An example of Airbnb NOT helping with community organizing

This is a problematic situation which we may see more of: hosts being prohibited by Airbnb from contacting other hosts in their own community. I consider this quite ridiculous and think we need to work with Airbnb to make sure they aren't putting up these obstacles to hosts talking to each other and trying to organize:

www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-197834



Donna shared Dec 24 2015


I'm confused

Airbnb
Airbnb Customer Experience

Frank R., Dec 23, 15:30:
Hello Donna,

Hope this message finds you well.

My name is Frank and I work (email hidden)>
It has come to my attention that you've contacted other hosts in your area in hopes of building a stronger community - I believe it's a great idea, however the Message Thread is meant to be used to contact hosts to inquire about a reservation, or to enable communication once a reservation has been accepted.

Contacting hosts for reasons above the above mentioned may result in penalties - not to worry though, you will not incur any this time.

Instead, here is a link where hosts from different communities may get in contact with each other: community.airbnb.com/t5/Community-Center/ct-p/community-center

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to let me know by replying directly to this message.

Best,

Frank R.
www.airbnb.com/help

THIS EMAIL IS A SERVICE FROM AIRBNB CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

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Richard

Donna
Donna18 hours ago
So I sent a very nice email to 2 fellow hosts in Manchester New Hampshire about getting together and discussing certain issues like zoning that are going to be affecting us. And this is the email I got back from them. So I guess Airbnb does not want local hosts talking to another I don't get it.

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Shannon
Shannon17 hours ago
Donna, Wow, that is weird. How did they even know you contacted the hosts for a reason other than booking a reservation? Perhaps one of the hosts took issue? Did you send an actual email to their email, or via the message, book? After re-reading the above, I do believe one of the hosts you contacted, called, airbnb. Wow, what is wrong with people?

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Mig
Mig17 hours ago
It certainly looks as though the hosts you contacted flagged your messages to Airbnb. I wonder what penalties airbnb have in their artillery for errant hosts who like to contact others directly. Seems a bit petty.

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Donna
Donna17 hours ago
I definitely don't think it was one of the other hosts as they both got back to me and wrote very nice emails that they would love to get together and discuss issues. And I sent it as an email. I'm not a computer genius but my husband kind of is. He said I must have used a word in my email that they fish for. But I guess this is why they're getting rid of groups they don't want hosts communicating with one another for whatever that reasoning is ?? I'll post my response to that email.

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Donna
Donna17 hours ago
Hello Frank,

I am looking to specifically meet/talk with hosts in the Manchester NH area, regarding pending issues that will be facing us directly. That is why I reached out specifically. I don't see any harm in meeting for a cup of coffee locally. And I am pretty disturbed that Airbnb wouldn't want local hosts developing friendships. The community center is a great idea ... but if no one from Manchester goes there, how would they know? And it would be nice to meet the fellow hosts, that I have referred lots of guests to when I do not have the availability.

Specifically, Manchester NH is 100,000 residents. We are not NY city or San Francisco. I'm pretty sure that Airbnb isn't going to be running their lawyers to Manchester when our zoning regulations change to stays of 6 months or longer. We are about a dozen active hosts and it is going to be up to us to keep Airbnb in Manchester. I would think you would be thanking me ... not threatening penalties.

A very disappointed Superhost,

Donna Boutin

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Anne
Anne9 hours ago
Donna, based on Frank's email, it says your using the message thread which is meant to be used.... This came up recently in the new hosts group. Check with Ernest about his experience. Since we can send emails directly by tapping the profile picture I can't imagine the problem and of course the CC is worthless to find other hosts. Good luck and keep us posted, please.

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Peter
Peter9 hours ago
Frank's message looks like spam/junk. The typos give it away. I think it is not from Airbnb.

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Deborah
Deborahin a few seconds
I am inclined to think Frank is actually an Airbnb employee, and I am concerned about your experience Donna as I consider it a serious problem in developing host community, if hosts are not allowed to contact each other. I actually have seen this problem in my area too, to some extent, as hosts in my area have worked to build community, and in a couple cases have been contacted by Airbnb and admonished for sending out too many messages to hosts via their profile.

It's ridiculous that hosts should be told that they cannot contact each other to create host community in their area. It's also poor politics, because AIrbnb benefits by strong host communities, since hosts political goals are generally the same as AIrbnb's political goals. We should be working together.

Anne, you can only send out messages to hosts by tapping their photo, if they are in an existing old AIrbnb group. You can't do this in the new Airbnb groups, and you definitely can't do it for anyone who is not in a group. So if you are just trying to contact local hosts, you are looking at listings in your area, you are not on the Airbnb groups, so the group messaging option is beside the point. WE have to have a way as hosts of being able to contact other hosts in our area.

Donna, I'd like to invite you to work with Home Sharers Organization, which has built up a community of hosts in San Francisco and the East Bay, and would like to start Home Sharers chapters around the nation and world. We do work with Airbnb in doing this so it is easier for us to do than for someone who is just starting up cold. Peter who founded HOme Sharers will soon have a Home Sharers website set up -- until then, you can find Peter by going to the Home Sharers old AIrbnb group here: www.airbnb.com/groups/51

You can also join us on GlobalHosting Forum where we have regional groups for hosts around the world, here: www.globalhostingforum.com