Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky, just confirmed it: The long-awaited Co-Hosting marketplace is launching this October. This new platform, predicted by Rental Scale-Up in early 2023, is set to reshape how property managers and hosts interact on Airbnb. In our 2024 Airbnb Strategy Report, we identified this launch as the most significant move Airbnb would make this year.
Why it matters: For property managers, this development is both an opportunity and a challenge. The Co-Hosting marketplace, also known under several names—Experienced Co-Hosting, Experienced Co-Host Services, Airbnb Hosting Services, the Airbnb Co-Host Marketplace, or Co-Hosting Platform—allows experienced co-hosts to offer their services to hosts who need help managing their listings. While it opens doors for growing your business within the Airbnb ecosystem, it also intensifies competition.
The big picture:
- What it is: The Co-Hosting marketplace connects hosts with experienced co-hosts who can assist with everything from listing creation to guest communication and property maintenance.
- How it works: Hosts can search for co-hosts by location, browsing profiles that detail services, experience, and guest ratings. Co-hosts operate in up to nine service categories, including:
- Creating listings
- Taking photos
- Preparing spaces
- Cleaning and maintaining properties
- Adding personal touches
- Guest communication
- Pricing tools and calendar settings
- Check-in and checkout
- Payment options: Co-hosts get paid through various methods, such as a share of the cleaning fee, a percentage of bookings, or a fixed amount per booking. Payments are managed by the host and start after guests check-in.
What’s next: Airbnb’s Co-Hosting tools are designed to make the process seamless. These tools allow hosts and co-hosts to manage listings, guest communication, and payouts effectively. Co-hosts can have full access to manage entire listings or focus on specific tasks, depending on the permissions set by the host.
I’ve created a comprehensive video to walk you through everything you need to know about Airbnb’s Co-Hosting relaunch!
But what’s different this time?
Airbnb has learned from its earlier, less formal attempt at co-hosting. The first version of the Co-Hosting feature launched a few years ago, wasn’t truly a marketplace—it was more of an informal arrangement. Hosts could add friends or family as co-hosts to help manage their listings, but there was no standardized system or platform to connect with professional co-hosts outside of their network.
This informal approach led to inconsistent experiences for both hosts and guests. Without clear standards or professional tools, the quality of service varied greatly, which sometimes resulted in poor guest experiences and frustrated hosts. Many hosts found it difficult to find reliable co-hosts, and the lack of a structured platform made managing these relationships challenging.
The revamped program, powered by technology from Luckey, is a response to these challenges. The new marketplace is far more professional, offering a structured platform with clear standards for co-hosts. Now, co-hosts are vetted, and their services are standardized, ensuring a more consistent and higher-quality experience for both hosts and guests. The integration of Luckey’s technology has also brought in better tools for managing listings, communication, and payments, making the co-hosting process more efficient and reliable.
For property managers: The marketplace is available in key markets, including the US, Canada, and several European countries. To join as an Experienced Co-Host, you need to meet criteria like hosting at least 10 stays in the past year with a guest rating of 4.8 or higher.
Why this matters to you: Airbnb is positioning itself as more than just a booking platform—it’s becoming a comprehensive ecosystem for property management. By connecting small property managers and co-hosts with homeowners, Airbnb is facilitating business growth entirely within its ecosystem. However, this also creates a “stickiness” factor, making it harder for small property managers to leave or diversify to other platforms. The competition for basic property management services is about to heat up, and those who adapt quickly will thrive.
What to watch: As Airbnb continues to expand its services, property managers must decide how to leverage this new platform—either to grow their business or to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
Why Property Managers Should Care About Airbnb’s New Co-Hosting Platform
Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky, recently confirmed the launch of Airbnb’s Co-Hosting Marketplace this October, officially called the Airbnb Experienced Co-Hosting Platform.
Why it matters: Property managers, whether you see Airbnb as a friend or foe, need to pay attention. This platform offers new opportunities but also introduces more competition.
The big picture:
- What it is: The Experienced Co-Hosting Platform connects hosts with experienced co-hosts who can assist with tasks like creating listings, managing check-ins, and more.
- Opportunity: For established property managers, this platform could be a valuable source of leads within the Airbnb ecosystem.
- Challenge: Smaller, local co-hosts can now enter the market more easily, potentially undercutting prices for property management services.
Details:
- Current availability: The platform is live in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Australia, and the UK.
- Expected global rollout: Our analysis suggests the platform will likely be available globally when it officially launches in October 2024.
How it works:
- Payments: Co-hosts can earn through various methods—sharing cleaning fees, taking a percentage of bookings, or receiving a fixed amount per booking.
- Tools: Airbnb provides co-hosting tools that make managing listings, guest communication, and payouts seamless, leveling the playing field for smaller players.
What’s different this time?
Airbnb’s first attempt at co-hosting was informal and lacked structure. This new version, powered by Luckey’s technology, is more professional, with standardized services and better tools, making it easier for smaller co-hosts to compete with established managers.
Bottom line: The Experienced Co-Hosting Platform could help property managers find new leads but also increase local competition. As Airbnb strengthens its ecosystem, property managers will need to adapt quickly to stay competitive.
