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We’re now well aware of the far-reaching consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on the short-term rental industry. Property managers around the world are faced with an inevitable influx of booking cancellations. While it may seem like the only option is to brace for impact, now is the time to be proactive.

With this global crisis putting the world somewhat on pause, it’s critical to consider new strategies for preventing future cancellations and ensuring that canceled bookings aren’t entirely lost opportunities.

Here are some key strategies for making the most of current cancellations and mitigating the risk of future losses.

Targeting the right customers

Short stay rental market for the tourism during this crisis does die out, however, to whoever actually needs an accommodation whether its due to quarantine, border closure or city lock-downs. Those guests generally tend to seek for a longer reservation and that is what we should target and attract.

Make it appealing

Put highlights in your listing profile photos: sanitized property , enough toilet paper rolls, masks provided, grocery shopping, or fast wifi, playstation 4 and games provided. something to let these guests know it is comfy for a long stay by a glance .

Pricing

Increase long term discount and lower daily prices. Not from 5% to 8% weekly or monthly discount, we are talking about 10-20 % discount or more. Remember empty property would not make a dime for you.

Change it to flexible refund policy.

At this stage, we should worry about if we have any guests left , not what if guests cancel before they come. Guests want more protection toward themselves , give them what they want. Don’t forget to highlight this in your listing profile picture to let guests see yours is better than others.

Make the move first

Focus on the bookings you still have in place to limit the damage before guests even have a chance to completely cancel their reservations. Given that travel regulations are tightening, it’s likely that you’ll experience more guests seeking to cancel, so it’s important to be proactive before they do so.

For guests with bookings in the next 3-4 weeks who are likely to cancel due to COVID-19, try reaching out with offers designed to avoid outright cancellations and secure future business. For example, ask guests if they’d like to reschedule their reservation — and to help seal the deal, include a discount that guests can use when booking new dates.

Staying Aware

The best way to remain proactive and offer guests effective solutions is by keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in our industry as a result of coronavirus. To make sure you’re always on top of the cancellation policies of the OTAs (online travel agencies) your properties are listed on, refer to these helpful links:

• Airbnb’s Cancellation Policies
• com’s Important Information on Coronavirus
• HomeAway’s Coronavirus Cancellation Policies
• Vrbo’s Coronavirus Cancellation Policies

There are new policies and news updating on daily basis. Some of them are critical to help hosts get thro this Crisis.

Seeking for help from management agencies or management system

The way short stay managing agencies work is no income no commission. Especially with Oasis Stay, during the COVID-19 crisis, we offer list your properties first then charge later to lower the cost for owners to see if it works.

Guesty as a property management system is also worth mentioning. They are able to list your properties on multiple platforms syncing messages, payment, prices , tasks and help hosts to communicate with platforms. During the dark time, they have been helping a lot of agencies and hosts to stay on top.

Airbnb management Melbourne can be a lot of work, especially behind the scenes wherein you need to build your brand, grow it, reach out to clients, and manage their stay in addition to being completely professional at all times.

Here are 7 incredible yet practical tips that you can implement, as an Airbnb host in Melbourne, in order to stand out from other Melbourne Airbnb property managers:

1. Be detailed:

Pay close attention to detail. Only when you set right the detailed aspects of your home will your business start to skyrocket.  Your guests are not expecting any unpleasant surprises thrown their way. So, make sure you mention each aspect of your property in great detail so that your guests’ stay turns out to be nothing but pleasurable.

2. Be competitive:

Healthy competition is the key here. Sure, you may have the best services and the most beautiful and comfortable rental home, but with adequate positive reviews to back it up, potential clients may not take your business seriously.

Hence, make sure you always ask for feedback. In the case of positive feedback, dg deeper to know what precisely they liked while you can work on upgrading those services. A negative feedback definitely gives you more room to revamp your Melbourne Airbnb rental management skills for better customer experience in the future.

3. Be relevant:

Keep updating your services and postings regularly. You needn’t revamp your listings altogether but a few tweaks here and there will do the trick. Keep posting fresh pictures and keep your description trendy.

For instance, if there’s a popular show or an event happening nearby, you might want to mention it to the guest prior to booking so that you can hike your prices accordingly.

4. Be generous:

Sure, we understand you can’t be overly generous with every guest, but basics like shower gel, shampoo, and a spare toothbrush didn’t hurt anyone. While at it, some popular snacks and chocolates can be a good way to earn those brownie points!

