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The original memo the Superhost requirements were returning to usual April 2022 went out in August 2020. The most recent message was a reminder.
There is time for people to mount a grassroots action, perhaps posting on Airbnb Twitter & Facebook a simple message:
I am a home share host. I am concerned about losing the Superhost status I worked hard to obtain. Covid19 Delta, now Omicron with associated travel bans, restrictions, and potential guest exposure in my home has made home-sharing beyond difficult. Loss of super host status makes it worse. Please reconsider grandfathering Superhost status to January 2023.
I can armchair quarterback this all day long but I donāt have a pony in this race. Iām a separate entire home rental & by my choice/decision have moved to mostly LTR for now. I knew when I made the changes, I probably would lose superhost at some point.
I used Airbnb & VRBO together for one year. Airbnb kept my calendar booked so not much opportunity for VRBO bookings, until my off season.
Snowbirds stayed for 6 weeks. I contacted them 3 times during their stay via VRBO, check-in welcome, after 3 weeks quick touch base, & a few days before checkout. Cryptic return messages, such as, āall ok here.ā They left 3 stars & short review, āstay ok, uncomfortable couch, new one neededā. I never got another booking request from VRBO.
The ironies are: couch was new. It is a modern & firm. From the pictures it is clear it is not a giant pillow with feet.
The guest contacted me & asked for a direct booking for the next year. The answer was, āNoā
Prior to Covid Airbnb kept me booked year round. Now it keeps my STR months booked. Iām satisfied with them.
Iām a new member on this Forum. It looks like there are a range of opinions re Airbnbās proposed 2022 Superhost 10-stay policy. I submitted the feedback below to Airbnb recently and just got a āthatās our policyā response from Airbnb. While we could just drop out of Airbnb, it would be helpful if they helped us manage the risks. If you agree, you might provide Airbnb with similar feedback so they know many Superhosts are not happy about this change in the middle of a pandemic.
As a long-time Superhost, I object to Airbnbās: (a) proposed minimum 10-stay Superhost requirement, and (b) reluctance to include host/guest vaccination status. Both policies are socially irresponsible, contributes to global COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, and suggests that Airbnb puts revenues above the safety of their hosts/guests. First, given the continuing lack of data on the COVID-variants, it is premature to implement this 10-stay policy. In these COVID-uncertain times, Superhost status should be based on host/guest ratings, and response/cancellation rates, not arbitrary stay limits. Many hosts have had to stop host/guest shared arrangements for safety reasons and that limits stay opportunities and increases costs for those hosts without separate accommodations. Second, Airbnb not providing vaccination status robs the hosts/guests from protecting themselves/communities from non-vaccinated people who put self-interests above broader community protection.
Thank you for sending them your clearly stated letter. I did the same, awhile back. As a home share I have been properly cautious during these past couple years, and will continue to be. Our small rural community has greatly suffered and continues to. My health and longevity are worth infinitely more than money or a badge. I am a 29 times Superhost, which stands for a lot of hard work and hospitality. I am firm in my belief that traditional homeshare hosts deserve a break here, and that this requirement is premature and ill advised.
If Airbnb suspends the $100 superhost annual coupon, superhost status costs Airbnb nothing. I wouldnāt be surprised with all going on with Omicron in February Airbnb postpones/extends the time for 10 stays for superhost designation.
If enough hosts contact Airbnb with messages like yāall, I think it could happen.
Squirrel moment. Every time I tried to type @road1953 autocorrect made it toad1953. I kinda like that name!
Right. I just UNLISTED my listing because the number here have increased dramatically in my anti-vaxer state of Florida. My vaccinated, 21-year old son was due to get his booster when he got COVID pneumonia on Christmas Eve and ended up on IV meds for over 12 hours. I was terrified. He has an auto-immune disease as I do, so this is why a lot of us canāt take these risks, and Airbnb should be supporting their Hosts.
Wishing your son a speedy recovery and yes that is scary.
I havenāt had any guests in almost 3 weeks but have a couple for New Years. The guestās quarters are separated from the part I live in, but still. Theyāve told me theyāve been vaxed and boosted.
No way I would share the same space with someone now, much too risky.
Iāve never had an opportunity or desire to use the coupon, would not miss it if it went away. Superhost should be extended on quality rather than quantity, after the initial quantity of 5* reviews has been met. This would show consistency and a vote of confidence. During a pandemic imho all these requirements should be waived, and safety first; at least in homeshares.
Unfortunately, you will quickly learn that Air doesnāt give a s*** what hosts (or guests) think, they always know better. Thatās why I think that Air shouldnāt hire anyone who hasnāt been a host for at least a year, but they donāt care what I think either.
Most of us on here consider Air to be a booking and payment service, and nothing more. I expect their management to make decisions that benefit them and their shareholders, not hosts.
Unfortunately, since the company went public they have outsourced customer disservice so you will rarely reach anyone who knows what they are doing, much less anyone who can actually report problems and get action.
Like much corporate mediocrity, AirBnB is a faulty service with many glitches, and like most modern people, we learn to work around the glitches.
Florida isnāt the only State not recognizing the seriousness of Delta continuing plus Omicron increasing. Sadly there are foolish people everywhere who will not mask or distance.
We were warned there would be spikes after Thanksgiving & Christmas. So here we are.
The idea that people should ājust moveā is the height of selfish, privileged, arrogance whether it comes from the left or the right. Itās the equivalent of telling a poor person ājust get a jobā or telling a migrant ācome in legally.ā Moving is not only expensive but itās a major life change, like a divorce or death in the family. Some people adapt well to moving, some donāt. I hate the policies of TexASS but if I and all like minded folk move to a state that already reflects our values, what does that accomplish for the greater good? Yeah, I guess when the round up of gays start Iāll try to flee. Or maybe Iāll just use my 2nd amendment rights to fight the power.
What people need to do is to become informed, organize and vote for people who will protect their lives.
Back after the 2016 election, I had a guest from California who told me there was a movement afoot to encourage people who could move without a huge hassle (i.e. single people, digital nomads) to move to red states to try to turn them blue. It was an interesting concept.
Itās funny that in TX, the govt is actively encouraging rich Californians to move to TX. But they donāt want them to bring their blue votes. Iām sure many Californians will enjoy the low taxes and comparative affordability. Will they enjoy the crappy power grid in weather extremes (which CA also has of course), no legal weed, no legal abortion, and bible thumpers on every corner?
I donāt see any much gain in superhost status. If you are, you may invite high expectations and harsher evaluations. If you are not, you may get less fussy guest traffic. I try to be helpful to our guests, it is its own reward. Some of them are evidently a bit strapped.
All that, and we are busy enough either way. I had a truly awful event with rodents, and am so glad it was well resolved; safely and without any review drama.
