Do you include a message when you decline a reservation request?

[Inna22]

Twice now I have had a situation when I have emailed a potential host asking how far they are from a certain landmark, and instead of their responding, they just declined reservation request. I wasn’t even actually asking to reserve, I just went through contact host button. None of these places were more than 10–20 minutes according to the big bubble but I just wanted to confirm. I’m wondering if there is something wrong with my profile and hosts don’t want to rent to me or if there are other circumstances and they just don’t want to rent to anyone. 

[Fred13]

Many hosts do get nervous hosting other hosts, I have notice.

I have never declined a reservation, but rely on the fact I do spell out (I believe in no uncertain terms), who we rather host via our description.

P.S. And hello Inna, trust things are going well for you in such a tricky year.

[Inna22]

@Fred13 @How are you? Weren’t you setting up another Island? And by difficult year do you mean our elections, our crime or something else?

[Fred13]

Some places are indeed upside down, but the gyro of life in time will once again start working. 🙂

On the 2nd island; I self-corrected because I realized I no longer have the energy to start anew on a 2nd project, so shifted and improved my first island to make it more profitable (from 2-4 guest to 6-8) and take the time to smell the roses.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Inna22 Apart from one cleanliness poor review in 2022 I can see no reason why you would be rejected other than the fact your name has changed between the earlier and later reviews. 

[Beth80]

@Inna22 

I think it is very rude and unprofessional not to respond to messages like yours. I constantly get asked how far from my house to somewhere else. At times I have to restain myself from asking if they don't have Google maps, but to be fair since most of these people will be on foot being on the wrong side of the bubble could mean another half kilometer walk. 

[Inna22]

@Beth80  that’s exactly it. My daughter is a competitive fenster so often I need to decide between a Hotel connected to the Convention center or an airbnb that must be close enough for us to walk with the equipment. Some smaller towns are also not walkable at all 

[Frances3408]

@Inna22. Maybe these hosts dont live in the area so dont actually know ! 😉

OR maybe their business model is such that they just want to get the bookings and not be a good host by answering questions.

Either way I think each booking needs to make a human connection between guest and host to be successful. You probably are better off when they dont reply.

Just my 2 cents.