Become an Airbnb Experience Host and Showcase Your Unique Tours and Offerings

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The Insider @ Houst
Last updated on
April 13, 2023

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Become an Airbnb Experience Host and Showcase Your Unique Tours and Offerings

Airbnb Management Services by Houst | Short-Term Rental Experts

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Houst is a leading property management company specialising in short-term and medium-term bookings in eight countries. With over 7 years of experience and managing over 300,000 bookings, we help homeowners make the most of their properties.

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Imagine participating in a tour or activity that isn't centered on a specific location and also isn't your standard guided tour. What would that be like? A tour that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the true passion of the tour and activity provider, in their local community. 

This could be something like goat yoga, cooking classes, hiking with a pro, or even visiting a popular tourist attraction like the Louvre with an art historian who also happens to be a comedian.

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What's on offer through Airbnb Experiences?

Airbnb Experiences are activities that are curated by local hosts or tour operators all around the world. These hosts and tour operators may be found all over the world. 

It's possible that you're already familiar with the primary service that Airbnb provides, which is a platform that connects local homeowners with guests going to that specific destination. On the other hand, they aren't only showing passengers where to stay anymore; they're also showing them what to do.

What exactly is an Airbnb Experience, though?

Airbnb Experiences facilitates connections between local tour and activity providers and vacationers interested in booking one-of-a-kind tours that are not available anywhere else.

There is a growing demand for trips and experiences more true to their roots. 62% of visitors want to explore different cultures, 52% want to eat unique foods, and 33% want to embrace meeting new people, according to a study conducted by Booking.com that surveyed 20,500 tourists worldwide.

Airbnb has responded to the demand that people have made for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences by providing those very things. Airbnb Experiences, which operates under the motto "live like a local," provides travellers with the opportunity to partake in activities related to their passions and interests, but in a setting and environment entirely foreign to them.

The nicest aspect about it is that tour guides and activity operators don't need to host homes on Airbnb to organize an experience, and guests don't need to stay in an Airbnb home to take part in an Airbnb Experience. This eliminates a barrier to entry for both parties. Everyone is welcome to participate in Airbnb Experiences.

Ready to elevate your Airbnb hosting experience in London? Explore our Airbnb Management London services and discover how we can assist you in maximising your property’s potential. Whether you’re an experienced host or just starting out, our expert team is here to help you achieve seamless property management and higher rental returns. Find out more about our services and embark on your journey to success today.


List Of Airbnb Experiences

The following is an A-B-C list of Airbnb Experiences:

  • It provides services to all tourists when they are staying in a particular location; it also serves domestic tourists who wish to experience their locality in a manner that is distinct from the norm.
  • The tours and other experiences that conventional tour and activity providers provide are not comparable to those that are provided by the experiences that the locals lead.
  • On the Airbnb Experiences platform, anyone in the area may sign up to share their passion.
  • There isn't just one market for Airbnb Experiences; they appeal to various customers. While some travellers utilize the site to make new friends, others look for opportunities to engage in one-of-a-kind activities available only in their destination.
  • It is convenient for those travelling in groups and those going alone.
  • Hosting on Airbnb is not the same as participating in an Airbnb Experience. It is not necessary for hosts to have overnight guests in their homes to participate in the experience unless the activity specifically requires so.
  • There are no limitations placed on Airbnb Experiences hosts regarding the number of times they can put on a specific experience, so they are free to host whenever their schedule allows.

How does Airbnb Experiences stack up against other online activity providers and aggregators?

Let's take a moment to discuss the competitive landscape of the tour and activity industry.

The landscape of the competitors.

Airbnb is up against several other major businesses that offer similar services.

Airbnb Experiences is a platform that gives one-of-a-kind and exclusive chances to tourists who want to "live like a local." The company aims to attract tourists who don't want to be labelled "tourists." Yet, the size of that particular market subset is on the lower end.

Phocus Wright estimates the worldwide revenue from tours and activities is a whopping $135 billion. Still, just 4% of that revenue has been grabbed by online vendors such as Victor and GetYourGuide. When making tour reservations, it is evident from the data that people have not fully adopted online resellers. Why?

Travellers are sluggish to adjust to rapid changes in part because tour operators have not yet completely grasped the potential of the web market. For instance, most travellers feel confident reserving their accommodations (on the other side of the world) online because they are accustomed to doing so – the internet travel market has been around for quite some time and is quite established.

Travellers typically wait until they arrive before making reservations for tours and activities there. This is because it is more convenient for them. They are looking for recommendations from both the hotel at which they are staying as well as from locals and other visitors that they come into contact with. According to Phocuswright's research, the majority of the tour firms that are active in a tourist destination are unknown to the visitors who visit that location.

Why is Airbnb trying to enter such a niche sector when there are many other large competitors?

In all honesty, Airbnb Experiences is not attempting to compete with conventional travel agencies. They target a niche clientele interested in experiencing authentic travel like a local would. Their market is alternative and small. In addition, the maximum number of people that can participate in an Airbnb Experience at once is 10, which means that the company is not seeking to compete with conventional tour and activity providers. At least, not at this time.

