In its Winter 2024 release, Airbnb has officially launched its Co-Host Network, an updated and formalized version of its “Experienced Co-Host Program” that we’ve been tracking since June 2022. This update reflects Airbnb’s intent to streamline the hosting process by connecting property owners with highly-rated, experienced co-hosts through a platform integrated directly into the Airbnb app.

Alongside this launch, there are notable updates for hosts and guests, focusing on ease of use and personalization—clear signals of Airbnb’s continued focus on refining the user experience for both sides of the platform.

The Co-Host Network: A Formal Launch with Enhanced Features

The introduction of the Co-Host Network isn’t entirely new—it builds on Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to add to its supply and help hosts delegate the management of their listings through trusted partners. Now, with this formalized version, Airbnb aims to provide hosts with easier access to vetted, experienced co-hosts who can handle anything from listing setup to full property management. These co-hosts, who boast an average rating of 4.86 (compared to 4.62 for large property management companies, as pointed out in the official release), offer a range of services tailored to each host’s needs.

Co-hosts can assist with various tasks, such as:

• Creating your listing, including taking professional photos
• Setting pricing and managing availability
• Handling guest messaging and reservations
• Providing onsite guest support
• Cleaning and maintaining the property
• Interior design and styling
• Getting hosting permits
• Offering specialty services like landscaping or hospitality coaching

Airbnb emphasizes the flexibility of the Co-Host Network, allowing property owners to hire co-hosts for specific tasks or to take over the entire management of a listing. This service is currently available in 10 countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Canada, the United States, and Brazil, with expansion plans set for 2025.

How the Matching Algorithm Works

A key part of this new Co-Host Network is the sophisticated algorithm Airbnb uses to match hosts with the right co-hosts. The system takes into account over 80 factors to recommend co-hosts best suited to a host’s specific needs. These factors include:

• Location: Proximity to the listing plays a significant role, ensuring co-hosts can provide onsite support when needed.
• Hosting experience: The algorithm prioritizes co-hosts with a proven track record, including how long they’ve been hosting and the number of listings they manage.
• Type of home: Co-hosts with experience managing homes similar to the host’s listing (e.g., luxury villas vs. urban apartments) are ranked higher in search results.
• Guest satisfaction: Co-hosts with consistently high guest ratings, often Superhosts, are favored, ensuring hosts can trust the quality of their service.

With more than 10,000 co-hosts on the platform, Airbnb’s goal is to make the process of finding and collaborating with a co-host as seamless as possible. Hosts can review co-host profiles, read guest feedback, and communicate directly within the app.

Host and Co-Host Financial Arrangements

An important aspect for hosts to understand is the financial relationship between hosts and co-hosts. Typically, co-hosts charge a fee of 17% to 20% of the host’s payout, with additional charges sometimes negotiated for specific tasks such as listing setup (which could be around $200). Airbnb facilitates these payments within the app, making it easier for hosts and co-hosts to manage financial transactions. Notably, Airbnb does not charge any additional fees for matching hosts and co-hosts—a crucial point for hosts who may be concerned about extra costs.
What It Takes to Become a Co-Host

For those interested in joining Airbnb’s Co-Host Network, the platform sets clear requirements to ensure only experienced and reliable co-hosts are accepted. To qualify, potential co-hosts must:

• Have an active listing as a host or co-host with either full access or at least calendar and messaging access.
• Have hosted or co-hosted 10 or more stays (or at least 100 nights) within the past 12 months.
• Maintain an average rating of 4.8 stars or higher from guests over the last year.
• Keep a cancellation rate below 3%, with allowances for extenuating circumstances.
• Ensure their Airbnb account is in good standing, with verified identity and up-to-date profile information.

Additionally, co-hosts must comply with local regulations, such as securing the necessary permits or licenses if required by their region. This level of vetting helps Airbnb guarantee the quality of its co-hosts, offering property owners a reliable pool of candidates.

Updates for Hosts: Pricing Tips, Quick Replies, Better View of Earnings

Price Tip Suggestions: The Drive for Competitive Rates

One of the headline updates for hosts is the nightly price tip feature. This tool offers hosts suggested price adjustments based on competitive data from similar listings in the area, which can be applied with just one tap. The goal is to help hosts remain competitive, particularly in crowded markets.

However, the focus on the word “competitive” prompts concerns. Given the current environment of price sensitivity, where travelers are searching for deals, this could imply Airbnb will encourage hosts to lower prices in order to boost bookings. While the tool offers convenience, it remains to be seen how much pressure it will exert on hosts to price below their comfort zones in pursuit of occupancy.

