Overview

The short-term rental industry is expecting a big shift in traveling trends in the year 2022 that will tremendously grow the revenue of Airbnb hosts. As Q3 of 2021 suggests, Airbnb is witnessing record-breaking revenue growth, which is expected to grow in the coming months. 

Becoming an Airbnb host is a great opportunity to increase your income. However, how you seize this opportunity is entirely up to you. Your hosting skills will take you a long way to increase your bookings and grow with the industry. 

Ever heard about the Airbnb Superhost label? Airbnb hosts with this label receive 22% more bookings than other hosts on the platform.As the name suggests, Airbnb Superhost is someone who prioritizes guest experiences and ensures a great stay for Airbnb users. Airbnb Superhost requirements are not easy to meet, but it is worth the effort. Below you will find not one but seven advantages that an Airbnb Superhost enjoys and why this label is worth the sweat.

Intrigued? Read on to know more about how to become a superhost on Airbnb and exponentially increase your bookings. 

What is an Airbnb Superhost?

Airbnb Superhosts are property owners or managers who provide an outstanding guest experience. Airbnb automatically grants Superhost status to hosts who meet a set of specific requirements as a form of recognition. 

If you become a Superhost and you’re able to maintain your exceptional track record, you get to keep your Superhost badge. However, if you fall short of the requirements during a quarterly assessment performed by Airbnb, you lose your status as a Superhost. This would mean losing Superhost benefits.

Airbnb Superhost benefits

Becoming a Superhost doesn’t just mean you’ll get a distinctive badge displayed on your profile. It also comes with a wide range of benefits. Let’s go over them.

What are the benefits of being a Superhost on Airbnb?

Improve your listings’ visibility. The number one benefit of being an Airbnb  Superhost is that it improves the visibility of your listings. It does so in a number of ways. For example, there’s a “Superhosts only” filter in Airbnb search that guests can turn on if they want to stay with a recognized host (see image below). Secondly, Superhosts’ properties are more likely to be featured in Airbnb newsletters and curated lists on the Airbnb website. These opportunities help to get more eyes on your listings and increase your chances of getting bookings.

Build trust with guests. Most Airbnb guests know that Superhosts provide outstanding service and have lots of experience hosting on Airbnb. This helps to inspire trust. If faced with the choice between a Superhost and a non-Superhost, many guests are likely to opt for the host with the recognizable badge.

Stand out from the crowd. This point is related to the previous one. Becoming a Superhost distinguishes you from all the other hosts in your area. It makes you stand out and catches the attention of guests. As a result, it’s a good way to gain a competitive edge. 

Increase your conversion rate. The combination of increased trust and improved listing visibility translates into a boost in conversion rates. Another good reason to shoot for Superhost status.

Earn more by charging higher rates. One benefit that’s often overlooked is that you can sometimes charge higher rates than you normally would. Guests expect a higher level of service and a better experience from Superhosts, so it’s likely that they’re willing to pay more. You may need to run a few experiments to see if this works in your local market, though.

Gain recognition in the industry. Being a Superhost is a badge of honor. It shows that you’re committed to providing the best possible service and constantly improving your business. This not only impresses guests but also industry peers. For this reason, when looking to establish contacts and build a network in the industry, Superhosts are often vocal about their privileged status. 

Enjoy priority support and additional perks like rewards and bonuses. Airbnb Superhosts get priority support, a $100 travel coupon each year, and a 20% higher bonus when referring other hosts to the platform. Plus, they can get invited to local Airbnb events.

How to become a Superhost on Airbnb?

To gain your status as a Superhost, you must be a primary Host with an account ‘in good standing’ who has met the criteria set out by Airbnb.

Emily Morrison said: ”For most businesses, it can easily be achieved. You don’t want to give people any excuse as to why they shouldn’t stay with you.”

The criteria set out below is what you will be judged on. You must fulfil all of these requirements to become a Superhost.

1. Host at least 10 guests

This is probably the easiest goal to hit. All you need to do is complete 10 guest reservations. For most short-term rental hosts, this isn’t difficult to achieve. 

But what if you’re renting out your property on a mid-term basis, and you have a high occupancy rate but very few bookings? In that case, you’re still eligible for Superhost status as long as you complete 3 reservations that total at least 100 nights. 

