Sinlge Bedrooms Vs. Whole Homes: Airbnb’s Marketing Shift

Airbnb started off with a simple concept. The founders realized that there were plenty of people who wanted to travel, even if that meant giving up a few conveniences along the way. They might be willing to share a bathroom, sleep on a couch, or stay in a bedroom that didn’t have a lock on it, all in the name of staying within their budget.

Of course, where a company starts and where it ends up are often nowhere near one another. Lately, Airbnb is course correcting to try to once again appeal to penny-pinching vacationers. If you have a rental property in Scottsdale, AZ, we’ll look at the debate, and how you can prepare to stay ahead of it all.

Marketing Shifts

Airbnb has been seeing a lot of complaints about how much it costs to stay in one of their properties. This is, in part, due to excess fees — many of which travelers won’t see until they’re at the very last step of the booking process. In addition, many of these costs seem entirely unfair to the guests. For instance, hosts may charge $100 for a cleaning fee while still requiring the guests to clean the property while they’re still on site.

It’s led to the company putting more efforts into their single-room options, which will make it easier to stay with the host (which is usually far cheaper than staying at a hotel. As Airbnb leans into this direction, though, companies like VRBO lean the other way. VRBO’s marketing continues to emphasize the downsides of living with a stranger, even if it’s only for a day or two.

Rental Properties in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ

Sojourn Properties LLC provides property management in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ, so our staff knows that bad PR and marketing shifts can make a difference to your bottom line. The main takeaway here is that there will be a continued market for both types of travelers. If you do happen to cater to the whole home crowd, the best thing that can do for them is be as fair and transparent as you possibly can. To learn more about how a property manager can make this easier, contact us today.