5. Be financially apt:

It is important to be on the top of your game where financial and legal issues are concerned. Stay fully aware of the changing legalities regarding putting up your home on rent. Also, never hesitate to invest your money back into this business in order to gain much more returns sooner rather than later.

6. Be mindful:

Regardless of you renting your space just for the weekends or all year round, be mindful of your neighbors. Better still, keep them in the loop. In addition to that, make sure your guests are fully aware of the rules in your neighborhood pertaining to parking, loud music, and pets in the vicinity.

7. Be welcoming:

This is, perhaps, the biggest aspect that most Airbnb hosts don’t work upon. You need to make your guests feel wanted and welcome under all circumstances.

In order to do this, you can hand them a travel guide as soon as they land at your doorstep. This will include ways to access public transport, local eateries, shopping areas, and underrated areas in your city.

Also, you can include another booklet or guide which talks about your home in detail. Add a personal touch to it like a story that dates back to how and when the homeowner purchased the property and if there’s any sentimental value attached to it. Nothing establishes a bond stronger than an emotional connection.

While at it, include small details to go about your home in this guidebook as well, like running the faucet, radiators, and where to access the first-aid kit and so on.

Summing it up:

As a business owner, you need to stay consistent on these tips until your brand starts coming across as reliable and trustworthy to your clients. This may take anywhere between 6 months to a year to upgrade your Melbourne Airbnb property management, but the results are highly worth it!

Airbnb is one of the leading names in the vacation rental business promising its clients amazing, professional service. 12 years post its foundation, Airbnb continues to grow with steep figures every passing year.

However, not everyone knows about their humble beginnings when the company was still in its budding stage. Their future plans, numbers, and social work is far more interesting than what appears on the surface.

Here are 10 fun facts about Airbnb that will have you looking at them in a different light:

1. “Air” bnb:

The very first item to be rented by the founder Brian Chesky and his roommates was an air mattress on their living room floor. They did it as a desperate attempt to pay rent. The “air” in Airbnb is a tribute to their humble beginnings.

2. Standing out on breakfast:

Founded in 2008, the very first funding for Airbnb came from selling repackaged boxes of cereal ‘Obama O’s’ and ‘Cap’n McCain’s’ which was popular then due to the Presidential elections. It helped generate $30,000 by selling each box at $40.

3. Small in size, Big on experience:

A one-square meter water-proof construction house in Germany, one of the smallest houses and intended for one, was listed on Airbnb. It had a desk, a bed, and a chair.

It was one-euro-a-night rent on wheels and was the cheapest listing in Europe at the time. This inspired a young artist in Boston, Massachusetts to build a similar house which was a hit as well.

4. Variety of living spaces:

There is a huge variety of living spaces that Airbnb offers on rent which are not just limited to villas and apartments. Some of the other options include tree houses, igloos, lighthouses, castles, and yachts. Furnished caves and private islands are also not off the list!

5. The OG B&B on Airbnb:

Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, had his own property and the original Airbnb headquarters listed on the site as well up until 2015. The experience was said to be quite professional and hospitable in addition to Brian Chesky being very down-to-earth.

6. Proactive members of society:

Hurricane Sandy in 2012 inspired Airbnb to launch the emergency Disaster Response & Relief program. It works towards providing free shelter to people fallen prey to natural disasters as well as volunteers. As of 2018, it has aided about 100 evacuations centers over the world.

7. Skyrocketed bookings:

In 2008, the year of its launch, Airbnb ended up catering to 400 guests in total. 10 years later, its sales have rocketed with hosting more than 400 guests every 2 minutes! In other words, this company has seen an immense increase of 26,280,000%!

8. Spread across the globe:

Airbnb is present all across the world in almost all countries except a handful which consists of Iran, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. That’s 95.97% of the world!

9. Future of Airbnb:

Although as of 2020, Airbnb isn’t a publicly shared company yet. However, it intends to do so in the next few years.

10. Story in the logo:

Airbnb’s logo is nothing but an upside-down heart. However, there’s more to it. The loop within the logo resembles a map pin indicative of their omnipresence. Officially known as Bélo, the Airbnb logo represents the idea of belonging for people, places, and love which is the core strength of the company.

