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re you currently taking advantage of Airbnb? Have you considered it? Are you unsure about what it even is? Since its beginnings in 2008, Airbnb has made huge strides in the travel industry. Believe it or not, it might be something you decide to add to your marketing strategy. Learn all about how Airbnb works for hosts, then decide if it’s the right fit for your business.

What Is Airbnb?

Airbnb, as in “Air Bed and Breakfast,” is a service that lets property owners rent out their spaces to travelers looking for a place to stay. Travelers can rent a space for multiple people to share, a shared space with private rooms, or the entire property for themselves.

Airbnb was started in 2008 by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, two industrial designers that recently moved to San Francisco. Unable to afford the rent for their loft at the time, the pair decided to make up the money they needed by renting out their apartment to people who couldn’t find hotels to stay at while attending nearby trade shows. They set up air mattresses in the apartment’s living room for their guests to sleep on and cooked homemade breakfast in the morning. Since then, Airbnb has become one of the trailblazers of peer-to-peer property rental.

What Do They Do?

Airbnb is based on a peer-to-peer business model. This makes it simple, easy to use, and tends to be more profitable for both parties. The model also gives you the opportunity to customize and personalize your guests’ experience the way you want.

Who Books on Airbnb?

plane travelKnowing your demographic is imperative when deciding on a new booking site. The general traveler booking on Airbnb will be a young, tech-savvy millennial; it is estimated that millennials account for roughly 60% of all guests that have ever booked on Airbnb. These travelers are particularly attracted to authentic, local properties. They believe accommodations listed on Airbnb will provide them with more cultural experiences, which is a top priority for them when they travel. Its popularity stems from the fact that not everyone who is traveling can afford to stay in a hotel, much less find a hotel room in a busy, urban area. Airbnb provides them with a simple — and often less expensive — alternative.

How Airbnb Works for Hosts

Whether you own a bed & breakfast or a vacation rental company, your reservation system can be integrated right into Airbnb. Many of these integrations will sync content, rates, and availability, so you can manage your content on Airbnb. Plus, your bookings through Airbnb will flow right into your booking engine! If you are already using Airbnb, some of these platforms will even let you sync your existing Airbnb listings, so you don’t lose your host ranking and status. Many offer free integrations; the only payment you will make is Airbnb’s commission of 3% to 5% per booking (depending on the cancellation policy you choose). Integrations for bed & breakfasts: Think Reservations Integrations for vacation rentals: LiveRez Streamline OneRooftop CiiRUS Maxxton Barefoot Airbnb Hosting FAQ WHAT IS THE COST? With acquisition costs as low as 3%, getting bookings on Airbnb is generally half as expensive as other listing sites. Airbnb also absorbs all credit card processing costs! HOW DO I GET PAID? All payments are processed securely through Airbnb’s online payment system. Guests are charged when a reservation is made, and hosts are paid 24 hours after check-in. How you collect payment is up to you; you can set up direct deposit, PayPal, or a number of other options. Tip: Taxes are not automatically collected by Airbnb. DO I NEED TO LOWER MY RATES TO BE COMPETITIVE ON AIRBNB? On average, rates for an entire home on Airbnb are the same or lower for the cost of a single hotel room. However, there are luxury properties listed. Airbnb Host Requirementsbed If you’re thinking about being a host, keep in mind that you must provide Airbnb a minimum of 30 days of availability over the next 12 months for each listing. Make sure the rate type you associate has pricing for at least 30 days for each listing. AIRBNB HOST RULES There are also some basic Airbnb host requirements: Provide guests with a least the essentials, if not more. You must include toilet paper, soap, sheets, and at least one towel and pillow per guest. It is up to you to provide anything else; we suggest adding a little something extra to get a good host rating! You must be responsive. Reply to inquiries and reservation requests within 24 hours of receiving them. Accept all reservation requests promptly. The sooner, the better! Do not cancel. Airbnb takes host cancellations very seriously. They understand that travel plans depend on accommodations, so cancellations are highly frowned upon. Keep a consistent, high level of quality to achieve a high rating.