CAN WE STEAL FROM AIRBNB PLUS FOR SERVICES AND PREMIUM PRICES ?

CAN WE STEAL FROM AIRBNB PLUS FOR SERVICES AND PREMIUM PRICES ?

What is AirBnB Plus ?

AirBnB developed a new network of their best host houses providing the most outstanding experiences and personalized services.

They selected the houses based on certain criterion such as :

- Design of the home

- Exceptional host

- Quality

- Lot of characters

- Fast check-in

- Most required services (coffee, towels, wifi, fully equipped kitchen)

Why ?

The goal of AirBnB is to offer to the customers a place where they can feel at home and with all the comfort and facilities needed. They are focusing on the experience delivered and they are maximizing the use of the place. For example, with a fully equipped kitchen where families can enjoy a perfect dinner.

AirBnB Plus tries to enhance its welcoming by using simple tips from the hospitality sector (amenities, welcome drinks, personal advices and recommendations about the surroundings).

What is the difference with Super Host of AirBnB ?

A Super Host is based on a quantitative approach and concerns a minimum grade of 4,8/5, at least 50% of comments. It is delivered automatically to the host who has those criterion.

AirBnB Plus is more based on a qualitative approach by identifying outstanding and unique houses regarding the characteristics above. In addition, the experience depends on the host effort rather than the Super Host who gets his statut from the guests feedbacks.

Who are they targeting ?

People who are looking for unique experience within the place they will book to share friendly time with their relatives.

What can hoteliers could get from AirBnB Plus to enhance the guest experience ?

Hoteliers could spend more time to personalized the guest stay by :

- Trying to be less standardized : Unexpected services and experiences (When we pay for a hotel room, we are use to receive some services and gift such as chocolates in the room, whereas AirBnB Plus offers unexpected and unique attentions as the hand-drawn map)

- Having a unique style : Hoteliers should take inspiration from AirBnB Plus regarding the decoration to get hotels with specific style that will give more personality to the place (exemple : Brach Hotel Paris)

- Always know the purpose of the guest' stays to adapt and anticipate their needs. In this sens, the hoteliers could also develop more experiences within their hotels. For instance, organizing a cooking course with the restaurant chief or experiences related to the specificity of the hotel storytelling/area

The staff working at the hotel could take the opportunity to welcome the guests as if they were welcoming them in their own house, within their family. This unique feeling will allow the hotels to enhance their guest experience and become more than a "Super Host". Thus, it will attract more potential clients (that become guests), and it will optimize revenue.

Séverine Becquer and Emma Taufflieb