2. Maintain a 90% or higher response rate

This is where it gets difficult. Airbnb is very keen on improving the guest experience and incentivizing hosts to be more attentive. That’s why they expect Superhosts to reply to guest messages and inquiries as soon as possible and maintain a minimum 90% response rate.

The trouble is, guest communication is extremely time-consuming. Typing out messages to guests can take up a large chunk of a property manager’s day. So, if you want to pursue becoming an Airbnb Superhost, we suggest that you automate your Airbnb messages using advanced vacation rental host tools.

For example, Host Tools is an all-in-one automation tool for short-term rental hosts that lets you send automated messages to your guests. It’s super easy to set up. All you need to do is choose a message template, customize it, use tags to add unique booking information, and there you have it. Host Tools will automatically send messages to your guests, helping you keep your response rate high and your response time low.

3. Maintain a 1% or lower cancellation rate

Next up, we have cancellations. If you aspire to become a Superhost, you can only cancel 1 in 100 bookings. Airbnb is very particular about preventing scenarios where guests receive a disappointing notification informing them that the host has canceled their stay. Incidents like these make the entire platform look bad.

The best way to make sure that you never have to cancel a guest reservation is to prevent double bookings. And for that, you need to have a system in place. 

If you’re only advertising on Airbnb, you shouldn’t have any issues with double bookings. However, if you list your property on multiple websites – for example, Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com – you need to make sure your calendars are synchronized. Otherwise, two guests could book your rental for the same time period on different platforms. 

Now, if you only list on a couple of websites, you might be able to get away with exporting your Airbnb calendar and importing it into Vrbo, and vice versa. However, the more platforms you advertise on, the more complicated this process gets. What’s more, iCal connections aren’t the most reliable – it can take a few hours for your availability to get updated, and there’s no guarantee that a double booking won’t slip through the cracks in the meantime.

So, your best bet is to use a vacation rental channel manager that has direct API integrations with booking platforms. Thanks to these powerful connections, channel managers can instantly sync your calendars the moment you get a new booking. This makes it easy to display your real-time availability to guests at all times. 

Host Tools is a channel manager with direct connections to Airbnb and Vrbo (you can also add other channels via iCal). It’s an intuitive tool with no steep learning curve that can save you a lot of headaches by avoiding double bookings. As a result, it helps you maintain a low cancellation rate and increases your chances of becoming a Superhost. 

4. Maintain a 4.8 overall rating

Last but not least, Airbnb requires Superhosts to achieve and maintain a 4.8 overall rating. This is where the guest experience factor really comes into play. In order to achieve this score, you need to make sure that your guests have a great experience staying with you, and feel comfortable recommending your rental to other Airbnb users.

Plus, you need to make sure that guests actually express their contentment in the form of reviews. By asking guests to rate their stays, you can strengthen your online reputation and attract new bookings, since travelers trust the opinions of their peers. 

However, messaging guests to ask them for reviews can be time-consuming if you do it manually. So we suggest using a software tool to automate the process. 

With Host Tools, you can leave automated 5-star reviews for your guests and ask them to leave you a review in return. If they don’t respond, you can send them automated review reminder messages. This is a great way to boost your rating and get closer to achieving Superhost status. 

Keeping a property rating of 4.8/5 may seem a feat, but this can readily be done if you consider the factors that guests must rank. Below are the 6 aspects for review after a booking, followed by tips to encourage a raving appraisal for each:

1. ACCURACY

• Ensure property matches listing descriptions
• Be upfront about downfalls, which can be counter balanced with positives – e.g. your space may be tiny but it’s “cozy!” or may be near a highway but is “convenient for driving!” If your place is a bit older, try to highlight its “retro” charm!
• Do not be deceitful. Dishonesty or exaggeration will only harm your guest reviews

If you’re still having trouble, there are experienced freelancers offering professional Airbnb listing services that you can consider.

