The "new" host review form for guests to rate hosts

[Timothy19]

I just saw this on a FB hosting group and was shocked at how tedious this process has gotten for guests. I have several comments and questions.

1. Is this standard for ALL guests of ALL properties, or is this just aimed at select guests of select listings in order to verify the listing amenities, etc? This is literally 10 pages of questions (on mobile at least). 10 pages!

2. If this is standard practice now, well, wow. Does ABB expect guests to go through this whole thing every stay? ABB is pushing owners to get reviews get reviews get reviews....and then makes the get review process this cumbersome? I wouldn't be surprised if guests stop leaving reviews.

3. The entire "compares to your expectations" part seems like it will actually make the rating system WORSE than it was before. Guests already had trouble with ABB's interpretation of what 5 stars meant. We had owners pushing for 5* because ABB treated 4* like a bad rating. Now this new system looks even MORE geared to getting low ratings. Imagine you have a listing that just looks stunning....all the amenities in the world....picture perfect. The guest stays there with HIGH expectations and the owner delivers. "About the same as expected". That looks like a 3* rating equivalent. Even "better than expected" would only get this incredible listing a 4* equivalent rating.

----------- I think AirBnB just made their rating system WORSE!

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Timothy19 You are absolutely correct! If all guests need to answer so many questions many will stop leaving reviews.It looks like Airbnb is trying to divide and rule each and every host case by case.This is not a review system this looks more like a profiling procedure.Thank you for sharing this and happy hosting!!!

[Claudiu-Nicolae0]

@Timothy19

I was unpleasantly surprised when my guests showed me this. The worst thing is that for the superhost status AirBnb requires a certain % of Trips reviewed by Guests. And at the same time they made the review process so comlicated, that the guests don't want to go through it. I have only 44% of requiered 50%, I suppose, that I will never be a superhost again :))))

[Syl11]

@ Claudiu ....It actually won't bother me if i lose it .......its a fry pan!

[Claudiu-Nicolae0]

@Syl11It doesn't bother me at all. I just think, that hosts status shouldn't depend on something that they can't control. 

[Andrea1375]

How new is this new guest review process?  I ask because I was steadily receiving reviews from my guests until about a month or so ago.  At that point...crickets!  In fact, the last guest that reviewed me, I sent a short, sweet message to her saying that I hoped she got home uneventfully - we hoped she thoroughgly enjoyed her stay- if she did please leave a review - hope to host her again in the future.  At that point sh eonly had two days left to leave a review, she did leave the review later that day.  Great, right?  Well, the last set of ladies, two days left and still no review.  This is particularly frustrating because they booked it as a girls getaway for a friends recent engagement.  So, I left a cute chalk board sign welcoming the future bride and a bottle of champagne...now no review.  Out of the last 5 or 6 guests...two have reviewed.  It's increibly frustrating given the importance of a hosts reviews on their listing - both to guests and to Airbnb.  There should be more of an incentive for guests to review, like loss of instant booking or the like.  

[Sarah977]

@Andrea1375   I saw this new review system about the 3rd week in June, when a friend I was staying with, who is also a host, but had stayed as a guest, showed it to me on her computer screen. We hosts are just going to have be creative in informing all our guests as to how the reviews affect hosts- especially considering that Airbnb requires hosts to have a certain percentage of their guests leave reviews.

[Andrea1375]

Well, that sounds about the right time then.  There goes our reviews!  Thanks Airbnb! Ugh

[Letti0]

@Andrea1375 & @Sarah977  Actually it started in May that was when I first saw it with a guest on May 12th. 

[Ryan111]

Yes, this is stupid.  Especially when we need to always get 5 stars.

[Fred13]

Unbelievably complicated and lacks total organization.  It is bewildering how such a big company like Airbnb, ortentimes thinks so 'small'.

[Rebecca181]

Pishaw, @Fred0: Airbnb does not think "small" - They think INFINITELY. 

(And don't you forget it!)

[Andrea9]

Oh, and if you're wondering what happens when fat finger guest mistypes what they loved most you might find yourself suddenly being lauded for breakfast when you never even have 😮

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Home-Highlights/m-p/780703#M187507

[Cor3]

What about the original idea of design for trust?

Why is there no clear help page, explaining the whole process and what they do with the information gathered? It really is incredible, hosts just having to learn about these changes by accident. And a change to something so important as reviews, is gradually and silently being introduced by Airbnb.

Trust with me, also stands for honesty and openness (Say what you do and do as you say).

It is clear, that once Airbnb has an idea. They won’t quickly let go!

I.e.: The introduction of the 48 hour grace period, the requirement of basic amenities.

And in the case, they do give in. There is always some sort of a remark: It is no longer required, but we strongly suggest it. This whole renewed review process is another classic example.

When we say, that our accommodation has a kitchen, then it has a kitchen! Because if we didn’t have a kitchen, we would be downgraded by our guests anyway – in due time! So why is there a need to get this (optionally) confirmed by guests? It sometimes makes me think, whether those decision makers, actually have any clue what this business really is about.

Maybe in the future, you can no longer select the amenities yourself. You can only request them to be added. And they will only be added to your amenity list, once they have been confirmed by at least a number of guests?

Furthermore I get the strong impression, Airbnb actually wants to lower the amount of Superhosts, rather than to increase this amount. A couple of months ago, I saw an article by Airdna. In which they claimed, it was actually harder to NOT become a Superhost, than to become one (once you met the minimum number of trips per year hosted).

The change from 80% 5-star reviews to a 4,8 review rate on average. Is already another sign into this direction. As now for at least 80% of all Superhosts, it will only take 1 bad review – and that badge will be ripped of your chest for at least a year.

[Sally221]

And I stopped putting flowers in the rooms after  a couple of folks mentioned that they triggered allergies, oops!

[Rebecca160]

@Sally0 I had not considered allergies when putting flowers in the guest room! Will stop that practice.