Hosting an Airbnb Experience is a great way to show off your city, meet new people, and make some extra money. But what if you don't know where to start? How do you create an experience that stands out from the rest?
In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know as a host or business owner to create a memorable Airbnb Experience.
We'll cover how to get started, what you need to do to make sure your activity is approved by Airbnb, and some tips on how to make your guests feel welcome. So whether you're just getting started or have been hosting for years, read on for some helpful advice!
What Are Airbnb Experiences?
Airbnb Experiences are both in-person and online activities hosted by local experts. Think about it like a tour or workshop, but with a unique Airbnb twist!
It could be anything from an art class to a cooking lesson to even an adventure into nature. These experiences are designed to help guests explore the city in a new and interesting way, beyond simply sightseeing or traditional tours.
The 3 Pillars of a Quality Experience
To be considered an Airbnb Experience, you'll need to make sure your activity follows the three pillars of a quality experience:
Expertise
An Airbnb experience host must demonstrate expertise in the activity they are offering. They should be knowledgeable about the topic and be able to answer questions from guests or provide topics for discussion.
After all, you would not want to come to an experience that is boring and lacks in educational value, or talk about food tours from someone who doesn't have any real-life experience in the culinary world, right?
Additionally, the host should give off that unique perspective that makes them a local expert. They should be able to provide unique insight into the city and share their favorite places. The more unique and interesting the experience is, the more likely it will be approved.
Insider Access
The activity you offer has to be interactive and engaging. It should allow guests to learn something new, get out of their comfort zone, and experience things they wouldn't otherwise do unless they are in your local culture or community.
Ideally, it should also be exclusive. Give your guests access to places that most people don't know about or let them try activities that locals usually don't have the chance to do. This will help make your experience stand out from the crowd.
Human connections
The best experiences are those where guests get to meet other people and share stories. This can be achieved through group activities, one-on-one conversations, or interactions with locals in the area.
Make sure there are ample opportunities for participants to interact and collaborate with each other. The more interesting the conversation is, the more they feel that they belong in your city.
As long as your experience meets three pillars, you're ready to go!
Why Host an Airbnb Experiences
Creating an Airbnb experience serves as a platform to share your knowledge or passion with the world. It's a great way to make money and meet people from around the globe, all while doing something you enjoy!
It can also be an opportunity for typical tour operators to gain more customers. How? Posting an experience on Airbnb allows your business to reach more potential customers who may not have heard about it otherwise.
Plus, when you create an experience, you'll be listed on Airbnb's website and have access to their marketing tools. This can help attract more customers to your business while also giving you the exposure and credibility needed from Airbnb hosts.
It's more than just earning an income, really. Hosting an experience and guest activity is about connecting with people, building relationships, and creating a sense of belonging.
If you ever tried being an overnight host, with Airbnb Experience, you also get to control the price and the schedule. So, you can think of it as a way to make extra money on the side, whenever you want.
All you need is passion and knowledge and you're all set!
How You Can Create An Airbnb Experience
Meet the standards and requirements
To create an Airbnb experience, you first need to get it approved by Airbnb itself. So, start by reviewing the standards and requirements and the three pillars in the Experience page of the Airbnb website. Take note also that accommodation and services do not qualify as an experience.
Also, the following experiences from tour operators have additional standards:
- Online Experiences using Zoom
- Animals Experiences
- Cooking Experiences
- Social Impact Experiences
- Adventures (Multi-day Experiences)
List the experience
Now, all we need to do is to list that experience! Here are some basic information you’ll need to include in your experience listing:
- Craft a title for your experience and its description
- Choose the location(s)
- Details about what you’ll provide your guests and what guests should bring
- Feature 7 high-quality photos of people participating in your experience
- Consider the minimum age, physical activity level, and skill level required for the experience you're offering
- Specify the maximum group size
- Decide the start time and length of experiences
- Determine the price per guest
- Describe what Airbnb guests can expect in the "What we’ll do section"
- Appeal to the guests about how unique and qualified you are in the "About you section"
- Ensure all details are accurate in the "Settings section"
After submitting all these details, you need to wait for Airbnb’s approval. Once your experience is approved, you can start taking bookings. If you are declined, however, don't lose hope. You can always modify and submit it again.
How Much Commission Fee Can You Earn from Airbnb Experiences?
No matter the service, Airbnb applies a 20% fee; yet, this number can be adjusted based on an agreement between Airbnb Experiences hosts and Airbnb. This covers the cost of hosting the experience (services, support, and liability insurance) on their platform.
The rest of the money is yours; it’s the host’s cut.
It is important to note that the amount you can earn from your Airbnb experience depends on many factors, including but not limited to:
- The number of guests attending
- The price-per-guest
- Additional fees like taxes and service charges
- The amount of experience you offer (hours or days)
However, the great thing about hosting an Airbnb Experience is that it’s completely up to you! You can decide the price per guest, how much you want to charge for additional services, and when you are available. The more you offer, the more you can charge.
Some Great Ideas For Airbnb Experiences
There are plenty of ideas for Airbnb Experiences, but here are a few that could be especially successful:
- Guided walking tours of your city or town
- Crafting classes
- Specialty cooking class
- Photography classes
- Sports and outdoor activities (hiking, surfing, etc.)
- Art and music lessons
- Beer/wine tasting tours
- Online experiences and virtual events like yoga classes
- Nature excursions
No matter what type of experience you choose to offer, remember that customers look for quality and value. So, make sure your experience is unique and special enough to stand out from the competition.
FAQs about Airbnb Experiences
Here are some common questions regarding Airbnb Experiences:
Q: How do I start an Airbnb Experience?
A: You must first review the standards and requirements set by Airbnb. Then, you need to list your experience on their platform, including experience details like title, description, location(s), what guests should bring and what you’ll provide, photos, the minimum age, skill level required, and more. This applies to both in-person and online experiences.
Q: How much can I charge for my Airbnb Experience?
A: The amount you can charge depends on several factors, including but not limited to the number of guests attending, the price per guest, additional fees such as taxes and service charges, and whether or not you offer additional services.
Q: How much money will I make from my Airbnb Experience?
A: The amount you make depends on the amount of experience you offer and other factors such as the number of guests attending, additional services, taxes, etc.
It’s important to be aware that Airbnb applies a 20% fee for its hosting services, but this percentage can be adjusted according to an agreement between the host and Airbnb.
Q: Should I be a host first before hosting an experience?
No. Hosting an experience doesn't require you to be a host first. You can start an experience without hosting on Airbnb, however, you need to review and agree to the standards and requirements set by Airbnb. Short-term rentals for overnight guests are different from Airbnb Experiences.
Q: Do I need a property to host an Airbnb experience?
Since Airbnb experience is not a housing platform, you don't need a property to host an experience. However, if you are hosting a physical event, you will need to find or rent an appropriate space for it.
Key Takeaways
With that said, hosting on Airbnb could be a great opportunity to make some extra money while also doing something you love.
The key is to create an experience people enjoy and are willing to pay for! Just remember to meet all standards and requirements set by Airbnb, list your experience correctly, and provide value to your guests.
Now, go out and start hosting an amazing experience for your guests that they won’t forget!
Automatically Sync Airbnb Experiences Bookings to Your Booking Software
We zap experiences from Airbnb to booking software platforms, including Peek Pro, Ticketinghub, Xola, Ventrata, and more.
With automated sync, you can easily manage bookings and payments across multiple booking platforms. Thus, you can save time, increase efficiency, and avoid mistakes.
Learn more about how to make your Airbnb Experiences easier to manage here.
