Today, there are some people who use websites like Airbnb exclusively when they are looking for a place to stay while traveling. Somewhere that creates that home-away-from-home feel with an immersion into the local culture.
For boutique hotel owners, this could mean they are overlooked by the very guests who would find their rooms or suites a perfect fit. At Airbnb’s inception, hotels were excluded completely from their platform, meaning they could not reap any of the benefits of the new market Airbnb was delving into.
Luckily, that is changing.
Boutique Hotel vs. Airbnb
Over the past few years, Airbnb has changed their rules allowing boutique hotels to list their rooms on the site. The result has been successful for renters, hotel owners, and Airbnb. But, some hotel owners are still leery of delving into this new space.
What does Airbnb have to say on the subject? Here is what Airbnb outlines as their standards for hotels that are listing:
“We welcome listings hosted by professional hospitality providers on Airbnb as long as they offer unique spaces and personal hospitality to the Airbnb community.
Some of the qualities we look for in these listings include:
- Access to common gathering spaces and/or events
- Guest rooms with personal touches that are individually unique and/or local in design
- Guest rooms and common spaces that incorporate local influences
- Unique design characteristics which set the property apart from others
- High-quality photography”
Does this sound like your boutique hotel? Of course it does! That’s why listing on Airbnb can be a great next step for your hotel.
We’ve outlined some tips to help you get started:
Know the Guidelines
While Airbnb does hail boutique hotels as a good fit for listing, there are some guidelines to keep in mind. Including:
- Locally relevant or unique amenities (ex: Local food or beverage, unique features)
- Local maps with personalized recommendations (ex: Not a local tourist bureau map with ads)
- Local tours (ex: Neighborhood walking tours)
- An owner or manager that is available on property full-time
It is important to remember that one of the things that Airbnb champions over all else in regards to hotels is how unique the experience is for guests. A great way to make sure that your space is unlike any other is with custom hotel furniture and unique, guest-centric amenities.
Create a Listing
The process for creating a listing is much the same for a hotel as it is for a private homeowner. You’ll want to take time to look through the site and make sure you don’t miss any little details during the listing process.
List Multiple Rooms
Another unique feature offered by Airbnb (that isn’t offered through all 3rd party booking platforms), is the ability to easily list each room you have available as an individual entity in its system. In doing this, you’ll be able to have a separate calendar for each one and keep each one’s schedule independent of one another.
However, you can offer potential guests a discount for booking multiple rooms through the platform using a “special offer” feature through the website.
Creating the Perfect Boutique Hotel for Airbnb
While Airbnb has caused a wave of change in the hotel industry, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. By taking advantage of the technology that’s available (and the low booking fees associated with the platform compared to other 3rd party booking sites), you’ll be able to benefit from Airbnb and introduce a new group of customers to your hotel and the high level of service you provide.
Focus on unique designs and quality accommodations for guests, and you’ll be on your way to success in the Airbnb realm.
