Airbnb Winter Updates 2024 at a glance
On October 16th, 2024 Airbnb unveiled its 8th release: the Airbnb 2024 Winter Release.
The company started to issue biannual releases (two per year)on May 24th, 2021.
You can find the full list of their releases here:
Today we're going to see what this update brings and what it means for hosts and guests.
I can anticipate there haven't been any major changes, but more revamps of what's already available.
Airbnb Winter Release 2024 upgrades for hosts
The main changes on the hosting side of Airbnb are three:
- "Introducing" the co-host network (it already existed, but it has been changed and improved).
- Earnings dashboard revamp (making it easier for hosts to customize their earnings reports, better understand their income by type, and know when to expect payments with personalized earnings cards).
- Messaging upgrades to communicate more efficiently (enhancing quick replies and allowing editing and unsending messages).
*Note: All the new features will eventually be rolled out for all hosts. However, currently, you will need to opt in for early access to use some of the tools. You can do so on this page.
1 - "Introducing" the co-host network
We put "introducing" between quotes because there was already a database for hiring co-hosts and managing Airbnb listings.
However, Airbnb's 2024 Winter Release has enhanced that section, making it clearer, available on the mobile app, and ultimately easier for hosts to find co-hosts.
The algorithm is designed so that hosts enter an address or location and the algorithm returns co-hosts that are part of the Co-Host Network, with the aim of displaying the most relevant results for that host.
Here's the page where you can start looking for a co-host:
What co-hosts can do
Co-hosts services can include:
- Listing setup
- Setting prices and availability
- Booking request management
- Guest messaging
- Onsite guest support
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Listing photography
- Interior design and styling
- Licensing and hosting permits
Co-hosts can also add other services, such as landscaping, business analysis, and hospitality coaching. You’ll find details about the services a co-host provides on their profile, as in the sample picture below:
Hosts can message co-hosts before deciding whether to hire them or not and should arrange the payment amounts and terms with the co-host directly.
The payouts can then be set up on Airbnb.
Is the co-host network available everywhere?
The co-host network isn't available everywhere.
It is available in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico (powered by Airbnb Global Services Limited), Canada, the United States (powered by Airbnb Living LLC), and Brazil (powered by Airbnb Plataforma Digital Ltda).
Airbnb announced it will expand the network to more countries in 2025.
What requirements do co-hosts in the co-hosts network need to meet?
The requirements to join the Co-Host Network are very similar to the requirements to become a SuperHost:
- Have at least one active listing as a host or as a co-host with full access or calendar and messaging access.
- Hosted or co-hosted 10 or more stays—or three or more stays for a total of at least 100 nights—on Airbnb over the past 12 months.
- Maintained an average rating of 4.8 stars or more from guests over the past 12 months for all the listings you host or co-host with full access or calendar and messaging access.
- Cancellation rate below 3%, with exceptions made for certain valid reasons beyond your control.
- The Airbnb account is in good standing. The co-host's identity must be verified and must meet the name and photo requirements to be displayed on the network.
Can I join the Co-Host Network?
Hosts can join the Co-Host Network, as long as they meet the requirements.
You can find an article about how to join the Co-Host Network here:
Vincenzo Asaro
2 - Earnings Dashboard revamped
The second pillar of Airbnb's Winter Release 2024 is the revamp of the Earnings Dashboard.
The purpose of this is to make it easier for hosts to track the payouts they are due, and their income, with additional filters and a more intuitive way to look at the earnings dashboard.
New custom reports
Hosts will be able to create custom reports for any listing and date range of their choice.
Airbnb still generates monthly and annual statements.
New filter by earnings type
Hosts can now filter their earnings by type, which includes:
- Stays
- Experiences
- Credits
- Resolutions
So it's now possible to filter our what their payouts are for.
In addition to that, hosts can filter the transactions by date, listing, and payout method, so they can see for example how much a specific listing has generated in a specific month.
New earnings cards
An earnings card will appear on the earnings dashboard when a payment is on the way. It will show the:
- Payout method
- Transaction amount
- Estimated processing time
Hosts will see the details of the transaction by opening it.
3 - Messaging upgrades to communicate more efficiently
Airbnb's messaging system has already undergone a significant change with the previous Airbnb's 2024 Summer Release, which introduced group messaging and the messaging tab.
This release further simplifies the messaging system.
New quick replies
These will be available in early 2025 according to Airbnb's announcement.
Over a dozen new quick reply templates will give hosts sample answers to top guest questions on topics like directions, wifi, and checkout.
Hosts will be able to use a pre-written message as is or edit it to reflect their hosting style, amenities, or guests’ needs.
The new templates also add features to make communicating faster and easier.
- Suggestions: When one of the new templates could help you answer a guest’s question, an AI-suggested quick reply automatically appears in your conversation, where only you can see it. You can review and edit the reply before sending it, or write a different message.
- Details: The new quick replies contain placeholders that automatically fill in the guest’s name and certain booking and listing details when the message is sent.
- Reminders: When a message you’ve scheduled is coming up, you’ll see a reminder in your conversation with the guest. Adjust or skip sending the message if it repeats information you’ve already shared.
Threaded replies
The rollout will start in November 2024.
When hosts reply to a specific message as a thread, their response will get nested under the original message. Guests can reply in the same way, creating a string of related messages.
Editing tools
The rollout will start in November 2024.
Hosts will now be allowed to:
- Edit a message within 15 minutes of sending it
- Unsend a message within 24 hours.
Airbnb Winter Release 2024 upgrades for guests
On the "traveling" side of things, Airbnb has changed what was already available and has improved how guests can pay locally. The main changes are the following:
- New recommended filters and suggested destinations
- Personalized highlights
- New local payment methods
Let's have a quick look at each of them!
1 - New recommended search filters and suggested destinations
To improve the guests' experience and drive more bookings, Airbnb will now recommend locations based on the guest's search and booking history when they tap on the search bar.
The system will also offer shortcuts to the guest's past searches and recently viewed listings.
When the guest is looking for places in a certain location and looks for the filters, they will be shown recommendations based on their past bookings and current search.
Airbnb has also enhanced how to view, add, and remove filters. The selected filters are now shown on top, and they can be removed by clicking or tapping on the 'x' next to them.
2 - Personalized highlights
The highlights on listings were introduced in general with the previous Airbnb release (Summer 2024).
However, this release introduces a touch of personalization.
When guests view a listing, Airbnb will highlight the details that are relevant to the guest's search—like a playroom or backyard when traveling with kids.
3 - New local payment methods
Airbnb has made efforts lately to offer guests the option to pay using some local payment methods.
In the last years, over 20 local payment methods were added.
In 2024 alone the platform added Twint in Switzerland, Pix in Brazil and Kakao Pay in Korea.
The 2024 Winter Release has introduced 4 additional local payment methods:
- Vipps in Norway;
- Mobile Pay in Denmark;
- MoMo in Vietnam;
- P24 in Poland.
Considerations
While this is surely not a major shift in how Airbnb works, the features introduced with the 2024 Winter Release will most likely improve both the host's and guest's experience.
The take-home concept, in my opinion, is that the platform is further helping homeowners who don't have the time and will to be hosts to be still on Airbnb by improving the co-host network.
Also, with suggested destinations and personalized highlights, the platform can virtually steer the demand to certain locations and take it away from others, which can, in turn, make the fortune of some hosts, and lead to fewer bookings for other hosts.
Only time will tell if and how the updates had a useful impact on the community overall!