Summing it up:

Airbnb is as promising as it can get. It boasts of immense professional service that is only upgrading with time and technology. It has achieved quite a spectacular growth as a company and serves as an excellent example of how to run a vacation rental business.

If you have endured the wrath of a displeased guest, you know how it feels. So how do you give them the million-dollar experience? How do you make them feel like they have had the experience of a lifetime? The solution may not be as complicated as you think.

We can all learn from what Airbnb did. Their catalog mostly includes homestays and lodgings, touted as “homes away from home.” The answer to your question lies behind the reason why Airbnb was so successful. It’s simple. They merged the originality and uniqueness of homestays with the predictability of proper management infrastructure.

Understanding the needs of your guests is crucial to provide them with a magical experience. Asking the questions – Who? Why? What? How? – can help you market and deliver the 5-star experience that they are looking for.

Let us look at how this can be done through the eyes of the Simpsons. If you are a fan of The Simpsons, this will be a delightful read!

Homer Simpson

The Homersons are habitual travelers, and they often look for simplicity and convenience. These kinds of guests want to feel at home, away from home. Enhance their experience by providing them with personalized suggestions.

Offer them tips on where they can find a good ol’ local meal. Make sure you know the local attractions, specifically bars and restaurants. Since the Homersons are usually aged around 35-56, it doesn’t hurt to provide complimentary amenities, like access to local entertainment channels or room service.

Mr. Burns

If the area you are in has some semblance to silicon valley, you might attract a lot of suits. These people have very little time on their hands to search for an excellent place to stay, so you can capitalize on it by providing predictability and reliability. A good experience can result in repeated bookings from both your guests and their business partners.

The suits type are generally tech-oriented, so make sure you tailor your experience to fit their needs. The comforts that can make or break their experience includes high-speed wifi, access to a telephone, around the clock dining experience, and easy fitness access. These people need to get things done fast. They are willing to pay more for a setting that promotes both productivity and rest. Resolve any issues they have immediately.

Lisa Simpson

These guests are looking for something to quest their cultural curiosities. Giving your hotel a touch of the local is a surefire way to heighten their experiences. Try pointing them in the direction of the local museum, an art gallery, or even the local brewery. They want a different experience from the monotony of a traditional hotel.

Have your meal plan filled with local delights, and offer them a lecture on the history of your area. This will give them a truly immersive and unique experience, making their stay that much more exciting and pleasurable.

Maggie Simpson

Some of the quests may have a “little” one with them. To provide them with the best hospitality, offer them a crib, and have a system in place for them to dispose of their diapers. Families with babies might be looking for a space that can provide them with security and peace of mind, while also trying to make their stay an enjoyable experience.

Offer them immediate assistance in case of an “accident,” if you know what I mean! Toys, a makeshift changing table, and food items tailored for the little tots can go a long way keeping your guests satisfied.

Marge Simpson

They are the hurry burry kind of people with a hectic life looking for some form of escapism. They want to forget the monotony of their lives, albeit for a short while. This is why they are looking for a luxurious, pampering experience. To satisfy these types of guests, offer them services like spa, massages, and fine dining. Make sure your customer service is top of the line. Offer them something extra, like a bottle of complimentary champagne when they check-in. Certain amenities, like bubble bath, clean and freshly scented bedsheets, room service, can provide them with a genuinely mesmerizing “me-time” experience.

Bart Simpson

The Bart Simpson type will go to great lengths to fulfill their adrenaline needs. You are sure to attract these thrill-seeking guests if you are close to destinations that appeal to them.

Point them in the direction of their “natural” habitat, like trekking locations, adventure parks, or mountain climbing. If your site does not provide the attractions that they seek, you need to be careful of accommodating them, as they can make your place into their adventure-land! Have a vetting process in place, and make multiple-night stays mandatory.

Summing it up:

Though this may be much more than what you may have bargained for, tweaking the services based on your guest’s preferences may make all the difference and could make your guest a proud and loyal member for life.

This could be the difference between life and death for people looking for something new and exciting, something different from the traditional and established hotel industry. The trick is to understand your guests so that you can provide them with the experience they are looking for. Ask for what they need before they come in, as this shows you as a thoughtful and warm host.

We often see that some Airbnb businesses soar high with demand while others simply don’t. what is it that’s sets apart certain businesses from the rest when it comes to Airbnb?

