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Post by Olivier François on Nov 3, 2015 10:42:51 GMT
I notice since 3 month a rise in airbnb listing views, an inquiries fall and at the same time a huge rise on another sites (VRBO, Flikley) bookings. In fact for 2016 I get yet more than 1 month yet booked and just 8 days with airbnb. During my exchanges with traveler many tells me they use Airbnb just to have a look on reviews and choose a listing, and after they search if the same listing is available on other site. The main reason they actuate like this is that on Airbnb they have to pay the entire amount on booking, even if it's in 6 month while on other sites they have a partial payment now and the balance 1 week before their arrival.
It would be great having the same process with airbnb because I definitely prefer having Airbnb guests, with verified ID and from many countries.
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Post by High Priestess on Nov 3, 2015 15:50:46 GMT
Since I don't list on those other vacation rental sites, I am not able to compare like you are. It does sound like the other companies could have a competetive advantage if they don't require the entire payment up front. I would expect that in the future we will see greater competition still.
I also think there are too many hosts in most places, and this is a problem for all hosts. Airbnb talks about how in the future there will be an AIrbnb on every block in every city. THere already is, and it's a problem. Guests have many choices about where to stay -- hosts are seeing their business dwindling as one neighbor after another sets up another Airbnb listing. People are becoming Airbnb hosts who don't have the skills to do so -- I have heard cases of hosts who are incompetent,and/or whose communication skills are exceptionally poor, and who start off with bad reviews. Some then have their listing temporarily deactivated by Airbnb. IT doesn't make Airbnb look good when people start out being hosts who have no skills to do so.
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