2. COMMUNICATION

• Be clear and timely with guest interactions
• Consider a service like Smartbnb to automate messaging, or hire someone to manage your messaging on Taskrabbit (Get $10 off your first task with NEW10US).
• Be polite and friendly in all communication
• Encourage your guests to message if they need anything

3. CLEANLINESS

• Ensure property is well cleaned on checkout
• Avoid common slip ups like stained linens, improperly cleaned dishes, dust and scum on floors or appliances, and improperly stocked toiletries like shampoo or toilet paper
• Consider hiring a professional cleaner via a third party service

Handy lets you book and manage house cleaning services online. You get an instant quote based on your area and the size of your home, and your cleaner will be a background-checked professional. Get $30 off your first booking with coupon code AFF30.

• Taskrabbit is a site to find professionals for all sorts of odd jobs that can help with your listing, including cleaning, key handoff, and guest messaging. Get $10 off your first task with NEW10US

4. LOCATION

• Be accurate in your description – e.g. do not write “convenient city pad” if your apartment is in fact 45 minutes from the city centre
• Look at listings in your area for ideas on what the selling features of your neighbourhood may be, such as amazing local eats, markets, or festivals

5. CHECK-IN

• Make clear any check-in instructions to your guests well before their arrival
• Add check-in info by going to “Guest resources” and selecting regular or self-check in. Instructions can be input here

• Be reasonable with check-in and check-out times to provide an optimal guest experience
• Consider investing in a key lockbox or smartlock to allow guests to self check-in

6. VALUE

• Be informed with an accurate price analysis of your property. Airbnb provides this based on demand, reviews, and similar properties in your area
• Charging a fair rate is likely to land you more bookings & satisfied guests and in turn, better reviews

5. Get Reviewed by at least 50% of guests

Airbnb mandates that at least 50% of your guests should leave a rating on Airbnb. Needless to say, this again is a time-consuming process since not every guest will leave a rating on check-out. You will be required to send a follow-up text to get those reviews. 

You can either ask them personally to rate their experience or automate this task with good property management tools like Guesty. Make sure to leave a review for your guests as well. 

How to maintain your Airbnb Superhost status

Has the desired Superhost badge appeared on your profile? Congratulations! Just remember, your work is not done.

In order to maintain your Superhost status, which Airbnb reevaluates four times a year, you need to keep doing a good job. If you slack on your duties as a property manager at the expense of your guest experience, you will be stripped of your hard-earned recognition.

So what can you do to maintain your position as a Superhost?

First off, keep paying attention to and working toward the requirements listed above. Maintain a 90% response rate, don’t cancel any bookings, and make sure your average star rating stays above 4.8. 

Once you’ve done all that, you need to go further still. Guest expectations are changing. What may have earned you a 5-star review in the past may not do the same today. 

For example, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, guests have been more hygiene-conscious and started expecting higher standards of cleanliness than ever. What was once considered a spotlessly clean rental may not be seen as one today when guests expect property managers to adhere to strict cleaning and disinfection protocols. 

So, to preserve your Superhost status, it’s important to constantly strive to elevate the guest experience and improve the service you provide. Try adding some nice touches to your rental that show you’ve gone above and beyond. 

For example, consider installing smart locks. Guests appreciate the option to do a self-check-in, and keyless entry isn’t complicated to set up. Host Tools has a smart lock integration: you can use it to automatically send your guests unique access codes that they can use to enter your rental without the need for physical keys.

Hopefully this clears up all your doubts around the requirements of becoming a Superhost on Airbnb and maintaining the coveted status in the long run. Now, let’s go through some of the most commonly asked questions around the Airbnb Superhost program.

How do you become a Superhost on Airbnb?

You can become an Airbnb Superhost by providing an outstanding guest experience and meeting a set of specific requirements defined by Airbnb. These requirements have to do with completing a certain number of reservations, keeping your response rate high, keeping your cancellation rate low, and achieving high overall ratings.

Airbnb evaluates qualification for Superhost status every 3 months on the first day of each calendar quarter (1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October). If you meet the requirements for the previous 12 months from the review date, you are automatically eligible to become a Superhost. 

However, you won’t become a Superhost immediately after achieving all the requirements. You have to wait until the nearest upcoming review date when Airbnb evaluates all listings, and that’s when you’ll be awarded Superhost status. 

You can find more information about becoming a Superhost in Airbnb’s Superhost Terms and Conditions. 

How many reviews does it take to be a Superhost on Airbnb?

