EP178: This Week in the World of Airbnb - a podcast by Jasper Ribbers

Friends, foes and IPOs dominated Airbnb news this week. The company’s agreement with the city of Barcelona made headlines, as did its response to the New York hotel industry’s vicious attack ad with a powerful commercial of its own. Is Airbnb getting its proverbial ducks in a row in preparation for an IPO?

Hostfully President and Co-Founder David Jacoby joins Jasper to talk through the comprehensive overview of Airbnb that hit the pages of Skift this week, exploring the company’s development and how its preparation to go public is likely affecting leadership’s decisions. They also address the details of the reconciliation with Barcelona and the ongoing rift with the hotel lobby, as well as a recently published Airbnb price comparison map of Europe. Spoiler alert: Macedonia may become a new vacation hotspot for travelers on a budget!

David and Jasper close with the popular Q&A portion of the show, speaking to your concerns about the Airbnb Extenuating Circumstances Policy, a possible glitch in the new tool that links calendars for hosts with multiple listings, and listing on multiple platforms. Listen in for property management software recommendations and advice around contacting Airbnb right away when unusual circumstances arise.

Topics Covered

Article #1: Hunting for an Airbnb Bargain? Map Reveals the Lowest Nightly Rates Around Europe
•Useful for travelers looking for affordable options
•Iceland is most expensive at £112 (approximately $170)
•Scandinavian countries also expensive
•Macedonia (£26), Albania (£27) and Moldova (£28) are most affordable ($40-$50)
•Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia surprisingly affordable
•Rates seem to correlate with how expensive countries are in general
•Greece, Switzerland much more expensive for party of six vs. party of two
•Andorra, Liechtenstein very cheap for larger groups

Article #2: Airbnb Slams NYC Hotel Industry’s ‘Attempt to Protect Their Ability to Price Gouge’ in New Ad
•Response to attack ad linking short-term rental to terrorism
•Features stay-at-home dad who supplements income with Airbnb
•Airbnb spending $500,000 to broadcast
•Highlights other side of affordable housing debate

Article #3: Airbnb’s Road to an IPO: Everything You Could Possibly Need to Know
•Comprehensive overview of company
•Discusses regulatory battles and discrimination issues
•Examines Instant Book and employee fatigue
•Ambition to become a ‘super brand of travel’
•Mentions David and Jasper!

Article #4: Barcelona and Airbnb Reach Deal After Months of Conflict
•Airbnb agreed to remove listings lacking permit
•Barcelona seeks to curb boom of visitors
•Airbnb resolving disputes city by city
•Played out differently in NY (hosts fined rather than Airbnb)
•Agreements with local municipalities give Airbnb leg up on competitors

Q1: A guest who had reserved my apartment for a month contacted me to say he wasn’t coming because his wife had passed away; however, he didn’t cancel his reservation. As a result, my calendar was blocked, and I was unable to book any other guests during that time. Now Airbnb has informed me that they are deducting the full amount I received from the guest per the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. I am sympathetic to the guest’s situation, but Airbnb is an important source of income for me. Now I am having trouble contacting Airbnb. What should I do?
•Contact Airbnb right away when uncommon situations arise
•Should have requested that Airbnb cancel reservation
•Call 1-855-424-7262 in US
•Search Airbnb customer service numbers by country

Q2: I have three listings on Airbnb, and I make use of the option to link the calendars to avoid double bookings.

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