Have Airbnb Guest Favorites Edged Out the Superhost Program?

20.04.2024 - 14:32 / skift.com / Srividya Kalyanaraman

Achieving Airbnb superhost status usually means more money in your pocket, and it comes with several perks. But some hosts are critical about the program’s current status on Airbnb. 

The main complaint: That Guest Favorites have overshadowed superhosts. Guest Favorites highlight properties most liked and booked by guests and superhost status highlights hosts who go above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. A superhost badge helps profiles stand out, and guests can sometimes use a filter to find them. 

“Earlier, the superhost filter itself was very prominently listed,” said Matthew Orley, the CEO of Red Cottage, based in New York City. “In the update that they did in January, Airbnb removed that. And it was not really spoken to. But it was very clear that the new filters that are prominent at the top are Guest Favorites. So now you’re searching for the Guest Favorite, which is much more of a focus on the individual property, as opposed to the host itself.”

Airbnb said there are more than 1 million superhosts, or about 20% of all hosts around the world. 

An Airbnb spokesperson told Skift, “We’ve simplified some of our search filters and added a new Guest Favorites filter to help guests find some of the most-loved homes on the platform. Guests will still be able to see whether their host is a superhost on the listing page. Today, nearly two-thirds of Guest Favorites come from superhosts.”

This is how it works: In order to qualify as a superhost, the owner of the listing must have an account and have fulfilled the following requirements:

Airbnb reviews a host’s performance quarterly, considering the past 12 months of activity on all listings. Hosts don’t need to have hosted for the entire 12 months to qualify. The assessment periods run for seven days starting on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

If they meet the requirements by the assessment date, they will become a superhost automatically without needing to apply.

Airbnb superhosts are rewarded well: Airbnb claims it enhances the visibility and appeal of listings, builds trust with potential guests, and can lead to increased bookings and revenue. 

Superhosts earn more too — an average increase of 22%. Additionally, they receive a 20% bonus on host referrals and an annual travel coupon. They may also qualify for complimentary photography sessions to enhance the appeal of listings. Superhosts also get priority support from Airbnb. 

Airbnb seems to have given heightened prominence to Guest Favorites, which often appear on multiple listings across the homepage. 

And some hosts say there are other factors that influence superhost status. These could include: the number of guests a property can host, average occupancy nights (i.e. demand