bookings

[Mary309]

After several years of sourcing bookings from various sites, in 2016 I didn't have a single airbnb booking, wondering why. I rarely get inquiries anymore, almost all of my bookings are coming from other sites and repeat guests. Did anyone else experience this phenom?

[Annette33]

yes, @Mary309 , a lot of other hosts are experiencing this. Go through the topics here in the forums and you'll find many more others who wonder about the same thing. Quite a few hosts attribute that to the newly promoted IB booking by Airbnb and fear that they are being pushed aside in favor of those hosts who have IB enabled. I personally am not so sure about that, I tend to think that the market is getting oversaturated wih new listings popping up by the minute. 

[Annette33]

@Mary309 , and I just checked your Austin listing: though I don't know what the pricing level is for other properties around you, my hunch is that a private room at $350 per night, for only 2 people, with 2 nights minimum and $100 cleaning fee is just a bit on the high side, and potential guests are bypassing you for more affordable lodging. 

[Mary309]

That is another listing that should be inactive and was only meant to be for festivals and yes indeed it rented for that during festivals. I have another one in Jackson Hole that does a roaring business, just not via airbnb. I did get one booking for February however absolutely nothing in all of 2016.

[Annette33]

@Mary309 , if it should be inactive, then how about making it inactive by snoozing it? do you know where that feature is?  I'd think a host looks good in the eyes of potential guests if all listings are up to date and taken care of. Good luck!

[David-Ronaldo-And-Mary0]

I'm experiencing the same thing, although my problem is not so extreme. All of the sudden we had a droping of inquiries and bookings from very busy to almost nothing. The following weeks and months are totally empty. 

[John498]

I was finding that bookings seem to be short notice. 5 years ago I got requests months in advance. Now most seem to be in the next month. A percentage of people who try and book don't seem to understand the booking system as they query the price or book for 1 guest and then state there are three of them. However, I am also finding that good properties are at a premium after AIRBNB introduced a 90 day limit on whole of propety rental so the cream of properties are quickly rising to the top!