Airbnb launch a co-hosting network

Tag-team the property market

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Backlog
October 22, 2024

Co-hosting on Airbnb / airbnb.com

Airbnb launch a co-hosting network (and more)

Airbnb is expanding its co-hosting features (launched in Summer 2023) with a fancy new ‘network’. Busy Airbnb owners can now tap into this network of vetted individuals to help them with all sorts of jobs:

  • Take pictures

  • Manage bookings

  • Clean the place

  • Special offerings

And share the profits.

The idea, according to their VP of Product Marketing, is to turn owning an Airbnb into a more… well… passive income.

One of the requests that we had from hosts is that they would really love to be able to find professional, high-quality cohosts with a great track record in their area whom they can trust. And they can really be completely hands-off.

Judson Coplan, VP of Product Marketing at Airbnb

The problem, of course, is that there’s nothing passive about owning an Airbnb.

And nothing passive about partnering up with a complete stranger (even one vetted by Airbnb). Aspiring co-hosts complain that most ‘co-hosts’ are actually family members or existing property management companies. Could this network feature expand the market?

A classic marketplace chicken-and-egg situation!

What else is new at airbedandbreakfast dot com?

Airbnb’s winter release includes a few other goodies:

  • New custom analytics reports for hosts to track income and payments.

  • Templated responses at the click of a button.

  • New search filters, including pre-filled filters based on your travel habits.

And, of course, Airbnb are also working on an AI chatbot. Who could have seen that coming? Not me.