Airbnb is essentially an online marketplace
for people to rent spare rooms and properties to
guests.
Airbnb guests tend to expect hosts to be more sociable and appreciate more personal
interaction than typical hotels offer.
Hosts are charged a very low booking fee of 3%.
Advantages and disadvantages of Airbnb
Pros
- The platform supports the homestay experience and rental of spare rooms.
- Streamlined payment process: guests are charged instantly on booking. The money remains with AirBnB and the payment is released to you as the host business 24 hours after the guest check-in.
- They guarantee 24/7 support & assistance to users and offer an online community of experienced hosts to help with questions.
- Very low booking fee for hosts: 3%
- Screening and the acceptance of guests is supported: based on their profile and reviews, prospective guests can be rejected. Every guest and every host must review eachother every time. This makes Airbnb an excellent option for a homestay business: you can know in advance who the customer is and whether you are likely to be comfortable having them in your home.
Cons
- Airbnb is not as widely known or trusted by the older generation.
- As guests need to pay when they make a booking, they may prefer to use OTA’s like Booking.com that offer late cancellation and payment on departure.
How to list on AirBnB
To list your accommodation or service, go to airbnb.com and select 'Host a home' or 'Host an experience'.For step-by-step instructions see: How to create a listing on Airbnb.
Summary
- Airbnb is an online marketplace for people to rent spare rooms and properties to guests.
- Very low booking fee for hosts: 3%
- The majority of its users consist of the younger generation who are more willing to try the Airbnb experience.
- Both guest and host review eachother. This means that you, as a tourism business, can screen potential customers in advance and reject their booking if you have concerns.