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Introducing Airbnb Plus

airbnb.com

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Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#51

Post by matte_black »

fbdjskajxb wrote: post #39
matte_black wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not enough to have a slider, you also need to actively market to people looking for cheap places to stay in the first place, or they will never even think to use your precious slider. This splits AirBnBs marketing on two fronts: high end and low end. This either doubles their marketing cost or halves their marketing budget for each audience. Take your pick. A company focused on low cost listings only has to mark…

I don’t understand, how would AirBnB segmenting their marketing cause it to cost twice as much? Imagine AirBnB and the low cost company both exist as you imagine. Now suppose AirBnB buys the low cost company and doesn’t change their marketing at all. Of course marketing ROI for each of the two segments doesn’t change. Compare this to the case where AirBnB operates in the two segments without buying low cost company.…

When a marketing budget that once served a uniform segment splits to serve multiple segments, you must either divide the budget amongst segments or increase the budget to support the previous standard of marketing activity for a segment.

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#52

Post by dazc »

volkk wrote: post #10
Gys wrote: post #5

Airbnb is trying to make more money by offering experiences (events that generally seem very expensive to me) and moving to a more high-end branding. If I open the website I mostly see the more exclusive places first. I think this opens opportunities at the bottom. A website that focusses on functionality and cheaper rooms. The public is now familiar with the concept. Some people do not want to pay above hotel prices…

i don't see how a whole new company can exist to fill in the gap of what airbnb's price slider filter can fix in 2 seconds

From my experience relying on the slider means you miss a lot of options. For example, some hosts have huge differences in pricing depending on the length of stay. I have found weird results where it's been cheaper to rent for a month than for 2 weeks at the same property.

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#53

Post by EdJiang »

seatonist wrote: post #48
annexrichmond wrote: post #36

This is strange marketing as it almost sounds like the non-Plus listings aren't what people already expect to some degree from an airbnb. > With Airbnb Plus, you can always check in effortlessly. Every home is equipped with a lockbox, keypad, or a host who is on-call to greet you. This is so weird. How would you otherwise check in to a home if it doesn't have self check in or a host? > When you book an Airbnb Plus ho…

Many Airbnbs I've stayed in will just have a key under a house plant or doormat. The key can be a little tricky to find that way but for a lower cost listing it's totally fine (by me). I suspect that's the sort of practice they're trying to parse out for this Plus offering.

I've even stayed at one where they just didn't even offer a key and left the front door unlocked... Granted it was a house in the suburbs, but what about security from previous guests?

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#54

Post by bsimpson »

annexrichmond wrote: post #36

This is strange marketing as it almost sounds like the non-Plus listings aren't what people already expect to some degree from an airbnb. > With Airbnb Plus, you can always check in effortlessly. Every home is equipped with a lockbox, keypad, or a host who is on-call to greet you. This is so weird. How would you otherwise check in to a home if it doesn't have self check in or a host? > When you book an Airbnb Plus ho…

Perhaps "on-call" is the operative bit, as in "your international flight lands at 3AM? No sweat, you'll be able to get in anyway."

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#55

Post by atomical »

I use Airbnb a lot. When the location is bad the reviews are often bullshit. People are afraid to leave a negative review. I would be willing to pay more to know the history of complaints that Airbnb receives directly through their support line. In the past I've discovered that Airbnb knew that there was a problem with a location but gave the owner another chance and did not follow up.

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#57

Post by ghaff »

matte_black wrote: post #51
fbdjskajxb wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t understand, how would AirBnB segmenting their marketing cause it to cost twice as much? Imagine AirBnB and the low cost company both exist as you imagine. Now suppose AirBnB buys the low cost company and doesn’t change their marketing at all. Of course marketing ROI for each of the two segments doesn’t change. Compare this to the case where AirBnB operates in the two segments without buying low cost company.…

When a marketing budget that once served a uniform segment splits to serve multiple segments, you must either divide the budget amongst segments or increase the budget to support the previous standard of marketing activity for a segment.

Yes but, if you serve multiple segments vs. just one, you presumably can amortize your marketing dollars over more volume. (And if you're not increasing volume by going after more segments, those new segments obviously aren't working out for you.)

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#58

Post by GuiA »

Terretta wrote: post #35
GuiA wrote: post #24

Reliable check-in With Airbnb Plus, you can always check in effortlessly. Every home is equipped with a lockbox, keypad, or a host who is on-call to greet you. Love the implication that the check in process for their regular listings is unreliable :^) Otherwise, as others are pointing out, interesting to see where their priorities lie - certainly these high touch experiences are bringing them more money than people r…

To be fair, “BnB” = Bed and Breakfast. It’s in the name, not the fine print.

Should he have also complained because he slept on a real mattress and not an Air Bed, as advertised in the name?

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#59

Post by vkou »

EdJiang wrote: post #53
seatonist wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many Airbnbs I've stayed in will just have a key under a house plant or doormat. The key can be a little tricky to find that way but for a lower cost listing it's totally fine (by me). I suspect that's the sort of practice they're trying to parse out for this Plus offering.

I've even stayed at one where they just didn't even offer a key and left the front door unlocked... Granted it was a house in the suburbs, but what about security from previous guests?

That's a reasonable way to do it. Keep the front door unlocked on guest swaps, keep the key inside the house.

Re: Introducing Airbnb Plus

#60

Post by ghaff »

pradn wrote: post #16

AirBnb sells feelings of authenticity, but it comes across in an uncanny-valley sort of way. I did an AirBnB cooking class experience in the suburbs of Mexico City. It was really fun, I got to meet a few great people, and it was in a lovely house. But how genuine are the host's laughs at my jokes when I'm paying him for the class? It doesn't feel real. Staying at an AirBnB is a less homogenous than staying at the Hil…

I semi-regularly stay at Bed & Breakfasts when I travel. I've never booked through Airbnb but I observe that a fair number now list there. I expect this also fuels the perception that Airbnb is more expensive than it used to be. B&Bs (in the small inn sense) aren't typically all that inexpensive.

It really depends what I'm looking for. With a lot of business travel in particular, I'm looking for a consistent experience with a 24 hour desk in a convenient location. For a weekend getaway I often look for something that's a bit more "local."

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