbnb to manage for a few weeks this winter (Jan/Feb 2020) while managing.  Prefer Australia, NZ or Asia. 2-4 weeks.  Let me know if you want to trade or if you want to go on vacation and I'll stay and manage!

[Erik266]

Hi,

  I am also very interested in this idea... I've just written a reply to your post which seems to have disappeared in to the airbnb ether, so ill try to put this up before finishing my thoughts.   Again.

[Erik266]

HI... Ok,   ... The best vacation of my life was a series of home exchanges through Europe that sometimes included vehicles, and were mostly non - concurrent. So we were able to meet our exchange partners, some of them picked us up from the airport and vice versa, and we could provide and receive local knowledge. Its like greeting your paying guests on arrival, it makes for a far better experience for both host and guest.

  We found that it works best if both parties have a second home, I have a tiny house caretakers cabin on my property so there is a place to stay regardless of whether the main house is rented or not.

  There is no profit incentive for airbnb to get involved in setting up such a forum, but there is no question that the idea has potential. I'd invite any comments on other ways to accomplish the same goal. My primary travel destinations right now are in Southern Europe, but I would invite anyone who is interested in spending time in Canadas beautiful Gulf Islands to contact me.

   Cheers, Erik M

     Galiano Harbour View House