Airbnb Launches “Guest Favorites” Badges – Stopped Getting Airbnb Bookings? What to Do if You Don’t Have One!
Airbnb's latest "Guest Favorites" Badge may have far-reaching implications for many Airbnb hosts. Learn what you can do to protect your short-term rental business!
Airbnb’s New Guest Favorites Badge Could Be Hurting Your Short-term Rental Business
In the dynamic world of short-term rentals, Airbnb has long been a frontrunner, offering a platform for hosts to connect with travelers seeking unique accommodations. However, a recent update from Airbnb has introduced a pivotal change: the "Guest Favorites" badge. This new feature is causing a stir among hosts, raising concerns about its implications for the visibility and success of their listings.
The "Guest Favorites" Badge: A Lopsided Advantage for a Few
The introduction of the "Guest Favorites" badge marks a significant shift in Airbnb's operating model. Criteria for this badge include high guest ratings, numerous positive reviews, and a low rate of host cancellations. However, many operators have complained that even though their listing qualifies under these criteria, their listings haven’t received the badge. Unlike Airbnb’s long time Superhost status which clearly lays out the exact criteria to receive Superhost status, qualifying for the new “Guest Favorite” is murky at best
While ostensibly designed to enhance guest experience by highlighting top-performing listings, this badge has created a two-tier system within Airbnb's ecosystem. Approximately 2 million Airbnb listings have been awarded this badge, which equates to about 26% of Airbnb’s total supply, potentially putting the remaining 74% of hosts at a disadvantage. We delve into what this means for the average Airbnb host, especially those who have not received the badge.
The Impact on Host Visibility and Bookings
Hosts without the "Guest Favorites" badge face new challenges with visibility and booking rates. The new badge system could lead to a significant reduction in exposure for non-badged listings, potentially impacting their ability to attract guests.
As Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, says:
“with hotels you know what you’re going to get and with Airbnbs you don’t always know what you’re going to get”.
“I couldn’t imagine there are a lot of use cases where you wouldn’t want to book a Guest Favorites.”
Watch the time-stamped clip here.
What Brian Chesky is saying here is that if you don't have a Guest Favorites Badge then you shouldn’t expect any bookings.
The introduction of the "Guest Favorites" badge on Airbnb has created a distinguishable divide between listings with and without this accolade. Listings that have earned the badge tend to enjoy enhanced visibility on the platform, potentially leading to higher booking rates. This preferential visibility stems from Airbnb's algorithms that prioritize these listings in search results, making them more accessible to prospective guests. Conversely, non-badged listings may struggle to maintain the same level of exposure, which could lead to fewer bookings and reduced income.
Interestingly, this new badge system has also impacted Superhosts, who previously enjoyed a distinguished status. The "Guest Favorites" badge seems like it’s already overshadowing the Superhost designation, raising questions about the value and recognition of long-standing, consistently high-performing hosts. In a few tests to weigh the display priority of listings with the “Guest Favorites” badge versus those with a Superhost badge, there were more “Guest Favorites” listings on a page compared to Superhost listings and almost no listings without either of these badges. This is especially problematic for new Airbnb hosts, because if you don’t get any exposure then you likely won't get any bookings and can’t improve your ratings or reviews.
Host Reactions and Community Response
The Airbnb host community has shown a spectrum of reactions to the new badge system. Many express concerns regarding the fairness of the criteria used to award the "Guest Favorites" badge, fearing it might disproportionately favor certain types of listings or hosts. There is also apprehension about the potential decrease in bookings and income, especially for those who have not received the badge. Amidst these concerns, some hosts are focusing on improving their service quality and guest experience in hopes of achieving the badge. This includes enhancing their listings, being more responsive and accommodating to guest needs, and encouraging guests to leave positive reviews. The community's response underscores a broader conversation about the evolving dynamics of the platform and the need for adaptability among hosts.
Not Getting Any Bookings? What You Can Do if You Don’t Have an Airbnb “Guest Favorites Badge”
The introduction of Airbnb “Guest Favorites” Badges is a reminder that overreliance on a single platform could disrupt your entire business. In effect, one update can change the game.
So what can you do if you don’t have an Airbnb Guest Favorites Badge and see your bookings on the decline?
For Airbnb hosts without the "Guest Favorites'' badge, diversification is key. In fact, every Airbnb host should consider reducing their reliance on Airbnb by way of adding more booking channels. Adding new booking channels including a direct booking strategy could both save an Airbnb business and also take it to new heights. Not only are direct bookings more profitable, but they insulate you from policy and platform changes like the one discussed in this blog post.
Don’t believe us? Just read this Business Insider article on why the Robinsons, a couple with 22 active listings, bringing in $1.3 million annual revenue, are opting for direct bookings over Airbnb.
How Can You Get Started with Direct Bookings?
The easiest way to do this right is to create a free Dtravel Direct account.
With Dtravel Direct, you can create directly bookable listings or a complete direct booking site and distribute your listings through Dtravel’s direct distribution network, which includes channels like Google Vacation Rentals. Best of all, it’s free to get started with Dtravel. Learn more how you can get more bookings for your Airbnb properties with Google Vacation Rentals here.
Dtravel is a peer-to-peer vacation rental ecosystem focused on accelerating the global adoption of direct bookings. Instead of creating a marketplace like Airbnb, Dtravel provides the infrastructure for Airbnb hosts to start, run and grow their direct booking business. In addition, Dtravel will soon release a product suite for travelers to easily discover any vacation rental listing in the world that can be booked directly with owners and operators.
So what can you do with Dtravel? Airbnb hosts who create a Dtravel Direct account can get started with direct bookings in a few ways:
- Create a directly bookable listing and distribute this listing through Dtravel’s direct booking distribution network
- Take your business to the next level by creating a free, easy-to-launch professional direct booking website. Build your brand with marketing or simply access Dtravel’s distribution channels like Google Vacation Rentals to start getting direct bookings.
The best part about using Dtravel is that your business is your business. Payments are made from the guest to the operator, which means you never have to worry about withheld or delayed payments.
Conclusion: The Future of Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals
In conclusion, Airbnb's latest update is a significant development with far-reaching implications for hosts and the short-term rental market. While it aims to enhance guest experience, it presents new challenges for hosts, particularly those without the “Guest Favorites” badge. The long-term effects of this update remain to be seen, but one thing is clear - if you’re not reducing your reliance on Airbnb, then you might be the one left standing in an inch of water when the tide goes out.
One of the best ways to protect your business from uncertainty is to take matters into your own hands and become self-sufficient through direct bookings. Dtravel is a peer-to-peer vacation rental ecosystem, focused on accelerating the global adoption of direct bookings. If you still haven’t started growing your direct booking business then what are you waiting for?
Begin getting more profitable bookings today. Create a free Dtravel Direct account to get started.
Direct Booking Sites Primed for Distribution
We're making it easy for vacation rental operators to start and grow their direct booking business. To do this, we're not only focused on improving the features that come with Dtravel Direct, but also how we can help property managers drive more bookings.
Create a premium direct booking site with Dtravel Direct in minutes and get ready for our distribution network.