What is AirBNB?

Airbnb is an online platform that allows millions of homeowners across the world to list and lease their own personal space to travelers. One of the most successful businesses in the “sharing economy”, Airbnb is now a billion-dollar company operating from its headquarters in San Francisco. It was founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, three young guys who discovered an amazing niche market, just trying to make some extra money to cover their rent by listing an air mattress on the floor of their living room. Their attempt at turning their home into an instant bed-and-breakfast was so successful that they ended up launching what is now a worldwide phenomenon!

So, no matter who you are or what kind of background you have, you can now become an instant hotel manager. Airbnb gives you complete control over how much time you want to put into this new role, the “house rules” you will put in place, the kinds of travelers you are willing to accept and how much interaction you would like with your guests.

A Trusted and Positive Experience

Whether the space you want to rent out is a spare room in your house, a granny flat in your backyard or an investment property, you can list it on Airbnb. I have seen treehouses, boats, igloos, and tents listed for travelers to stay in. Having people stay in your home is not a new concept by any means — couch-surfing has been around for decades. What is new and exciting is the online platform and the systems Airbnb has in place to make having guests a safe, trusted and positive experience.

A Great Support System

Airbnb offers a great support system to assist you with the logistics of hosting and also offers insurance for guest damages and liability coverage. Airbnb will also collect upfront payment so, no need to worry about billing or chasing money. This is designed to give you peace of mind when welcoming guests into your home. Guest screening is also very stringent and to make a booking on Airbnb, a guest must verify their identity. Phone numbers and email addresses are also checked and verified.

AirBnb's Amazing Review System

The review system is the most amazing part of the Airbnb system. It’s what keeps both hosts and guests honest and brings out the best in humanity through an attempt to strive to impress each other, to achieve a good review. They’re only visible when both the guest and the host have completed each other’s reviews, so there’s no waiting to see what the other person has said about you before reviewing them — it’s an honest appraisal. It is because of this clever system that guests will be on their best behavior and stick to the house rules, cleaning up after themselves and not stealing anything that isn’t pinned down. Can you imagine a hotel guest respecting their surroundings in the same way?

Head & Shoulders Above the Rest

Airbnb is simply an amazing online booking platform and stands heads and shoulders above other booking sites. I am often asked by property owners why I use Airbnb exclusively. I have tried the other sites and they just don’t compare. Airbnb collects payments for you, offer a guarantee for damages or breakages caused by guests, offer a 24-hour helpline and are always updating their model to stay ahead of competitors. The Airbnb system is well-thought-out, easy to use, moves with the times and guests are an absolute joy to host!