What really is an Airbnb now?

Summary

The article reflects on the evolution of Airbnb from its inception as a personal home-sharing platform to a diverse marketplace, noting both positive and negative changes in its model.

Abstract

The author shares personal experiences with Airbnb, highlighting a shift from its original concept of hosts sharing their homes and providing a unique cultural experience to a more commercialized model where multiple property ownership and absentee hosts are common. The article suggests that while Airbnb has become a popular alternative to traditional accommodations, its rapid growth has led to community disruption and a departure from the intimate host-guest interactions that once defined it. The author advocates for a return to the platform's roots with resident owners who are invested in their community and committed to offering authentic social and cultural experiences, proposing that a new organization could improve upon the original Airbnb concept.

Opinions

The author believes that the term "host" is often a misnomer in the current Airbnb market, as many listings do not involve active participation from the property owner.
There is a sense of nostalgia for the traditional Bed and Breakfast model, which provided a more personal and engaging experience compared to the impersonal nature of some Airbnb stays.
The author is critical of the trend where businesses and individuals purchase multiple properties to capitalize on Airbnb, which they argue has contributed to housing shortages and community disruption.
A true Airbnb experience, according to the author, involves an onsite owner who values both their property and neighborhood, and this is increasingly hard to find.
The article suggests that Airbnb has outgrown its original concept and that the platform could benefit from a niche market that focuses on the social and cultural exchange between hosts and guests.
The author presents a recent positive experience in Penang, Malaysia, as an ideal Airbnb model, where the hosts provided a balance of hospitality, privacy, and local cultural immersion.
The author implies that Airbnb could make a comeback in restricted markets by rebranding and emphasizing a resident/owner-run approach with rules that align with local regulations and community interests.

A concept that needs revisiting and retuning.

Image by Author (From the balcony of our Airbnb in Penang)

We have used Airbnbs during some of our travels and our experience has been mainly positive. Our preference has always been to stay in a room with an attached bathroom and we have found these readily available. In some instances we have interacted with the owners, in some the owners live quietly in the home, and in others we have not seen anyone and used a locked box to retrieve the keys. The Airbnb term “host” is really a misnomer in many of the Airbnb offerings.

While researching Airbnb, I was surprised and amused to read about its beginnings. Two young men who could not afford their rent saw the opportunity during a conference in their city to offer sleeping accommodation. They bought a few air mattresses (hence the name) and placed them around the home. They offered a place to sleep, bathroom facilities and breakfast. The rest is history and the young men no longer have to worry about the rent!

When my family drove through the UK we liked to stay at Bed and Breakfasts. The Bed and Breakfast provided a comfortable room and a hearty breakfast. It was an often cheaper and more interesting way to travel than staying at a hotel or motel. The owners, usually a husband and wife, also gave the experience a very homey feel.

Airbnb is a shaved-down version of the Bed and Breakfast model. There is a room and a variety of “breakfast” offerings. None we have experienced offered a home-cooked breakfast. In most cases, there is coffee and the ability to make it yourself. Some Airbnbs offered cereal and snacks as well. At some, the owners were present, sociable and went out of their way to be helpful. At some, they were present but seldom visible, and at others, they were not present at all.

I believe the current trend of owners and businesses buying up multiple properties and cashing in on the Airbnb market has given the model a bad name. Locals in the area have found themselves crowded and priced out of the rental market and residents have had to experience an unending rotation of “neighbors,” some quiet and others a noisy disturbance to the community and neighborhood. Many housing boards and homeowner’s associations have outlawed rentals of less than three months. I believe Airbnb should take some of the blame for allowing the model to deteriorate.

A true Airbnb should have an onsite owner who values the property and neighborhood. You can find these by checking out the offerings on the Airbnb portal and reading the many reviews left by users. On the better ones, you will definitely see postings of house rules and expectations. The owners, while welcoming and friendly, are also cognizant of the expectations of their neighbors and will remind their guests of such.

Has Airbnb outgrown its original concept which involved resident owners sharing their home with visitors and providing a unique social and cultural experience? Is this now only a niche market within the Airbnb universe? Should a new socially and culturally conscious organization step up and improve on the original Airbnb concept? This is the concept that will attract the traveler who wants more than a “hotel room” or place to stay. In this model, the traveler loves the social and cultural interaction provided by the host. The owner (host) in turn enjoys the company of the guest, provides local news, points to good local restaurants, places to visit, places to keep away from, and provides information only privy to local residents. This model will be a win-win for hosts and guests who share a love for meeting and learning from one another. Such listings are still available on Airbnb if one does a careful search.

Let me highlight a recent Airbnb experience in Penang, Malaysia. Our hosts G&T own a beautiful bungalow right on the water.

Images by Rhonda Carrier (Our Airbnb in Penang)

They have three rooms that they offer to travelers through the Airbnb portal. Right from the first helpful email communication we felt a kindred traveler connection. Besides the home which was clean, spacious and uniquely located on the beach, G&T went out of their way to be helpful. While genuinely interested in meeting and socializing with their guests, they did not overdo it. They interacted as much as their guests chose to. The home had a common shared balcony and while we were sitting there enjoying the sea view and breeze, they would occasionally bring up a pot of tea and biscuits. This created the opportunity for us to share our stories and enjoy one another’s company. Through G&T we tried new restaurants and places and even discovered a new restaurant for them to try. I also noticed G visit their neighbor’s one morning and help fix something in the garden. It was obvious they were on good and friendly terms with their neighbors. We enjoyed our stay with G&T and when we left after our week’s stay, we felt we had made a couple of new friends. I would describe our stay with G&T as a model Airbnb experience.

It is unfortunate that Airbnbs are no longer available in certain locations. Singapore for example has outlawed rentals less than three months in duration. Perhaps rebranding the original social/cultural Airbnb concept into a niche market, ensuring it is resident/owner run with certain failsafe rules (agreeable to local governments and home associations) will allow Airbnb to make a comeback in areas currently closed to them. The concept of “host” and “guest” in the true sense of the relationship is certainly worth reviving and promoting as a special experience within the travel and tourism industry.

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