Have any of you been asked about Air (bnb) by your guests?

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Copperhead

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This been a topic of conversation with 2 different guests in the last 2 days.
Each loved the idea. Thought it was the best new thing.
I gave my opinion of the positive & negative aspects. Opened their eyes to the fact that not everything was rosy.
First couple was asking because their son was looking at using it for a business of rentals across the country. (buy them, list them on Air, rake in the dough)
During my conversation with the 2nd couple the husband suddenly remembered a news article he read about a city's plans to control the increasing miss use of property. He said that could be an utter nightmare for the city to deal with.
 
Yes
Not recently, but one lady apologized for having to stay with us when she could have booked a spare room somewhere. I spoke about the licensing and safety inspections. I mentioned about our health dept inspection, fire dept, etc to remain open for business. How we pay taxes (and she pays them when she stays with us) to suppoort the local infrastructure and to create and maintain jobs in OUR community. Etc
Although there are some B&B's who do not have this at all, so it only applies to the majority.
I have great answers for this in person, and for total transparency will tell you that I list our place in airBnB also. I removed it when I get irritated, and then relist. I relisted it again yesterday. So I make sure they know that real business also use that site.
 
And that brings me to my 3rd guest, 2 couples from Canada, who had rented a 2 bedroom apt in the big tourist city near us. They were there for 2 of the 5 nights they rented, could not stand it any longer and booked with me.
They said everything was there as described but the condition of everything, including its surroundings were not where anyone should stay, let alone people unaware of the location.
 
We are on it but made it clear that we are a licensed B & B. We offer the rooms at our same going price. It helped us out wonderfully over the winter months and we had wonderful guests! They all said that they will be back this summer and took business cards with them.
Through one of them we found out that a bus runs from NYC to our city on Friday night and makes the return trip on Sunday night!
 
I have not been asked specifically but sure tell them about airbnb that they may not be licensed etc, etc, I always say that they may be really nice but to watch the extra charges like extra person, cleaning fee, and the charge that the airbnb owners add to their total bill. And to try and go to the legal airbnb hosts where everything is right up front. I am curious to know if a traveler goes to the same airbnb a number of times, wouldn't it be cheaper to deal with the airbnb host directly now that they know their email, land address, and phone number?.
 
An additional thing to mention is that 2 of the 4 couples were over 50. Air is being noticed by more than the spring chickens.
I did tell each of them that while Air got its start catering to the 'sleep on our couch' crowd that now there are licensed B&B's in the mix.
And I am not ruling them out as a possible marketing tool. Learned long ago not to turn a blind eye to a marketing tactic (legally) will bring in money to your business.
 
I recently had a guest from Germany who strongly recommended that I list on Air 'cause it was such a good idea. Nope.
 
We've been asked. Since around here about 99% are illegal we simply say that we don't need to compete on a list of illegal, untaxed, underground, uninsured amateur businesses. Instead we try to provide a full insured, government inspected, tax paying professional service.
 
We are on it but made it clear that we are a licensed B & B. We offer the rooms at our same going price. It helped us out wonderfully over the winter months and we had wonderful guests! They all said that they will be back this summer and took business cards with them.
Through one of them we found out that a bus runs from NYC to our city on Friday night and makes the return trip on Sunday night!.
Us too Duff. Our vacation rental apartment was first in our area on Air. We have just added what I call 'the plague room' (because it is so small) on Air, and the response has been good so far. All the other B&Bs in our area have at least one of their rooms on it. All, like you, make it clear of the professional status. This season will be an experiment. We'll see how it goes. It's been great with the vacation rental. Currently we have a multi-month stay from Air. Great people. Sometimes it's a good thing.
 
its not very big here but I list on a reservation request basis - however seems to be a last resort when all other places are full for the majority of people.
Works for me as the commission is so low.
 
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