Quick Replies: Streamlining Guest Communication

In an effort to simplify guest communication, Airbnb has introduced Quick Replies, a feature that allows hosts to create customizable, pre-written templates for messages. Hosts can use these templates for common interactions, such as sending check-in instructions, sharing WiFi details, or providing checkout information.

This update is particularly impactful considering that guest response rates play a significant role in a host’s performance on Airbnb. By enabling faster, more efficient responses, Quick Replies can help hosts maintain high response times without the hassle of composing repetitive messages from scratch.

Earnings Dashboard: Tailored Financial Insights

Airbnb is also improving the earnings dashboard, allowing hosts to now customize their reports and gain better insight into their income streams by type. Personalized earnings cards now help hosts track when to expect payments, adding more financial transparency and control.

For hosts juggling multiple listings or those trying to optimize their profitability, these personalized financial tools are a valuable addition. They also reflect Airbnb’s increasing focus on equipping hosts with data to better manage their properties, a nod to the growing sophistication of the short-term rental market.

Balancing Convenience with Control

Airbnb’s updates for hosts offer clear operational benefits, from pricing automation to better communication tools. However, these features also reflect a growing tension between convenience and control. While the platform’s goal is to make hosting more seamless, it’s essential for hosts to critically assess how much influence they’re willing to allow Airbnb to have over their pricing strategies, particularly as “competitive” pressures could push rates lower in an effort to capture more bookings.

Updates for Guests: Personalization at Every Step

Personalized Search Suggestions: Destinations Based on You

Airbnb is introducing Suggested Destinations to help guests find places to stay based on their past searches and booking history. When a guest taps the search bar, the app will now recommend destinations aligned with their preferences, cutting down on time spent browsing.

In addition to location suggestions, Airbnb also offers shortcuts to a user’s past searches and recently viewed listings, making it easier to revisit properties they may have considered. This feature emphasizes the platform’s shift towards personalization, tailoring the experience to individual user behavior.

Search Tips and Filters: Finding the Perfect Stay

Throughout the booking process, guests will now see Search Tips—suggestions designed to enhance their stay and help them take advantage of potential savings. For example, if a guest is searching for a six-day trip, the system might suggest extending the stay by one more day to unlock weekly discounts.

Airbnb has also redesigned its search filters, which are now customized based on previous bookings and current search parameters. These Recommended Filters make it easier to find accommodations that match specific needs, like a family-friendly home with a backyard or a business-ready space with a dedicated work area.

Personalized Listing Highlights: See What Matters Most

When guests view a property listing, Airbnb will now highlight specific features relevant to their search, such as a playroom for families with children or a pet-friendly yard. These Personalized Listing Highlights allow guests to focus on the aspects of a property that align with their needs.

This update draws on the data Airbnb has been collecting from initiatives like Airbnb Icons, which asks users to complete detailed profiles about their travel preferences and interests. This data helps shape a more personalized interaction with listings, moving Airbnb closer to its goal of becoming an AI-powered travel concierge.

Simplified Checkout and Local Payments: Making the Transaction Easier

Airbnb has redesigned the checkout page to be shorter and include key details at a glance, making it faster for repeat users to confirm their reservations.

Airbnb is also expanding its Local Payment options to accommodate more international users. In addition to the usual credit card and PayPal options, guests will soon be able to pay with services like Vipps in Norway, Mobile Pay in Denmark, and MoMo in Vietnam. 

A Concierge-Like Experience

The overarching theme of these updates is clear: Airbnb is moving towards becoming more than just a platform for booking accommodation. With each release, the platform edges closer to being a fully personalized, AI-driven concierge service, offering curated travel experiences based on user data. From suggested stays to tailored listing details, these updates are designed to keep guests within the Airbnb ecosystem by offering them a unique, personalized experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Airbnb’s efforts to personalize the guest experience align with its long-term vision of using AI and data to create a seamless journey for travelers—one where the platform does the heavy lifting, and users simply choose the options that best fit their needs.

What It Means for Airbnb’s Future

Airbnb’s Winter 2024 updates reveal its clear focus: offering tailored, competitive solutions for both hosts and guests. The Co-Host Network strengthens its position as a hybrid platform that can cater to both casual hosts and those looking for more hands-off management solutions. Meanwhile, by personalizing the guest experience and simplifying host operations, Airbnb is positioning itself as a data-driven, AI-enhanced concierge service, providing more than just lodging.

With this release, Airbnb takes another step toward refining its ecosystem, a move that signals the company’s evolving ambitions to dominate more aspects of the travel industry in the years to come.