What is Airbnb Plus and How Does it Benefit Hosts and Guests

Airbnb Plus has become the preferred booking platform for guests looking for quality and comfort in their Airbnb vacation rentals. Not only does it offer a premier experience for guests, but it also allows hosts to market their rentals to attract certain types of guests.

Although it’s not necessary to be part of the Airbnb Plus program to be an excellent host, it does offer some premium benefits for both guests, as well as hosts and their businesses. Read on to learn about what Airbnb Plus is and what you can do to become a Plus verified host.

What is Airbnb Plus?

Airbnb Plus was launched in 2018 by Airbnb, as part of its strategy to offer a more tailored rental experience for guests seeking top-class hospitality standards. According to Airbnb, the aim of the Plus experience is to offer guests all the comforts of home while they travel. 

The rentals and rooms listed in the program differ from regular Airbnb listings because they are meant to offer amenities and services on par with a hotel, whether it’s plush linen, a luxurious bathroom, or exceptional host communication. It currently operates in multiple cities, including London, Melbourne, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, spanning six continents—and counting! 

How Much Does Airbnb Plus Cost?

For hosts who want to apply for the program, Airbnb charges a non-refundable application fee of $149 (be aware that this fee covers the review process but doesn’t guarantee that you will be accepted). Guests pay an average nightly rate of $250 when staying at an Airbnb Plus home or apartment. 

Why Did Airbnb Create the Plus Program?

In recent years, as Airbnb’s popularity has soared, there has been a massive influx of new hosts registering their rentals on the platform. This has made it more difficult for guests to sift through endless options, trying to find their ideal property. On top of this, many of these rentals suffer from a noteworthy lack of quality control.

Guests who book these properties based on the advertised listing often get an unpleasant shock when they arrive, only to discover the rental is vastly different from the listing description! The Plus program solves this problem by offering a range of vetted properties that have passed a quality-control inspection, and offer a standardized level of services and amenities.  Its introduction has made it easier for guests to sort through properties to find the ones that match their preferences.

Guests can rest assured that these properties have been verified for quality by Airbnb, and will meet their expectations. At the same time, hosts now have the ability to advertise directly to the audiences that they want to attract. Plus also offers extended customer support to both hosts and guests. 

Airbnb Plus Requirements for Hosts

In order to ensure consistent quality and excellence, Airbnb carefully reviews and selects prospective hosts and their properties according to a strict procedure, before admitting them to the program. To qualify for Airbnb Plus, your first need to ensure your property is located in a participating city.

Hosts can either apply to have their properties included in the Plus portfolio, or they can be invited to join directly by Airbnb. Before being allowed to apply, there are certain requirements that hosts need to meet.  Airbnb requires that hosts maintain the following minimum standards:

• Highly rated—To be included in the program, an Airbnb host’s ratings must have an average rating of 4.8 or higher.
• Reliable—The host must have accepted 95% of booking requests that come into their property over the course of a year.
• Consistent—The host will need to demonstrate that they have had no cancelations in the past year (except in extenuating circumstances).

Aside from host status, Airbnb also reviews all potential properties against strict quality and design standards. If your application is accepted, your property will receive an onsite inspection from professionals who will vet it for suitability. All Airbnb Plus properties are either an entire house, apartment, or a private room with its own bathroom. To be Plus verified, your property must be:

• Thoughtfully designed—All properties must pass inspections from approved decorators and photographers who will judge a property based on its aesthetic and style. Qualifying properties should display a consistent sense of style across rooms and use decor that elevates the overall look and feel.
• Well-equipped—Rentals must be fully equipped and offer a range of amenities that guests would expect in their own home. This includes:
• A stocked kitchen with cooking and dining utensils
• A bathroom with towels and toiletries
• A television with streaming or cable options
• Other electronics like a hairdryer, iron and a safety deposit box
• Well-maintained—Properties must be kept immaculate both outside and inside. They should be tidy, clutter-free, and regularly cleaned and serviced. Taps in kitchens and bathrooms should have strong water pressure. All amenities and appliances must be in good working condition, from Wi-Fi down to the locks on each door. 

What is the Difference between Airbnb Plus and Superhost Status?

Although the Airbnb Plus program and Superhost status are both sought after by Airbnb hosts, they are not the same thing. To become a Superhost, you need to have:

• A host rating of 4.8 or higher
• Completed at least 10 trips or completed three reservations that add up to at least 100 nights
• A 90% response rate to queries
• A cancelation rate of no more than 1% (only one cancelation for every one hundred bookings).