On the other hand, its competitor, GetYourGuide, is confident it will seize a larger portion of the market as vacationers become accustomed to making advance reservations for tours and activities. They also place their bets on the previously established pattern that most people still favour going to famous landmarks and places. Because of this, they emphasize carefully selecting classic activities provided by seasoned and experienced tour guides. That model is without a doubt very amenable to scaling.

Airbnb, on the other hand, has decided to go with a strategy that is completely original to them. Some have criticized this approach as being overly specialized and difficult to scale.

It's possible that Airbnb is betting on increasing the level of trust it has with guests as a way to attract them to book trips in advance. They may have something to count on to compete with the big guys (Viator, GetYourGuide, and Klook), and that something is the fact that they have an aggregating platform where inexperienced and seasoned tour operators may coexist together. It seems to be working so far.

Should you organize an Airbnb Experience for your guests?

The fact that Airbnb is today one of the largest online travel resellers, catering to the needs of millions of customers, is the primary advantage of hosting an experience on the platform. Simply said, it's an excellent chance to showcase your tours and other offerings to people who might become new clients.

You should remember the kind of visitors that Airbnb Experiences intends to attract, even though that exposure is attractive. These are travellers who want to experience truly unique local tours and live like the people in the destination they are visiting. They do not have any interest in conventional or "cookie-cutter" high-volume excursions and activities. People seek customized experiences that are one of a kind and difficult to find in other places.

Are you prepared, willing, and eager to provide it for me? In that case, it's possible that Airbnb Experiences is not the right platform for you.

If, on the other hand, you feel that you are prepared to dig in, the following information will provide you with the knowledge you need to get started as an Airbnb Experience host.

Looking for expert insights on Airbnb management in London? Explore our comprehensive guide to discover valuable tips, strategies, and solutions for successful hosting in the vibrant city.

How to get started as a host for Airbnb Experiences?

  • Build a unique profile
  • Because Airbnb is committed to providing its users with one-of-a-kind cultural opportunities, you need to differentiate yourself from the very beginning. 
  • You should come up with a one-of-a-kind description of the tours and activities that you have to offer so that you stand out from the competitors. (Try using visuals such as videos to captivate passengers and help you differentiate yourself from competitors.)

Specialize

If you are unsure whether your business would be a good fit for Airbnb Experiences, you may want to consider providing a personalized tour that is not provided by any of your competitors. In point of fact, you should take advantage of this opportunity to try out one of your less popular excursions or one of your newest tours.

Examine the policies and procedures for Airbnb Experiences.

You should familiarize yourself with the Airbnb Experiences standards before signing up for the service. After familiarising yourself with the requirements, you may easily apply to the provided online platform. After approval, you will be able to start hosting.

Get familiar with the commission rates for Airbnb Experiences.

Regarding commissions and fees, Airbnb's accommodations company and experience service couldn't be more different. While they charge a commission fee of 3% for the accommodation service (and charge guests additional costs), they charge a commission fee of 20% per booking for their Experiences service.

While setting the prices for your products or services, you must not forget to factor in the commission fee of 20% (the commission fee is deducted before you receive your payments).

A Calendar of Airbnb Adventures

On its platform, Airbnb provides a calendar that might assist you in managing your bookings. Nevertheless, they are unable to connect their calendar to your own reservation system because they do not have this functionality. So, you will either need to discover a way to manually keep track of your reservations or locate a way to incorporate Airbnb bookings into your own reservation system.

You can manually import your bookings made through Airbnb if you are utilizing Regiondo as your booking platform. You don't have an account? Get started with your risk-free trial right away.

The Costs, Including Insurance

After your activity or tour has been hosted on Airbnb, money is issued within twenty-four hours. The money will be transferred according to the mode of payment that you select, which may differ depending on the country. You are responsible for obtaining local insurance and license coverage; Airbnb does not offer free coverage against liability claims greater than $1 million.

Think about the required number of guests

On Airbnb Experiences, there is no requirement for a minimum number of guests. This indicates that you are required to carry out the tour or activity even if there is only one participant scheduled for it. Emergency situations do not typically allow for the cancellation of reservations; nevertheless, there are several exceptions to this rule. Airbnb retains the right to delist you if you have a pattern of regularly cancelling reservations.

After going through those requirements, you can make an educated conclusion regarding whether Airbnb Experiences is a good fit for your tour and activity company.

Wrapping up

The data doesn't lie. Tourists today are craving distinctive travel experiences. Airbnb is satisfying that desire while positioning itself to seize a significant portion of that market. On the other hand, it might take some time until they completely control that market.

The market is already highly competitive, and the fact that tourists have not fully embraced online tour and activity resellers make the situation much more difficult. But Airbnb is taking a chance on itself; perhaps we should do the same.

The Insider @ Houst

The Insider @ Houst

The Insider team at Houst is dedicated to providing up-to-date and relevant information on short-term rentals. If you have hosting inquiries, please write to us at expert@houst.com. For guest inquiries, reach out at guest@houst.com. We are here to help you navigate the world of short lets and look forward to assisting you with your needs.

The Insider @ Houst

The Insider @ Houst

The Insider team at Houst is dedicated to providing up-to-date and relevant information on short-term rentals. If you have hosting inquiries, please write to us at expert@houst.com. For guest inquiries, reach out at guest@houst.com. We are here to help you navigate the world of short lets and look forward to assisting you with your needs.

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