Hi Sandra, it wasn't the type of tag you mention where you get tick boxes to choose it was more of a signpost. So mine tags were along the lines - guest liked this place because it had free parking, wifi, kitchen, easy to commute etc.; there were a few more some of which I can't remember now. Most of these options already existed in the filter box and could be used as a search option, so it was more like emphasising them with a statement above the initial basic description of the listing.
Most of mine were fine because it was already what I had included in my description/ amenities but there were some like, it's a hip area or tourist area. Whilst tourist area might be OK I don't want a hip area as might attract the wrong guests for my accommodation. I would imagine tags such as ‘HIP’ although not a specific quality, would appeal more to younger travellers and/ guests who like a ‘happening area’ perhaps some parting, late nigh bars so more of a drinking culture, lots of hang out areas. This is totally fine but I've made the effort to dissuade guests with specific interests as such from my accommodation and have a preference for a more laid back type of guest, so such a tag does not help.
I read about this somewhere on Airbnb a few months back. I believe that in addition to Airbnb’s research, guests would be presented with a few tags to confirm what they liked about the property / area and this would be combined to provide a representation of the area to assist future guest chose locations they prefer to stay in.
Some of my queries regarding this approach of tagging would be –
- That these are not compulsory but based on guests voluntary choice to provide such information, if I had 10 guests and only one completed this additional section it is not a fair representation. I appreciate Airbnb might collate a group of such feedbacks but how do you define the boundaries of such location also, most guests are just that, guests, and don’t really know the area as well as the host does so to be given control of definition of location based on a short stay if a bit questionable.
- Since Airbnb put these tags on hosts listings, if a guest choses a listing on the basis of such a tag and on arrival, it does not meet the expectation of such an area i.e. ‘HIP’ , the guest will be understandably disappointed and most likely reflect it in their review rating – an unfair penalty on a host who had no choice in promoting the tag.
- Also what is 'hip' to one person isn't to the other person especially when you have a huge diversity with multiple interests.
There are a number of tags, some reasonable but some like the example I have picked on ‘Hip’ which I feel are not quite accurate so not facts, therefore should be left to the host to provide such information or each guests to discover for themselves.
I feel this particular brainchild was/is a combination of feedback and some random probably no associated Airbnb or sub-contractor’s view of the locality. Anyway, mine have disappeared, hopefully long term or maybe a bug, but a good bug this time 🙂
Ama
