Worldwide: Airbnb has released its first global quality report, shedding light on the company’s efforts to enhance guest experiences and support host success.
Key takeaways from the report include:
- Introduction of new features
Over the past three years, Airbnb has introduced more than 535 new features aimed at enhancing the experience for both guests and hosts.
Among the updates is the Guest Favorites collection, which highlights top-rated listings based on guest reviews and reliability data. Since its launch, over 250 million nights have been booked at these properties, which maintain an average rating of 4.92 stars, according to the report.
- Increased support for hosts
The platform’s Superhost community experienced significant growth, increasing by nearly 15 per cent last year and reaching over 1.3 million hosts.
Airbnb has also made alterations to default booking settings and reduced calendar settings to give hosts more control and flexibility ahead of their first booking. The introduction of new pricing tools has also contributed to a decline in host cancellation rates to nearly 30 per cent year-on-year.
The introduction of an ID verification process for guests and hosts has blocked or redirected more than 1.4 million guests worldwide from attempting to book. New hosts can request for an experienced guest for their first reservation and gain access to guest reviews from past hosts.
- A commitment to platform quality
Over the past two years, Airbnb says that it has removed “more than 400,000 low-quality listings” that did not meet community standards with its updated hosting quality system. The report showed that there has been a 15 per cent decrease in the percentage of quality-related customer service issues.
Developments over the past year:
Airbnb shares rise: Last month, Airbnb shares rose by more than 13 per cent. For Q1 this year, the home-sharing company expects to report a revenue between $2.23 billion and $2.27 billion.
Airbnb’s recent initiatives align with a series of strategic moves aimed at enhancing platform quality and user trust:
Co-host network launch: In October 2024, Airbnb unveiled its Co-Host Network as part of its 2024 Winter Release. The feature allows hosts to connect with experienced local co-hosts for property management assistance, aiming to drive more bookings.
‘Icons’ category introduction: In May 2024, Airbnb debuted a new Icons category, offering experiences hosted by prominent figures from entertainment industries. The initiative is designed to provide guests with opportunities to engage in unique experiences.
Indoor security cameras ban: In March 2024, Airbnb implemented a global ban on the use of indoor security cameras in its listings, in a bid to be seen to be prioritising guest safety and privacy.
