Suddenly no bookings 2024

[Michele511]

I have 7 years of 5 star ratings in Santa Monica, California. Suddenly I had hardly anything in December ‘23, only one booking in January, one booking in March, then nothing at all. I’ve always been fully booked. I dont’ understand.

Is anyone else having this problem?

I would appreciate any insights!

[Elizabeth24]

I was really hoping this question was answered since it’s labeled as such. I have this problem as well, been on the platform for 10 years, over 300 reviews and nearly 100% booked the whole time. In the last 3 months zero bookings. I had 1,2 day booking, in January. From my understanding they are supporting new listings and hotels now and not prioritizing listings that have been on here forever with the belief that we wouldn’t change platforms, so they are focusing on just keeping new listings. They can’t give an answer other than to copy and relist the listing, revise the descriptions, move around photos - none of which have worked for me. What I noticed is that in typing in my city is that the scope is too wide and includes nearby city listings, so listings in other cities are coming up and mine is not. It’s not until I zoom in and play with the map that mine comes up which most people do not. It has never been like this before. It’s all in the map results and they are wonky at best. I would suggest everyone do this test to see if theirs is a mapped issue as well. Your listing should show up without a filter just by typing your city as it used to. I am waiting for an answer from engineering and if I get it I will come back here and report. It’s very disheartening to have years and years of hardwork be pulled out from under you all bc of new programming. They need to fix this. In the meantime I’m in the process of onboarding at Vrbo and I would suggest that to everyone here. It’s not until they start losing hosts that maybe they will realize things aren’t working well with whatever they did in November. Good luck everyone!

[Michele511]

@Elizabeth24   @Rebecca says she is monitoring this thread so hopefully sees the immense amount of Super Hosts with the same problem. It’s good you commented! All we can do keep the heat on, and maybe some will do what you are doing. I think some have done that and I haven’t heard if it’s any better. 

I have gotten a few bookings in February but I’m usually booked full until May or June by now. It’s very strange. There have been a number of theories as to why. I’m hoping we get something concrete. I’m diligent and patient!

😊 Michele511

[Joshua148]

Let’s not forget their “explore anywhere” category is pulling people in different directions to provide fresh travel ideas. Sounded like a great adventure for the guest, which i love seeing… However, diluting demand to new locations will dilute owner income and lead to fewer Airbnb’s per location.  It will take a few months for host to quit… maybe hold out through summer and close shop after busy season.

Consider that Blackrock/Wallstreet have entered the market and high profit for regular houses is now gone.  In fairness, it’s not often that a regular business product has been so successful as an Airbnb for the last 8 years. Hotels are also catching up with better consistent products. 

Different your product. You will have to work hard now; like a regular job.  I’m not sure what is the best solution, but I also found that it’s time to focus hard on cost cutting and fresh ideas.

[Michele511]

@Elizabeth24  P.S. I kept Rebecca’s answer as “answered” because I want people to know there is someone from Airbnb monitoring this thread. 

[Mary5479]

can’t agree more. the radius of search is too large and it doesn’t prioritize local listings. my booking rate is going down a lot too.

[Mary5479]

The radius of search is something really worth attention. It’s very weird. My listing won’t show up in the search results when they were 5 stars and search at this particular city. 

I can’t figure out how, and i am happy to see peer hosts asking similar questions. @Rebecca 

[Barbara2274]

Don't get your hopes up with a switch to VRBO. I list on both platforms and the exact same thing is happening on both of them. Bookings tanked after the first of the year and the summer months here in Florida that were always booked solid way ahead are totally empty.

I am not so sure it is only an Airbnb issue if it is happening at VRBO also.

[Michele511]

@Barbara2274 Makes sense. Though not as bad as the end of last year, prices and booking are down. At this point, I think people are being cautious with money. A lot of uncertainty in the world. 

[Joshua148]

Hi Michele,

As a multiple Airbnb owner/host, I’ve noticed the same in San Diego. 

My personal review, not backed by data, is that (1) inflation hurt the drive-in guest, (2) hotels are winning back customers, (3) Airbnb’s algorithm is offering huge advantages to lower price; so much so that they’ve ignored the hosts to save customers a few bucks and created a chain reaction of deal seekers and unhappy customers. 

With regards to the algorithm, search your local area WITHOUT dates. You will see that Airbnb offers different dates for different rentals; sometimes 2 different houses combine to a single trip. This is designed to save the guest money.  Meaning, the guest is now trained to be flexible on dates and they will get a great price.  

Sounds like a good plan? Well… I don’t think it’s good for hosts. Formerly consistent weekend revenues are no longer reliable.  Guests are able to drive the following weekend and find a gap in another house’s calendar. If they arrive Saturday morning for 2 nights instead of Friday for 3 nights, they can save 60%.  By making this ultra easy for guests to change their habits, hosts are left with much less revenues per trip. Host costs are the same, but profit plummets. It’s now a price war between hosts unless you have a differentiated property.  

Unless you have the exact perfect fit for the guest, the guest will use the algorithm to find the best rates (maybe not the best house) for whatever dates are open. Hosts lose. 

Airbnb thinks they are “increasing the guest pool”… but my opinion is that the new guest pool is trained to deal seek, ask for price reductions, complain during their stay and erode the host’s confidence in Airbnb.  In reality, Airbnb has created a complain culture that created upset guests and hosts. 

Bright side?  Accept longer stays for same price you used to get. Offer 1 or 2 extra nights free by setting up deals. Join the price war, you can’t fight it.  Consider the longer term math as many airbnbs will convert back to long term housing. I have converted 2 back this month, for example. Get in front of it and make changes until you see an impact.

Times will get better or perhaps your market is too saturated for your product. Economy 101 is supply and demand. Too many airbnbs and too few customers willing to pay. Glory days are over for Airbnb hosts. 

[Michele511]

@Joshua148  Thank you. Certainly another good insight. I am hoping it will ultimately shake out.

[Michele511]

@Joshua148  I will be listening to the earnings call and guidance on February 20. Maybe that will reveal something. It sounds like you have the mind for this sort of thing. If you listen, too, it could be helpful.

They became public a couple years ago and that changes everything, of course.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Michele511 we got one booking in January but February has brought 6 bookings in a weekend. I think (hope) people are recovering from Thanksgiving/Christmas spending and have waited until their January payday before they book a stay.

[Michele511]

@Mike-And-Jane0  Good to hear! I got some in February, too. After lowering my price. Did you have to lower your price? 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Michele511 we have lowered our near term prices but not the pricing further out in the year.

[Michele511]

Ditto. I also lowered the cleaning fee from $90 to $50