Hosts unhappy as Airbnb woos hotels, motels
Airbnb is increasingly going ‘‘commercial’’, and some of its traditional hosts are not thrilled.
More hotels, motels, eco-lodges and backpacker hostels are listing on the peer-to-peer booking website as it expands its accommodation range.
Airbnb’s Australia and New Zealand country manager, Sam McDonagh, said that about 20 per cent of New Zealand’s 40,000 Airbnb listings were commercial accommodation providers, managed holiday homes or properties where hosts lived off-site.
In February the website introduced four new categories, including B&Bs and boutique hotels, to make it easier for customers wanting more traditional accommodation.
The number of B&B rooms listed on Airbnb worldwide had doubled over the past year to 180,000, and boutique hotel rooms had surpassed 24,000.
McDonagh said Airbnb was selective about which commercial operators it accepted.
‘‘One of the main ingredients is a one-to-one hospitality experience where there’s a host involved, and we’re looking for properties that are unique in the artwork, the furniture or the design. We want Airbnb to be for everyone; we don’t want people saying, ‘I’m not going to use Airbnb because I can’t find what I’m looking for.’ ’’
Airbnb hosts who welcome guests into their own homes are divided about the change.
David Simmons and Leita Vanstone have hosted close to 400 visitors in Christchurch over the past 3 1⁄2 years.
Simmons said they were among a growing number of hosts concerned that Airbnb was diluting its brand by shifting away from its original model.
‘‘The tag of ‘stay like a local’ is being eroded with Airbnb’s constant drift into being a simple online booking agency.’’
Queenstown host Mary Christensen has written a how-to book for would-be Airbnb hosts – ‘‘Turn your spare room into serious cash’’ – and she is more pragmatic about having to compete with commercial operators.
‘‘Airbnb is putting a foot in both camps, and as things change and hotel models change, they are in that market.’’
Christensen pointed out that hotel company Accor had moved into the Airbnb space with its Onefinestay website, which rents out exclusive fully serviced private homes.
But good Airbnbs still attracted guests such as the highly paid Disney executive who chose to stay with Christensen and her husband Wayne, instead of in a top hotel.
‘‘She said: ‘I like the atmosphere; I love staying in a home alongside a local.’ This is someone who could afford anything.’’
YHA began ‘‘testing the waters’’ by listing hostels in Franz Josef and Aoraki/Mt Cook on Airbnb earlier this year, hostel operations manager Simon Cartwright said.
‘‘Both of these locations are quite remote with very limited private housing available for the more traditional Airbnb market.’’
Glenorchy Peaks B&B near Queenstown has advertised on Airbnb since opening four years ago. Owner Kelly Baker said that at the time no other commercial operators in Glenorchy were on Airbnb; now most were.
‘‘But I don’t believe that this branching out into the more commercial sector will impact too much on the hosts ... People who want this unique experience won’t book a boutique hotel or B&B on Airbnb over the homestay or funky baches that New Zealand is so well known for.’’
Hospitality New Zealand accommodation spokesman Nigel Humphries said most commercial operators paid 15 per cent commission to online travel agents, so the much lower Airbnb charges were a major plus.
Although Airbnb sold itself on providing the personal experience, it’s ‘‘more about a place to sleep’’, he said. ‘‘There are a lot of properties where people have no interaction with the [Airbnb] owner or operator.’’