The recent (Summer 2023) update from Airbnb brings 50 new features. These upgrades reveal a clear strategic shift that hosts should pay attention to.

Here are the top 6 new strategies that stood out for me.

1. Emphasis on Long Term Stays

Airbnb has significantly improved the experience for long-term stays, making it more convenient and manageable for those seeking extended accommodation options.

Easier to see availability for extended stays

The dial interface allows users to search for stays between 1 to 12 months, emphasizing a strategic focus on extended stays.

Airbnb now highlights homes suitable for monthly stays and workspaces for business travelers.

Lower fees for stays over 4 months

Airbnb has also reduced guest service fees for monthly stays (over 4 months), a strategic shift towards housing solutions rather than just vacation rentals.

2. Easier Ways to Pay

Payment Plans

Additionally, they introduced the “pay over time” feature in partnership with Klarna, enabling guests in the US and Canada to pay for stays over $500 in four interest-free installments. This shift makes Airbnb more accessible to a broader range of users.

Pay by Bank

The “pay by Bank” feature is available in the US, allowing guests to conveniently pay through their bank accounts, resulting in lower booking costs for guests.

3. Improved Search Features

The search features have been upgraded to facilitate finding long-term stays more easily.

Proximity to points of interest

Airbnb now makes it easier to find accommodations based on their distance to points of interest. The search bar will now autosuggest based on proximity to landmarks and attractions.

Improved Maps

Improvements have also been made to the map interface, adding mini pins and providing users with a clearer view of available Airbnb options in their searched areas.

4. Child-friendly emphasis

Kid-friendly homes with amenities like playrooms and cribs are now easier to find.

This emphasis on highlighting relevant features will make it easier for travelers to find the perfect accommodation for their families.

5. Greater Transparency

Pricing

To ensure pricing transparency, Airbnb displays the total price, including all fees and taxes, across the entire app, from search results to listing pages. This helps guests avoid any unpleasant surprises related to additional costs.

Checkout

To enhance transparency and ensure a smoother check-out process, Airbnb now offers clear and detailed check-out instructions, preventing any unpleasant surprises or misunderstandings.

6. Improved Wishlist feature

The wish list feature has been redesigned, now resulting in larger images and an improved user experience for guests.

The improvement of this feature will make it even more important for hosts to get wishlisted. Because the feature will become more popular, and it helps properties rank higher when they are wishlisted a lot.

Takeaways

These updates indicate that Airbnb is attentive to guest needs and market trends, making strides in user experience and catering to the growing demand for medium-term rentals and families.

Notes:

• The ability to pay in installments will broaden travel demand.
•  Wishlisting will be more important, so make sure your listing is optimized.
• Make a plan to attract more long stays, especially in the off-season.
• Don’t give guests dumb chores to do; it will get you banned.
• SEO optimize your listing for landmarks and attractions near your property.
• If you cater to families, make sure you offer child-friendly amenities!