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Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

beyondstays.com

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Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#11

Post by andrewkitchell »

truantbuick wrote: post #2

I can't fault Airbnb hosts if they use this -- if I was a host, I probably would. Nevertheless, it takes some of the charm and advantage out of it for us hostees. Airbnb seemed like a marketplace where sellers for the most part aren't trying to optimize their profits to squeeze out every last buck. Edit: Actually, to be more accurate, it didn't feel like much of a "marketplace" at all, and that's where the charm was.…

Great point -- as we designed this, we thought a lot about how this might impact a marketplace/community (Airbnb) that we love.

In talking to a lot of hosts, as well as hosting ourselves, we've learned that (a) pricing your home is really hard, and (b) there is a LOT of work that goes into being a great host. From cleaning your home to welcoming guests and answering inquiries, (not to mention the cost of food, furniture, linens, etc.), most hosts spend hours every week making sure their guests are safe & happy.

If we can help hosts by making it easier to accurately price their home, we think we can create a bigger incentive for great hosts to continue hosting.

* Edit :: I run operations at Beyond, have hosted for years on Airbnb, and helped design this - appreciate the question

Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#14

Post by krisdol »

truantbuick wrote: post #2

I can't fault Airbnb hosts if they use this -- if I was a host, I probably would. Nevertheless, it takes some of the charm and advantage out of it for us hostees. Airbnb seemed like a marketplace where sellers for the most part aren't trying to optimize their profits to squeeze out every last buck. Edit: Actually, to be more accurate, it didn't feel like much of a "marketplace" at all, and that's where the charm was.…

I agree, and it depends. In super high-demand, low-supply markets like Manhattan and San Francisco, I opt for the hotel over Airbnb. The price difference is usually minor, and the hotels in these cities often have better amenities than the crappy studios and efficiencies being offered.

On the other hand, in Boston, Montreal, and a plethora of international destinations, Airbnb 110% of the time. Most cities don't have the demand that Manhattan has, and everyone wants to make a quick buck renting their apartment out to some friendly guests. The markets tend to be so saturated with great places, from my experience, that raising the price is more likely going to hurt the probability of finding someone who will rent it.

Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#15

Post by sbisker »

ar7hur wrote: post #12

Somewhat scary to see that at around $190 for one bedroom, there are nights when AirBnb is more expensive than 4-star hotels like Westin.

The hotels have been downgrading the quality around their brand names for years now, cramming people into tinier and more cookie-cutter spaces. Plus the average Airbnb has always had more livable space (not to mention a kitchen!) than a hotel. For 190 a night, you're probably getting the whole Airbnb unit to yourself.

Take that, and SF's 14% hotel tax, and I think they're reaping what they've sowed.

Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#16

Post by blazeit »

nostromo wrote: post #3

I'd personally love a travel site that aggregates Airbnb & VRBO & Hotels. Listing everything a city has to offer on a single site could be a real differentiator to sites like Kayak.

Best one out there IMO: https://outpost.travel They aggregate a huge chunk of them.

Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#19

Post by jenoneal »

nostromo wrote: post #3

I'd personally love a travel site that aggregates Airbnb & VRBO & Hotels. Listing everything a city has to offer on a single site could be a real differentiator to sites like Kayak.

We do this! Check out http://www.tripping.com/

Tripping is the top metasearch site for vacation rentals with over 1 million homes worldwide. We also have the richest data set in the industry, so it'll be fun to see how our data compares with BeyondStays.

Re: Surge Price Predictor for Airbnb Hosts

#20

Post by graeme »

truantbuick wrote: post #2

I can't fault Airbnb hosts if they use this -- if I was a host, I probably would. Nevertheless, it takes some of the charm and advantage out of it for us hostees. Airbnb seemed like a marketplace where sellers for the most part aren't trying to optimize their profits to squeeze out every last buck. Edit: Actually, to be more accurate, it didn't feel like much of a "marketplace" at all, and that's where the charm was.…

If hosts don't use this, then you get sold out listings.

I was in Boston in November. Normally there would be a range of listings in the $60-$120 range, and then some in the ultra-pricey $250-$500 range.

Except there was a yatch race on, an ALL but one of the affordable listings was booked. I researched, and there really were dozens of listings that were normally cheap, but they were full.

I fortunately got the last affordable place in town. But I would have been much happier if some of the other hosts had charged a small premium. I was almost forced into a luxury listing.

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