@Danielle1731We have been having trouble with this since last spring/summer. You have to request a catagory through "Elevate" then wait. Then wait and wait some more. The airbnb instructions say they will send you an e-mail to let you know if you are accepted or rejected. They don't. You have to go into where your catagories are and check. Then go to elevate where you will see what catagories they have rejected and which ones are pending. When I requested to be in the surf catagory,they removed me from the beach catagory. At one point last summer I wasn't in any catagories. The 1 catagory I was rejected for was historic homes yet we are a historic home. We are a 4 minute walk to the beach and verified by airbnb. They had me listed as a 20 minute 🚗 drive last summer,that's when I first noticed it. I was in the beach catagory but then it disappeared. Coincidentally it was the worst we have ever done financially in 8 years.
I think more is going on that reflects low sales besides the "catagory" thing like @Mike-And-jane0 mentioned. However,when a guest searches for a beach listing and wants to be able to grab a towel and walk to the water,seeing it's a 20 minute drive is a deal breaker. It also makers me look like a liar in the guests eyes. There's no way to contact them,you cannot dispute it,you just wait for the all knowing AI to decide where your property is or what type. I just wanted you to know your not alone.
I had a rep tell me on the phone "the reason why we are not booking is because you don't have what guests want" Well,yes I agree. My guests want to be at the ⛱️ beach airbnb says I'm not! Listed as a 20 minute drive to get there & No beach catagory. I had what they wanted for 8 years,now I guess I don't according to the airbnb Rep. He did thank me for being a superhost. 😅 I'm currently listed as a 20 minute walk from the beach and pending for surf & Beach. I actually think the AI meant a 2 minute drive but can't seem to get it right. Google says it's a 2 min drive, I assume they take information from them among other sources.
Best of luck to you:)
By the way,once they reject your catagory,it will be grayed out,meaning you can't request it again.