Airbnb hosts: why should you create your own Experiences?
Create your Airbnb Experience to share your passion or your expertise with your guests and increase your income.
Over at Airbnb, a new concept appeared not long ago: Experiences! If you are a motivated host who wants to give your guests unforgettable events to enjoy, or to run activities of varying length, do go ahead and launch your own Airbnb Experience. After a resounding success during the trial period in Paris and Provence, Airbnb has decided to roll these Experiences out across the whole country.
Experiences: an extra source of incomeTo offer an Experience on Airbnb, you do not need to list your property there. Either way, offering an Airbnb Experience will help you increase your income.
If you also have one (or more) properties listed on the platform, the Airbnb Experience will help you improve your ratings and therefore your reputation on the platform, making it easier to fill your booking calendar.
The benefits of becoming an Airbnb Experiences hostHaving a great time, sharing your passion, meeting guests from all four corners of the world, discovering other cultures… Offering an Experience is, above all, a rewarding human adventure.
With the Airbnb platform, nothing could be simpler. You can choose the time slots when you are available, and for extra peace of mind you are covered by the platform's insurance.
How does it work?To start using Airbnb Experiences, you need to sign up here. You will then be able to see the criteria your experience must meet to be eligible. After that, you can publish your Experience with a detailed description and photos. Your Experience will then be submitted to Airbnb for approval.
Airbnb takes a 20% commission on the income from your Experiences. Even so, it remains a profitable activity, because you can host far more guests than you would by letting out a property.
The requirements for keeping your status as an Airbnb Experiences host
Hosts also have to meet some demanding standards when it comes to feedback. Airbnb follows up on a case-by-case basis if a guest leaves a poor review. For example, your average rating must stay above 4.7/5. As a result, hosts may need to work even harder to maintain their excellent popularity rating and their presence on Airbnb Experiences.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to rent out a place on Airbnb to host an Experience? No. Experiences work independently of renting: you can run one without a single bed listed on the platform. If you already rent, the two feed each other, since the reviews left on your Experience build your reputation.
How much does Airbnb take on an Experience? The commission is 20% of your Experience revenue. That is more than on a night's stay, but an Experience welcomes far more participants than a home hosts guests over the same slot. So the maths works on the number of seats, not on the percentage.
How do I create my Airbnb Experience? You sign up on the platform, where the eligibility criteria are listed. You then post your Experience with a precise description and photos. Airbnb reviews it and decides whether it goes live.
What rating do I have to keep to stay an Experience host? The expected average is above 4.7 out of 5. Airbnb looks at poor reviews left by participants on a case by case basis. The title is not granted once and for all, you hold on to it session after session.
Does hosting an Experience help fill my booking calendar? If you also rent on Airbnb, yes, but indirectly. Good ratings on your Experience lift your reviews and your standing on the platform, and that standing shows up in the calendar later. An Experience does not sell your nights on its own, it works on your reputation.
Can I pick my own time slots, and am I covered if something goes wrong? You set the slots when you are available yourself, which lets you fit the Experience between two turnovers. During the activity, the platform's insurance covers you.
In short, here is what an Airbnb Experience involves, from the first form to the rating you will have to keep up.
| Point | What applies | What it changes for you |
|---|---|---|
| Renting out a home on Airbnb | Not required | An Experience can run without any listing |
| Airbnb commission | 20% of Experience revenue | Still profitable thanks to the number of seats |
| Going live | Sign-up, detailed description and photos | Airbnb reviews it before publication |
| Average rating to keep | Above 4.7 out of 5 | Poor reviews are looked at case by case |
| Schedule | Time slots chosen by the host | The activity fits between two turnovers |
| Cover | The platform’s insurance | You host while covered |
| Effect on your rental | Better ratings and visibility | A fuller booking calendar |
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