Airbnb, the popular vacation rental platform, has made several changes to improve the user experience, including a new requirement for hosts to display check-out instructions for renters, a total price display, and the removal of listings with repeatedly low ratings due to excessive and unreasonable requests. The company has also launched a new feature called Airbnb Rooms, which offers travellers an affordable alternative to renting an entire property, allowing them to connect with host residents and experience a city as a local.
Airbnb Rooms includes more than one million curated private bedroom listings and access to shared spaces like kitchens and living rooms, costing travelers at least 80% less than entire private rentals on the platform. The new feature offers a host passport that enables guests to get to know their hosts before booking and includes more privacy features, like bedroom locks and private bathrooms. The company has also introduced filter categories so that users can narrow down listings based on specific criteria.
To further enhance transparency, Airbnb has implemented transparent check-out instructions so that guests can view a host’s checkout instructions before booking. Additionally, hosts who have repeatedly received poor ratings due to unreasonable checkout rules could face suspension of their listings.
In addition to Airbnb Rooms and enhanced filters, Airbnb plans to continue its expansion into longer-term rentals with a new “rooms” tab that will make it easier for users to book a stay in a spare room, and a “months” tab that will facilitate longer stays. To help make travel more affordable, guests in Canada and the US can now pay for trips in four instalments over a six-week period.
Despite these changes, Airbnb has faced criticism from users on social media after a host in Corpus Christi, Texas, posted an extensive set of rules that included penalties of $500 for a missing kitchen knife and $50 per missing item of silverware. The guest also must throw out their garbage before checkout with a penalty of $2,000 per extra required bag. Although these fees are considered unreasonable, Airbnb indicated that it would not enforce them.
Amidst growing demand for budget travelling, Airbnb is looking to attract budget travelers globally, especially after the pandemic hit the travel industry hard. Inbound demand for Airbnb climbed in line with the growth of hybrid and remote working as people took longer trips for work. With over 80% of private rooms on the platform available for less than $100 per night, Airbnb is hopeful that its new features will be well-received by one and all.
Ansel Troy, an Airbnb host in California, confirmed Airbnb’s ability to draw income through the platform. With two tiny homes in Oakland that are rented out on Airbnb, Troy has achieved significant success, earning upwards of his initial investment. He attributes his success partly to the algorithm used by the platform and its travellers’ affinity for tiny homes.
Despite the success of Airbnb, the platform has faced criticisms from users over the years. Critics have accused the company of taking one step closer to commercialization by prioritizing brand trust with Airbnb Plus. To protect its reputation and stand out in the marketplace, the company has prioritized brand trust with Airbnb Plus, a service marketed towards travellers with a little more money to spend on accommodation. Hosts applying for the service must pay a $149 application fee but get priority in search listings and the opportunity to sell their rentals at a higher rate.
Airbnb’s new features and updates are set to roll out this week, with hosts given early access to them. Despite the concerns regarding the platform’s commercialization, Airbnb remains a popular platform for travellers looking for affordable accommodations.
