Airbnb will show total prices up front and end ‘unreasonable’ checkout tasks

Airbnb do his total prices a more transparent stay early in the search process and preventing hosts from demanding “unreasonable” tasks at checkout after guest complaints.

The short-term rental platform has battled many customers’ perception that bookings on the site are no longer a good deal due to high cleaning fees and misleading listings.

“I heard you loud and clear: you feel like pricing isn’t transparent and payment tasks are a pain,” Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said. tweeted monday.

Starting in December, Airbnb users will be able to see the total price of a listing as soon as the search process begins. Airbnb’s full price breakdown with service fees, discounts, and taxes will also be visible.

The platform also prioritizes total price — instead of overnight price — in its search rankings.

“The highest quality homes with the best total prices will rank higher in search results,” Chesky tweeted.

In 2023, Airbnb will also launch new pricing and discount tools for hosts, “so they can understand the ‘final price’ guests will pay” and set competitive prices, he added.

Another sore point for Airbnb tenants has been detailed lists of chores this request of the hosts at the time of departure. Meanwhile, hosts are increasingly complaining about problem tenants.

To facilitate guest complaints, Airbnb will provide guidance to hosts on payment requests, which should be “reasonable and displayed to guests before booking.”

“Guests shouldn’t have to perform unreasonable payment tasks like stripping beds, doing laundry, or vacuuming when leaving their Airbnb,” the platform said in a statement. “But we think it’s reasonable to ask guests to turn off lights, throw food in the trash and lock doors, as they would when leaving their own home.”

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This story was reported from Cincinnati.