Looking to learn more about Airbnb? You’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive article contains answers to all of your questions about Airbnb, from payment and cancellation info to a review of Airbnb’s top competitors. Whether you’re considering listing a property on Airbnb or searching for information to help your existing business, keep reading for our full overview of Airbnb.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is an online marketplace that offers a range of accommodations and activities around the world. The company began in San Francisco in 2008 when the founders listed their living room air mattress online as an “Airbed and Breakfast.” Considering the expensive (and often fully booked) hotels in the Bay Area, the idea was a hit. Airbnb now includes over 7 million listings worldwide and has a valuation of $26 billion as of April 2020.
People who list places to stay on Airbnb are called “Hosts,” and you don’t need to be a hospitality professional to do so. Hosts can list nearly any type of accommodation, including shared rooms, private rooms, entire homes or apartments, and even hotel rooms. Some Airbnb hosts host as a hobby, perhaps renting out a guest house or a spare room in their apartment, while some professional hosts have turned their Airbnb listings into thriving businesses, managing hundreds of properties at a time.
Airbnb uses a review system to foster trust between hosts and guests. After each stay, guests review their host and the property, and the host reviews the guest. Both reviews are posted publicly. Properties that receive consistent negative reviews will be taken off the site.
Higher-end properties with a track record of good reviews may be invited to join Airbnb Plus, a collection of Airbnb’s “best of the best.” Properties can also join collections like “Airbnb for Families” and “Airbnb for Work” if they have amenities relevant to a certain type of guest. In addition to places to stay, the site also offers Airbnb Experiences, which are tours or activities run by locals, such as cooking classes, walking tours, or guided outdoor adventures.
What do people think about Airbnb?
While Airbnb has become a household name over the last few years, the company receives mixed reviews from hosts and travelers on sites like Consumer Affairs (here) and Trustpilot (here), with an average rating around 1.5 out of 5 stars as of April 28, 2020.
Positive reviews from guests mention good customer service, quick refunds, and friendly hosts.
Negative reviews from hosts and guests mention issues with unclear policies and unreliable customer service, especially regarding refunds.
Hosts also say that Airbnb guests are not always respectful and that Airbnb does not offer much help with filing damage reports.
Where can I find forums about Airbnb?
Hosts around the world participate in forums to share best practices, get advice, and troubleshoot issues. Airbnb’s official forum is the Community Center, where you can find discussions on everything from company updates and cancellation policies to home decor and technology like keyless locks and security cameras. The Community Center also has a section where hosts can find and organize in-person meetups with other hosts in their area. With hundreds of thousands of active users, original posters typically receive very fast responses to their messages, sometimes within minutes.
Besides the official forum, hosts can engage in discussions on unofficial forums like Airhosts Forum, which has over 13,000 members who are mostly property owners or managers. Most posts in this forum pertain directly to hosting but are not always related to Airbnb.
Airbnb FAQs
Wondering about some specifics? Let’s answer a few commonly asked questions about Airbnb.
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Does Airbnb charge a commission? Yes, Airbnb charges a “host service fee” of 3% for most listings in conjunction with a “guest service fee” around 10-14%. A higher host service fee applies to Airbnb Plus listings and listings that use the strictest cancellation policy. For hotel listings, Airbnb charges a commission between 14% and 20% with no guest service fee.
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Does Airbnb collect taxes? Airbnb collects tax from guests and remits taxes to local authorities in many regions. Check out Airbnb’s tax collection page for the most up-to-date information.
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Is there an Airbnb mobile app? Airbnb has both iOS (here) and Android (here) apps.
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What is a Superhost? You may have noticed the Superhost badge on some host photos or a “Superhost” tag in the search results. Airbnb recognizes hosts who provide high-quality service. Qualifications for Superhost status include:
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90% response rate to guest messages
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Less than 1% of stays cancelled by the host
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Guest review score of at least 4.8/5
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Host at least 10 stays per year
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