Being a great responsive Airbnb host often relates to excelling in guest communications. Excellent guest communications means being always available and responsive towards potential and current guests.
It starts from the first inquiry they send, during their stay and until they check out from your property. Replying promptly to inquiries helps you transform leads to actual bookings because it creates trust between your potential guests and you, while being available throughout their stay ensures a smooth-sailing stay for your guests and eventually positive reviews.
Read on to find out some best practices and tips on being a responsive host.
1. Be Ready to Answer All Incoming Messages Quickly
Unlike other online hotel reservations, on Airbnb, more often than not there is a lengthy conversation with guests prior to booking. Responding inquiries promptly with a helpful and friendly answer is crucial to confirming reservations before your potential guests move on to the next option. Quick response is and always will be the most effective way to convert inquiries into bookings.
2. Set Your Instant Book On
The Instant Book option was created by Airbnb to improve user experience on its platform. Listings with instant book activated allow guests to book directly without having to inquire with the host first. Many travelers prefer to book for places that offer instant booking because it’s simply less hassle. According to Airbnb, hosts that activate Instant Book can get up to double the number of bookings. Read more about Airbnb Instant Book here.
3. Make Sure Your Calendar is Updated
Keeping your calendar up-to-date is one of the most important aspects of Airbnb hosting. Be sure that guests can book your property only on the nights when it’s truly available. Failure to update your calendar can result in unwanted situations such as double bookings, while mastering your calendar can help you maximize conversions and avoid cancellations as well as penalties.
4. Avoid Canceling and Refusing Bookings
Cancellations and declines do not only have a negative effect on your revenue, but also on your performance and overall visibility to potential bookers. Even though there are times when things don’t go as planned, try your best to stick with your availability and if you must cancel, provide a fair solution for your guests. Making sure your calendar is updated is one of the keys to avoid declining requests from potential guests.
Also read our other post about Airbnb Superhost
5. Stay Active On Airbnb by Logging in Every Day
Showing potential bookers and the Airbnb platform itself that you are an active host helps ensure future guests that you will respond promptly when they send you an inquiry. Spending a few minutes to log in on Airbnb at least once a day is a simple effort that can go a long way in maintaining your ranking on the platform.
In the competitive marketplace that is Airbnb, you need to deliver a top-notch experience to your guests.
Part of it is simply by being a responsive host and available whenever your guests need you, from the moment they send an inquiry about your property until the time they leave.
Responsiveness and great communication should be maintained throughout their stay. If you are not locally available, assign a trustworthy property management to take care of this crucial aspect to make sure that you don’t miss out on bookings and positive reviews.
