Airbnb has come a long way from the mattress that its founders placed on their living room floor. But 15 years on, it is still trying to get its own house in order. The home-sharing platform was marketed as a cheaper alternative to hotels, yet that view has changed over the years.
Hosts have increased their rates, and some guests have reported being given chores to perform like stripping beds and taking out the trash. The combination has led many travelers to consider staying in hotels instead, believing it provides a better, less expensive experience. Airbnb’s co-founder and current CEO, Brian Chesky, has said that hosts should be realistic when setting their prices.
“We want prices to move and to be more competitive vis-à-vis hotels — that is really important,” he said. “When our hosts provide better deals, they tend to make more money.”
Chesky recommends that hosts take a look at the going rate for hotels in their area “so they have a sense of what travelers are getting on other platforms.”
Guests will now also be able to see the exact amount they will be paying when scanning prices. Previously, Airbnb had excluded taxes and cleaning fees on the given rate, leaving some with a rude awakening just before clocking “confirm”. In a bid to be more transparent, all fees will now be included in the price shown.