Becoming a Superhost does not depend on the number of reviews you manage to collect. On the other hand, you do have to maintain a 4.8 or higher average overall rating and meet a number of other criteria.

How much do Airbnb Superhosts make?

It’s difficult to say how much you can make as an Airbnb Superhost. It depends on the characteristics of your property, your local market, your occupancy, and lots of other factors. Some estimations say that the average Airbnb host makes around $20,000 a year. But in rare cases, the profits can be as high as $100,000 a year. What’s certain is that becoming an Airbnb Superhost can positively influence your earnings because it increases your chances to get more bookings, maintain a higher occupancy rate and improve your conversions. 

Where Superhost Status Matters Most

Our assumption was that Superhost status would matter most in large markets where hosts needed every advantage possible to stand out from the crowd. We were surprised to discover there is no correlation between Superhost performance and the number of short-term rentals in a city.

What we did find that was particularly interesting, however, was a clear difference in Superhost performance in markets dominated by leisure travel. 

The RevPAR for Superhosts that manage mostly resort properties in the Caribbean is significantly less than the global average of a 60% increase. On the other hand, the average RevPAR for Superhosts with Airbnb properties in Latin America is 110% higher than the global average. These are emerging tourist destinations with larger metropolitan areas where safety can be a bigger concern for guests.

When Superhost Status Doesn’t Matter

In addition to Superhost status, there are different niche statuses that hosts can obtain for each individual property, such as Family/Kid Friendly and Business Travel Ready. Our recent Business Travel Ready analysis showed that properties with a Business Travel Ready accreditation earn an average of $10,000 more in top markets. We wondered if the performance benefit of Superhosts holds up for other types of statuses such as Business Travel Ready?

Interestingly, for Superhosts with a Business Travel Ready accreditation, there’s only a 6% RevPAR increase. Since Business Travel Ready is more than just a list of amenities and has to be approved by Airbnb, it’s possible that this nod of approval from Airbnb is performing a similar service as Superhost status. Guests know they will be receiving a basic level of service and amenities and the property is kept up to certain standards. All-in-all, if you have a property that’s Business Travel Ready, don’t worry about chasing after the Airbnb Superhost status since it won’t boost your profits significantly.

Conclusion

Our findings are clear that hosts earn significantly more revenue on Airbnb when they receive the Superhost stamp of approval.

The uptick can be seen in these key performance indicators:

• Experiencing an 81% higher occupancy rate
• Earning 60% more revenue per available day
• A 5% improvement in listing traffic
• Putting in the necessary time, effort, and strategy toward elevating your host status makes a difference in your short-term rental profitability. This is further validated by Airbnb’s recent announcement regarding the launch of Airbnb Plus. The company is making a continuous effort to classify and reward hosts who provide consistent and exceptional experiences.

FAQs, airbnb host

How much does an airbnb host make?

On Airbnb, a host in the USA earned $44,235 as a host.

How do I start hosting airbnb?

In order to comply with the law, you must add the pending permit number you obtain as soon as you register your listing with the relevant City to it.

Is becoming an airbnb host worth it?

Yes, it is worth hosting on Airbnb.

How do i become an airbnb host with no money|?

Using your own vacant property, making an effort to contact open rentals in your neighborhood, joining an affiliate programme, and then providing Airbnb.

How to become an airbnb host without owning property?

You can collaborate with a landlord to rent out their house and then lend it out again on Airbnb. It enables you to earn passive income without a significant investment.

How to become an airbnb host for others?

You must be added as a co-host by the owner. To invite a friend, click the listing, select the co-host, and then press the “Invite A Friend” option. then accept the invitation, and you’ll start hosting guests on Airbnb.

Airbnb host salary?

An hourly wage of $26.94 is typical for Airbnb hosts.

Airbnb startup cost

The approximate launch cost for Airbnb is $3,000.

Airbnb host calculator

By multiplying the annual occupancy rate by your average daily rate, you can quickly determine your Airbnb revenue.

Airbnb hosting tips

Make check-in simple and safe. Keep in touch with them, always make up for anything that suddenly goes wrong, Maintain a straightforward, spotless home and show responsiveness.

Airbnb host login

Click “Log In” on Airbnb.com or the Airbnb mobile app. Along with your phone number or email address, enter your Airbnb password.