Yes, the market has been a tough place to set foot into as far as Airbnbs are concerned. However, there are certain tactics that, if implemented correctly, are bound to work in your favor culminating in successful listings and plenty of bookings.

This is why we’ve come up with specific reasons and ways with which you can rest assured that your business will scale new heights in the long run.

Gain guaranteed Airbnb success with these tips:

1. Recognize your target audience:

Miami and San Diego are two of the most popular cities when it comes to Airbnb businesses. and this is no coincidence. One of the biggest reasons behind this is that both cities have a Disney themed park situated close to them.

In addition to that, they have the beach, the excellent summer weather, and a happening nightlife. This scales the tourism rates which, in turn, increases the demands for hotels around these sites. However, not every tourist can shell out a bomb for hotel suites. In other words, these guests convert from being hotel guests to your guests.

Having said that, it is important to recognize your target audience and zero down on a niche when it comes to scaling your Airbnb business. In addition to that, it is much more profitable to list your Airbnb as private or shared rooms than private homes. Although the individual gain will be lesser, the overall income will be much higher due to multiple bookings.

Speaking of the target audience, your underlying intention must be to provide top-notch service with the right type of rentals that local hotels can seldom provide. It is all about meeting the demand with the right supply in addition to keeping at par with the service as well.

2. Implement trendier ways of running your business:

Themes work quite well with Airbnbs. Candyland, Star Wars, Game of Thrones and similar themes along popular trends work extremely well as an enhanced visual appeal as well as can make you go viral on social media.

Not only that, you may find people attracted to your Airbnb simply to experience a theme like that. You can even use a catchy title for your Airbnb like Hidden Gem in Jamaica, or Sunkissed Uptown Loft.

That’s one way of thinking outside the box. You can even look for ways to make your guests’ stay memorable in your Airbnb by suggesting some underrated tourist sites, restaurants, and shopping spots which will only go down well with your guests.

If there happens to be a special event going on, like a fair or a concert, mention those as well. What’s good for tourism in your city is good for your rental business.

There is no limit as to how far you can go by providing your guests with the best service if only one thinks in the right direction. Make sure to keep up with the trends and popular demands to keep your Airbnb updated and ahead of the rest.

3. Don’t hesitate to show off:

But in the right manner. The basic idea behind having your Airbnb soar high with business is to establish a strong point that no other place can replicate. For instance, you can come up with a complimentary photography service for your guests under a certain limit.

Extra parking space or a swimming pool on your Airbnb property is a good way to flaunt your business and attract more guests over time. Onsite laundry or other services that you’re willing to offer must all go up on your listings and promotional content so that people can be driven to your Airbnb.

Don’t hesitate to go all out with your services while also remembering to mention them when you promote your business.

4. Be honest with your guests:

You can mention, or rather flaunt, all that your Airbnb has in store for your guests on your listings and promotional content but remember to not say anything that contradicts the truth. You need to be honest with your guests under all circumstances.

If there is a service that your Airbnb doesn’t offer, straight up tell them instead of going overboard in order to make it sound alluring.

However, what you can do is play around with words so that you make your place sound appealing while not compromising with the truth. For instance, you can swap words like ‘small’ for ‘cozy’, or ‘intimate’, and ‘simple’ with ‘understated’ or ‘minimalistic’.

This is to avoid customer dissatisfaction as well as negative reviews and a damaged reputation from your guests. Also, remember to keep your Airbnb priced at what it is worth. Going overboard with the ricing may fetch huge gains in the short-term.

But if you’re in for the long haul, remember to focus on customer satisfaction and upgrading your service more than increasing the rates. The profit will follow automatically.

5. Know your safe zone:

Keep your business legal and transparent. All your paperwork must be regularly checked and updated. Short-term rental laws differ from one place to another. Know your local laws and play within your boundaries without violating any of them.

For instance, if you’re listing in Paris, you can only lease your rentals for 120 days each year which is as per the law. Hence, you cannot take the risk of renting out your listings during the remaining 245 days of the year.

However, you may go around loopholes to extract the best of the situation. You may increase your nightly rates, but you’ll have to consequently raise your bar of service to ensure guests go back happier.

6. Work for the long run:

The easiest and the best way to get your business soring far and wide is to learn from the professionals who are already running their Airbnb successfully for quite a while now. Play the hands that you’ve been dealt with right, and soon you’ll have mastered the game successfully well.

