Airbnb debuts Co-Host Network

Hosting on Airbnb is often touted as one of the best ways to make money from your home, but not everyone has the time to do it. As a result, the accommodation service has introduced Co-Host Network to help find the best local hosts to manage Airbnb facilities. It is also making over 50 upgrades for guests to make Airbnb a more personalised app, including recommended destinations, suggested search filters, and personalised listing highlights, based on past trips and search history.

Introducing Co-Host Network

Co-hosts provide personalised support based on hosting needs, from listing setup to managing bookings, and communicating with guests.

Airbnb provided the following list of the benefits of the service:

• Hire the best hosts on Airbnb – Co-hosts are experienced hosts with an exceptional track record on Airbnb. They have an average rating1 of 4.86, compared to 4.62 for large property management companies. In fact, 73% of co-hosts are Superhosts, and 84% of co-hosts help manage a Guest Favorite—some of the highest-quality homes on Airbnb.

Find your perfect co-host right in the app – With more than 10,000 co-hosts across 10 countries, we’re making it easy to find the best co-host for you. Our personalised ranking algorithm recommends a list of co-hosts based on more than 80 factors, including your location, hosting experience, and type of home. You’ll see their profile and reviews, and you can connect with them right in the app.

• Easily collaborate with your co-host – When you hire a co-host on Airbnb, everything you need to work together is built into the app. You can message your co-host directly, give them access to your calendar, share payouts, and more.
  
• “With the Co-Host Network, we’re taking the work out of hosting,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “Starting today, you provide the home, and we’ll provide an exceptional co-host.”

A more personalised app

The journey from search to booking has been given over 50 upgrades. These include, as provided by Airbnb:

Welcome tour – If you’re a first-time guest, we’ll help you get started with a guided tour of the app.

• Suggested destinations – When you tap the search bar, we’ll recommend locations based on your search and booking history. We’ll also offer shortcuts to your past searches and your recently viewed listings.
  
• Search tips – Throughout your search, we’ll offer relevant tips to help you find last-minute stays, discounts from hosts, and more. For example, if you search for a 6-day trip, we’ll suggest you extend by one day to take advantage of a weekly discount.
  
• Recommended filters – We’ve redesigned search filters with recommendations based on your past bookings and current search. We’ve also made it easier to view, add, and remove filters.
  
• Personalised listing highlights – When you view a listing, we’ll highlight the details that are relevant to your search—like a playroom or backyard when travelling with kids.
  
• All-new checkout – If you’re a returning guest, we’ve simplified the booking process with a redesigned checkout page that is shorter and includes all the key details at a glance.
  
• Local payments – You’ll soon have access to more than two dozen ways to pay around the world, including Vipps in Norway, Mobile Pay in Denmark, and MoMo in Vietnam.
  
• “For decades, travel apps have been one-size-fits-all,” said Chesky. “We’re changing that today. With dozens of new features, this is the beginning of a more personalised Airbnb.”

Upgrades for hosts

More than 20 upgrades for hosts, based on their feedback, include (as provided  by Airbnb):

Price tips – View suggested prices based on similar listings in your area and choose to apply the tips with just a tap.

• New quick replies – Use customizable templates to quickly send welcome messages, check-in details, directions, and more.

• Earnings dashboard – Create custom reports to view your earnings, filter income by type, and easily see when payments are on the way.