Airbnb Wants You to Use Its New Features — But at What Cost?

One of the interesting takeaways shared at Airbnb Host Week was something I have believed for a long time:

When a platform introduces a new feature, it wants you to use it.

We see the same thing with social media.

A platform launches something new, and early adoption often gets encouraged.

Airbnb is no different.

If Airbnb introduces a new discount, setting, or tool, it has a reason for doing it.

And according to what was shared at Host Week, using some of those features can help visibility.

But Visibility Is Only Half the Question

I don’t believe hosts should blindly turn on every feature Airbnb introduces.

Take the new Top Rated Guest discount.

Airbnb is clearly encouraging hosts to use it.

Host Week attendees were told that hosts using it saw higher occupancy.

That sounds great.

But the discount costs money.

And it can stack with other discounts.

So the real question isn’t:

“Will Airbnb reward me for using this?”

It’s:

“Will the additional visibility make up for what I’m giving away?”

Airbnb’s Goal and Your Goal Are Not Identical

Airbnb benefits when bookings happen.

You benefit when bookings happen at a price that makes sense for your property.

Most of the time, those goals align.

Sometimes they don’t.

That’s why every new Airbnb feature should be evaluated as part of your overall strategy.

Before turning something on, ask:

• Will this help visibility?
• What will it cost?
• Can it stack with another discount?
• Am I discounting dates that would probably book anyway?
• Does my base price need to change first?

Use the Feature. Understand the Cost.

I’m not against using Airbnb’s new tools.

I want to understand them.

I want to know whether Airbnb is giving them extra visibility.

But I also want to make sure the math still works.

Use the platform.

Just don’t let the platform make your revenue decisions for you.