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Why Property Managers Can't Ignore the Airbnb Military Discount
An Airbnb military discount isn’t just your average, everyday discount. It’s a special salute to our brave men and women in uniform, a tip of the hat from the hosting community to those who serve.
If you’re a vacation rental owner or property manager and haven’t yet explored creating a special discount for a veteran or military family, it’s time to get on board. After all, not only does it enhance your competitive edge, but it’s also a fantastic way to show some well-deserved appreciation to our military personnel. It’s an offering that not only enhances your listing's appeal but also directly contributes to a good cause.
Consider this your basic training in military discount tactics, no push-ups required!
Understanding the Airbnb Military Discount
In essence, an Airbnb military discount is a way for hosts on Airbnb to provide reduced rates on their listings specifically for military personnel. This includes active duty members, veterans, and even military families.
The discount is completely at the discretion of the host. As a host, you have the freedom to set your preferred discount percentage for military personnel.
This discount will then be automatically applied when a qualifying individual books your property via the Airbnb site. The amount is taken off your listing price, and not reimbursed by Airbnb. So, in essence, it’s a voluntary commitment on your part to provide more affordable trips for our men and women in uniform.
Besides the obvious fact that our military personnel absolutely deserve it, these discounts can provide some much-needed financial relief. Given the sacrifices military members make, including regular relocations and deployments, a discount on accommodation can significantly ease the stress and expense of travel.
So, why would Airbnb encourage hosts to offer military discounts that seemingly cut into potential earnings for hosts? Their motivation is twofold.
Firstly, Airbnb has a long-standing tradition of supporting community initiatives. Supporting military personnel aligns with this commitment.
Secondly, it fosters a sense of goodwill and camaraderie within the Airbnb community, boosting the platform’s reputation among users. By enabling hosts to offer this discount, Airbnb is encouraging an ethos of appreciation and support for those who serve, setting a positive example for the wider sharing economy. It’s not just about making money—it’s about making a difference, too.
How to Implement the Airbnb Military Discount in Your Property Listing
Airbnb does not offer a company-wide military discount. However, individual hosts have the discretion to offer discounts to military personnel. As a host looking to offer discounts, it’s important to understand how to implement this in your property listing effectively.
It won’t even cost you a lot of time. All it takes are three simple steps:
Calculate your discount: Airbnb allows individual hosts to set their own prices, including any special discounts they want to offer. To set your Airbnb military discount, simply calculate the percentage off the nightly rate you’d like to offer active duty service members, veterans, and military families.
Adjust your listing description: Once you’ve determined the discount, clearly state this in your listing. For instance, in your property description you might say, “We’re proud to offer a 10% military discount to military members and their families.” The more specific you are, the easier it’ll be for potential guests to understand the offer. Some listings that offer a military discount even add it to their Airbnb title for extra visibility.
Send a special offer:When a guest who meets the criteria sends you a message before they book, you’ll then create a special offer which they will have 24 hours to accept. Alternatively, if they’ve already booked your property, you can change the reservation details to reflect the discounted price.
While it’s a wonderful gesture to offer military discounts, you may also want to verify the military status of guests who wish to take advantage of the discount. There are respectful ways to do this—like asking for a military ID or other proof of active duty status during communication with the guest. This can be done through Airbnb’s secure messaging system, ensuring the process remains confidential and respectful.
Lastly, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the Airbnb military discount policy. Airbnb offers the infrastructure that allows you, the host, to offer these discounts but does not enforce or regulate them. It’s up to each individual host to set their own rental rates and discounts. However, Airbnb does encourage clear and accurate communication regarding any special discounts, to avoid any misunderstandings that could negatively impact the experience for both you, the host, and your guests.
Benefits to Vacation Rental Owners and Property Managers
Offering an Airbnb military discount provides several benefits to property owners and managers. The feedback from hosts who have offered such discounts is generally positive, citing increased bookings and attracting more excellent guests.
In essence, the Airbnb military discount is not just an act of goodwill—it’s a strategic business decision.
Attract more bookings
It enhances exposure and competitiveness in a saturated market by making your listing more attractive to a specific group. While the discount may seem like a loss at first glance, it can increase overall bookings from the broad network of service members, veterans, and military families, potentially boosting total revenue.
A military discount can create a loyal customer base as military families and service members tend to repeat and recommend satisfactory accommodations. By providing a quality experience, you could tap into the close-knit military community and garner valuable referrals.
Build a positive brand image
Moreover, by offering such a discount, you are showing support for our active duty service members and vets. This establishes you as a considerate host and promotes a positive image for your business that can lead to beneficial reviews and recommendations.
Challenges and Potential Drawbacks
Like any strategic business move, offering military discounts on Airbnb comes with its own set of challenges and potential drawbacks. The benefits generally outweigh these issues, but it’s important to understand them so you can plan accordingly.
In the end, the decision to offer military discounts should be made with a clear understanding of both the benefits and potential challenges. Done right, it can be a powerful tool in a host’s arsenal, providing benefits to both the guest and the host. However, like any tool, it’s important to understand how to use it effectively.
1. Potential Misuse of the Discount
The first challenge associated with offering military discounts is the potential for misuse. Some individuals may attempt to falsely claim military status to take advantage of your goodwill and save money.
Implementing a verification process, such as requesting some form of military identification or documentation, can help prevent this. However, this can be a delicate task, as it involves dealing with personal information. Airbnb does not provide a direct feature for verifying military status, so tread lightly and always respect the privacy and security of your potential guests.
2. Potential Reduction in Revenue
Next, there’s the matter of income. Yes, offering discounts can lead to more bookings, but it could also potentially result in reduced income per booking.
As a business owner, you’ll need to consider your pricing strategy carefully. You want to offer a meaningful discount to those who serve, but you also need to ensure you’re not undermining your own profitability. It’s a delicate balance to strike.
3. Increased Workload
Also worth considering is the additional workload. Administering the discount, especially if you’re handling the military status verification yourself, can add extra tasks to your to-do list.
Then, there’s the additional customer service and communication that might come along with explaining and offering the discount. Time is money, and these extra tasks could potentially increase your workload.
To streamline the management of your property listings across multiple platforms, consider using a tool like iGMS. iGMS helps automate your rental operations, easing your workload, including the management of discounts. With iGMS, you can ensure that your military discount is applied consistently, enhancing your offering to our service members while maintaining your operational efficiency.
4. Negative Experiences
Lastly, some property owners have reported negative experiences with offering military discounts. These can range from misunderstandings about the discount amount to the aforementioned misuse.
However, keep in mind that such experiences tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Most hosts who offer military discounts report overwhelmingly positive experiences.
Final Thoughts
The Airbnb military discount offers significant benefits for vacation rental owners and property managers, fostering competitiveness and potentially increasing bookings while honoring our military personnel. While there are challenges, such as potential misuse and administrative tasks, the advantages are impactful.
If considering this discount, clearly articulate it in your listing, carefully verify military status, and balance the discount for meaningful savings and sustainable profitability. The option of extending the discount to other platforms for wider reach is also worth checking.
