Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on private rooms
Editor’s note: This article was published as part of the Airbnb 2023 Summer Release. Information may have changed since its publication. Learn more about our latest product release.
Airbnb began as an affordable way for travellers to stay in someone else’s home. Through the years, Hosts of private rooms have brought people together and helped guests explore new places like locals.
Today, people want to travel affordably, especially considering the current economy. And after years of being isolated during the pandemic, they’re looking for ways to connect with others and have authentic experiences.
That’s why we’re introducing Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on private rooms. The upgrades include:
A Host Passport, so guests can get to know you before they book
A new Rooms Category and redesigned search filters that make it easier for guests to discover private rooms
New privacy-related details for everyone’s comfort
Host Passport
Guests have told us they want to know who they’ll be sharing space with before they book a private room. Your Host Passport now gives you more ways to introduce yourself to guests. It also pulls details from your profile and highlights them in search and on your listing.
The first change you’ll notice is that your profile photo appears on the corner of your main listing photo. A guest can tap or click it to go to your Host Passport and a few details you’ve shared about yourself.
Your name, years hosting, star rating and number of guest reviews appear at the top of your Host Passport. Below that, new sections of your profile let you share things like where you live, your hobbies, pet’s name, fun facts and what makes staying at your place special.
You can choose the photo and info you share by editing your profile. Also, you might notice previous sections of the Host profile have a new format, so it’s a good idea to make sure your work, languages and location show up the way you want them to.
Rooms Category
It’s easy for guests to discover your listing through the new Rooms Category at the top of the home page. The redesigned search filter also makes it simple to switch between private rooms, entire homes and all types of places. The average price of whichever one the guest chooses is displayed on the filter.
Starting on 3 May, your listing needs to meet all of these criteria to be included in the Rooms Category:
The guest has their own private bedroom with a door.
The guest has access to a private or shared bathroom.
The guest has access to at least one common space, such as a kitchen, living room or garden.
Hosts use their own name on their listing, rather than a business or other name.
“Private room” is selected as the listing or room type in your listing settings.
The private room is not a shared room, hotel, resort, tent, camper van, standalone unit (such as a garden annexe) or any other type of property on this list.
Listings that don’t meet these new criteria won’t be displayed to guests as Rooms in search or on listing pages. You can select a new listing type or update your listing so that it meets these criteria. If you’d like your listing to be added to or removed from the Rooms Category, you can send a request to Community Support.
Privacy and comfort
Guests who browse private room listings often check for details that help them feel comfortable and secure. To help you set expectations, we’ve moved this info higher on your listing page:
Whether the bedroom door has a lock. Guests expect to be able to lock their door. If your private room doesn’t have a lock, consider adding one.
Whether the bathroom is private, dedicated or shared. For all listings on Airbnb, guests require access to a bathroom that has a sink, toilet, and shower or bath tub. Your listing can now highlight whether your guest’s bathroom is private and attached, dedicated (private but accessed via a shared space, such as a hallway) or shared with others.
Who else may be on the property. Guests want to know if they’ll encounter others during their stay, like other guests, family members or housemates. You can avoid mismatched expectations by adding details about who may be there.
How much social interaction to expect. Guests often enjoy spending time with Hosts, who can help them get to know their destination like a local. You can note how much time you like to spend with guests during their stay.
To update these details, go to the Rooms and Spaces section of your listing.
Airbnb Rooms and 25 upgrades for Hosts begin rolling out this week as part of the Airbnb 2023 Summer Release.