The Superhost status is awarded to hosts who provide outstanding communication and service to their guests, while the Plus system accepts hosts who have both exceptional hospitality skills and a unique and well-maintained rental property.  Many Superhosts go on to become Airbnb Plus hosts, and you will be required to display Superhost-level communication to provide a top-notch guest experience.

How Can I Get Airbnb Plus Verified?

If you want to qualify as eligible for Airbnb Plus, you will need to work consistently to ensure you meet the host requirements to be Plus verified. This can take time, as you will have to build up a solid record of consistent bookings, zero cancelations, and a stellar host rating from guests. You will also need to furnish and decorate your property so it meets the standards of quality set out by the Plus regulations.

Airbnb doesn’t disclose the checklist that it works from when conducting home inspections. This may leave hosts feeling unsure about where to begin, but working from the requirements above will help you to get started on creating your ideal rental. Consider working with an interior decorator to help you plan color and style themes for your rental, and try to include a bit of your own personality in it for extra credit.

If you enjoy bright colors, then try adding a colorful statement piece in each room, such as a sofa or lampshade. If you prefer an understated look, opt for a chic minimalist decor theme.

Remember that you need to strive to create your own style for your rental, don’t try to copy the decor of other plus homes. More often than not, home inspectors are looking for a home that has a unique and original style, with a touch of personal flair. Since every property is manually reviewed for inclusion in the program, the final decision on whether or not a property will be included is at the discretion of Airbnb’s staff.

Airbnb Plus Benefits for Guests

The Plus program offers several key benefits for guests:

1. Established Standards for Listings—Airbnb Plus has made it easier for guests who are searching for rentals of a particular standard to find what they are looking for. They’ll no longer have to worry about surprises and differences in amenities between their favorite hotels and Airbnb properties.
2. A More Tailored Selection of Rentals—Guests have high expectations when it comes to booking vacation rentals. Airbnb Plus finally establishes a more tailored selection of properties. Guests who want luxury and quality now don’t have to waste their time sifting through listings that don’t match their requirements.
3. Premium Customer Support—Guests who book properties that are enrolled in the Plus program will receive premium customer support from Airbnb. This helps them to resolve issues, like cancellation and refund options, faster and get support when they need it.
4. Faster Booking—By using the Plus program, guests no longer have to worry about being declined by hosts, as it requires that hosts accept nearly all bookings they receive.
5. Suited for Events and Special Occasions—Airbnb Plus makes it easier than ever for guests to find properties for specific occasions. Whether they are traveling for a honeymoon, family vacation, or an active weekend outdoors, Collections make it easy for them to find what they want.

Airbnb Plus Benefits for Hosts

Hosts can also enjoy a wide range of benefits from becoming Plus verified:

1. You’ll Earn More Bookings—Plus verified properties represent the crème de la crème of Airbnb options. In addition, because no other vacation rental platform offers the unique features of this service, it is only expected to increase the number of bookings that you receive. 
2. Guests Will Trust you More—Airbnb Plus performs the due diligence on every property so that guests don’t have to work as hard to figure everything out. As a result, you will get more guests who will understand that you’re an expert at delivering a fantastic experience for them. You will likely have fewer questions and concerns, as well as fewer cancelation and refund requests happening.
3. You Can Charge a Premium—Since you’ll no longer be just a Superhost but a member of Airbnb Plus, you’ll be able to raise your prices on your bookings. Instead of having to compete with every single user on the Airbnb platform, your competitors will become only those other hosts who are Plus verified in your city. If your property offers a fairly unique experience in comparison to other properties, you might even have less competition.
4. You’ll Deliver Better Service—Now that you have to abide by the additional standards of the program, you’ll deliver an even better service. With the guidance provided by Airbnb staff and vendors, you’ll have access to interior design advice, professional photography, premium customer support options, and much more.

Conclusion

As seen above, Airbnb Plus is a welcome addition to the Airbnb platform that will only make using Airbnb better for everyone. Guests can enjoy excellent service that is guaranteed, and hosts can use their Plus status to get ahead of the competition and attract more bookings.

To help craft an excellent vacation rental service, consider using automation to set your business on autopilot. Vacation rental software, like iGMS, helps rental owners to save time and simplify their operations with the following features: 

• Automate your daily management tasks like messaging guests, drafting reviews, and compiling financial reports.
• Manage all of your reservations from Airbnb, Vrbo/Homeaway, and Booking.com on the same dashboard using our integrated and advanced channel manager.
• Streamline the process of team management, schedule cleanings, and maintenance tasks.
  Automate Your Business