Summing it up:

It may take a while for you to implement these tips and tactics and, perhaps, even longer, to establish your business and strengthen its footing. However, the investment in terms of time, money, and effort will all be worth it and more. The secret is to stay consistent and regular. You may want to start slow and small but being on the path consistently will set you apart from the other Airbnbs in the long run.

Alternatively, you may consider hiring an Airbnb management service. Airbnb managers have the expertise and experience in this field, they know all the tricks and tacts to get the best for your property. Oasis Stay is your trustworthy Airbnb agent in Australia. You can sit back and relax as we provide the best management and get the job done for your Airbnb.

Want to become an Airbnb star with higher priority listings, greater booking rates, and more rental income?

Earning superhost status on Airbnb is an absolute must if you want to get serious with earning money on Airbnb. While potential guests are scrolling through properties on their phones, they’ll instantly get drawn to your special “superhost” badge and instantly know that they can trust you.

One of the biggest nightmares for any Airbnb guest is not knowing whether or not their stay is going to be a good one.

The team over at Airbnb knows this, so they prioritise and reward property owners who are consistently the best hosts out there. While this might sound like an extremely difficult task to do, there’s a proven formula to follow to receive this renowned title.

Here are the steps you must take in order to become a superhost…

#1. Host a lot of guests

Just having one guest say that they enjoyed their stay doesn’t mean anything. After all, it could have been a shy guest who didn’t want to leave a bad review, an extremely good day for the host, or some other stroke of good luck.

But when you have guest after guest come by and repeatedly saying that they absolutely loved the property and that you were an amazing host — then there’s a pretty good chance that people genuinely love the service you provide.

One requirement set by Airbnb is to have a minimum of 10 trips that you hosted or at least 3 reservations that add up to 100 nights or more.

Quick tip: If you’re having trouble getting your first few guests booked, it might be work lowering your price temporarily. As you get more reviews and achieve superhost status, you can easily increase your prices to earn more rent.

#2. Communicate with your guests

One of the most important factors in having a guest consider you a good host is having good communication.

This means responding to them quickly when they’re checking in, answering any questions they have, and doing everything you can to make the process and smooth for them as possible. After all, they’re here for a trip and they deserve it.

Airbnb has stated that their minimum requirement is a 90% response rate for messages. This means that you should respond within 24-hours to every message you recieve.

#3. Minimise cancellations

If guests are continuously booking your property, staying for a few days, then canceling their reservation — that’s a pretty good indicator that they were not having a good experience.

The best way to prevent cancellations is to be transparent in your listing. This means using accurate photography that shows what the rooms will really look like and not hiding or withholding any bit of information.

But apart from your listing, it is important that you provide your guests with a wonderful experience once they arrive at your property.

Some things to consider include:

• The cleanliness of your property
• How well you communicate with your guests
• The manner in which you treat them
• And more

Basically, you just want to make sure your guests have a good time and don’t want to cancel.

#4. Receive top ratings

The easiest way for Airbnb to know how good of a host you are is to look at your ratings.

Your rating will come from the accumulation of each of your reviews from your guests. This is another reason why having a lot of guests is important, as having one poor review won’t damage your rating as much.

Airbnb states that their minimum requirement is an average overall rating of 4.8/5. While this is indeed a very high rating, if you follow the steps mentioned earlier, it is easily accomplished.

One factor that you must account for is the number of guests who leave a review. In general, people who have a poor experience are more likely to leave a negative review than a happy guest would leave a positive review.

While there is a lot of psychology behind this, the gist is that upset guests have more to gain leaving a poor review than a happy guest gains from leaving a good review.

The way to counteract this is to ensure that you put the time to ask each and every one of your guests to leave a 5-star review if they enjoyed their stay. This could be in a thank you message after they leave, in your house book, or even in person.

BONUS: The Easiest Way To Superhost Stardom

While it’s possible to become a superhost on Airbnb yourself, it can be extremely time-intensive. Especially if you’re not experienced.

The fastest and easiest way to become a superhost is to work with an Airbnb property management specialist. At Oasis Stay, our team of professional Airbnb hosting service helps owners like you on a daily basis. This means we handle everything from replying to messages, keeping the property clean, and managing your listing.

If you want to become a superhost faster, get in touch with Oasis Stay today.