What does Airbnb Plus actually mean? & other terms you should know.

Photo by ConciAirs

Whether you are fairly new to the Airbnb game or have been around for a while, chances are you’re still a little confused by all the lingo associated with this short term rental platform. For instance… what is a superhost and how do you become one? What does “Airbnb plus” actually mean? We’ll be answering all this and more down below.

In short, Airbnb Plus is a listing that has been verified for both quality and comfort. And it hasn’t been verified by just anyone, but by a leading professional. Airbnb Plus helps provide guests with an extra layer of security and pleasantry during their stay.

What do you have to do in order to be granted Airbnb Plus status?

The host must:

• maintain at least a 4.8 rating over the past year

• have no canceled reservations over the past year

• showcase outstanding customer service and hospitality to each guest

The listing must:

• have a unique design that reflect’s the host individual personality

• contain all the proper amenities (wifi, coffee, and quality linens, etc.)

• remain immaculately clean and clutter-free

According to Airbnb, “The Airbnb team reviews current listings for exceptional quality and design and invites hosts with eligible listings to join the program.”

So, just make sure your current listing checks off on all these requirements and then wait for Airbnb to reach out to you!

Photo by ConciAirs

Other Terms

Airbnb Superhost: a program to help recognize and reward the top-rated and most experienced Airbnb hosts

What do you have to do in order to be granted Airbnb Superhost status?

• maintain a 4.8 or higher overall rating

• have completed 10 or more stays within the past year

• maintain a <1% cancellation rate

• have a 90% response rate

The Airbnb Team does a routine check every three months to see which hosts deserve their status to be upgraded to Superhost. Check it out here!

Airbnb Adventures: An all-inclusive trip complete with activities and lodging, led by hosts from around the world. All you have do so is pay and then show up and let the adventure begin.

Airbnb “Business Travel Ready": A curated list of the best accommodation for business travelers.

What do you have to do in order to be granted Airbnb “Business Travel Ready” status?

• maintain a 4.8 or higher overall rating

• have a 90% response rate

• have a flexible or moderate cancellation policy

• private rooms must have an ensuite bathroom to maintain hotel-like privacy— shared spaces are not accepted

• must have a self check-in process

• must have a TV

• must have all essential amenities

• must have a hair dryer, an iron, and hangers

• must have a laptop-friendly work space

• must have wifi

Just like the others, the Airbnb Team will conduct a thorough analysis of all the listings to see if they are eligible to be granted “business travel ready” status!

Thanks so much for reading! We hope this post made you feel a little more comfortable and a little less confused with all the terms and jargon that you might run into while on Airbnb. Did we forget anything? Let us know in the comments, and then share this post with others who might find it helpful!

Should I Airbnb my spare room?

Photo by ConciAirs

“Should I Airbnb my spare room?” This question is guaranteed to have popped into your head at one point or another. Chances are that if you’re reading this post, you have either stayed in an Airbnb before and are now thinking about hosting, or have at least heard the name “Airbnb” before.

Here’s the short answer: Just because you have a spare room does not mean you should become a host. Being an Airbnb host requires both a specific skill set and large amount of responsibility. Listing a space to stay requires time, attention to detail, and amazing customer service. You have to be on top of you game at all times to ensure a great track record for potential future clients.

Here’s a list of questions that you may want to ask yourself before becoming an airbnb host.

If you answer yes to all of these, you might be headed in the right direction.

1. Are you reliable?

Being a host means being on top of your communication game. Unless of course you choose to hire us (wink wink) you are going to have to be available to answer any questions and concerns 24/7 to ensure that your guests have a smooth and pleasant stay. You are going to need to follow through on the expectations you set on the listing page and constantly find ways to ensure the safety and happiness of your guests.

2. Are you open-minded?

Hosting your spare room means they you will be coming into contact with people from all over the country and perhaps even the world. This means that you are 100% likely host people who have different habits, customs, beliefs, etc. than you. So, if you are the type of person who becomes easily annoyed at cultural or personality differences (which, let’s admit, we all have at one point or another), you may want to rethink your choice to become a host.

3. Are you ready to clean?

Don’t think you can get away from all the not-so-fun parts or running an Airbnb like cleaning dirty towels, washing sheets, making the bed, vacuuming, dusting, etc. Unless of course, you use our services (one again—cough cough), you’ll be stuck with trying to manage a quick turnaround time to get your room looking ship shape before the next guest arrives.

4. Do you live in a good location?

You may have to rethink your choice of listing your spare room based off location. If you live in a big city or near an airport, chances are you are good to go. However, if you live in the middle of the woods or in a small, one-light town, it may be more work than it’s worth. A good way to see how your area would fare is to go on Airbnb and do your own bit of research. Search your area and see how many Airbnbs are listed, check the price per night, and view the listing calendar to see how many bookings there are. This will give you an idea about the success that your own listing might be able to acquire!

5. Do you actually have the time?

A lot of people think, “I just sign up and I’m pretty much set, right?” Wrong. In fact, you could easily be spending 30-40 total hours a month managing your Airbnb unit. Especially in the beginning, you are going to need to sacrifice a large amount of time to get your listing up and running properly. This includes initial research, signing up on Airbnb, creating a listing page, taking and uploading photos, advertising, maintenance and design, etc. Fortunately, ConciAirs has services that can help automate all of the above. Check out our services page here or email us directly at taylor@conciairs.com to see if your listing qualifies.

We hope this post gave you a pinch of insight before you jump on board at becoming an Airbnb host. As rewarding as the job might be, it also requires a lot more than simply saying “yes.”

How do hosts get paid on Airbnb?

As an Airbnb host or aspiring Airbnb host, you may be wondering— “How the heck and I going to get paid for my bookings? Do I have the ability to choose one form of payment that is most convenient for me?” Hold tight, because we’re about to tell you.

You can choose from a variety of convenient payyment options such as the more commonly used direct deposit and PayPal, with other options including international wire, bank transfer, AliPay, a Payoneer pre-paid debit card, Western Union, and AIS debit card (which only applies to Cuban citizens).

When do hosts receive their payment?

What Airbnb calls a Payout Method is usually available within 24 hours after the guest reserves the living space. This could vary slightly depending on your location. For example, for China, payouts are available 48 hours after checkout. However, when the money enters into your account is entirely dependent on the payout method.

Very First Reservation: could take up to 30 days to pay the host

A Stay < 28 days: 2-5 business after the guest checks in, depending on method of payment (with the exception being an AIS debit card which could take up to 20 days)

A Stay >28 days: hosts are paid on a monthly basis

How to choose a payout method:

Choosing a payout method is entirely up to the host’s discretion, giving them the freedom to decide on what is most convenient for them. This could include choosing more than one payment option! You can set or alter your payout method by logging into your account and then selecting → Payments & Payouts → Payouts → Add Payout Method.

To split a payout between two methods, go to Payout Preferences → Add Payout Routing Rule

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We hope this gave you a good overview on how hosts get paid, the different payment options Airbnb offers, and how to set these payment options. Have any other topics you would like us to cover? Let us know in the comments!