Airbnb Superhost: Everything you need to know about this status in 2023

In order to entice more travelers to book your accommodation over another, it's absolutely essential that your property gains better visibility. Attaining the Airbnb Superhost status not only pushes you up to the top of the search results but is also a genuine mark of quality for your future guests. Here’s how you can attain this status in a few steps – with the help of your favorite Airbnb noise monitor, the Minut sensor!

All About the Airbnb Superhost Status

For all property managers, concierge services, and other real estate owners looking to turn their properties into significant sources of income, Airbnb is the go-to short-term rental platform. However, with the short-term rental market growing exponentially, standing out among the multitude of listings that pop up every day on the Airbnb site or app can be a challenge.

The Airbnb Superhost program requires you to meet a set of strict criteria to hope for the Superhost badge and – most importantly – to keep it. Adhering to all these rules will allow you to watch your number of bookings rapidly grow. Here's everything you need to know about this recognized status in the vacation rental industry. With this knowledge, you'll be well-equipped to embark on the journey to obtain this precious title, synonymous with the longevity of your business and regular income.

1. What is an Airbnb Superhost?

Let's use Airbnb's own definition: "A Superhost is someone who goes above and beyond to be a great host. They're an example for other hosts to follow. The badge on their listing and profile identifies them as a Superhost."

So, a Superhost is someone who, by offering one or more properties for rent on Airbnb, has gained such experience in hosting travelers that they've received numerous outstanding reviews and positive comments. 

Comfortable and responsive in all situations, they are adept at solving problems and addressing any requests from guests before, during, and after their stay. They exhibit a high level of professionalism in terms of the cleanliness of the accommodation, the amount of information provided to guests, and hospitality. Appreciative of these qualities, the Airbnb platform rewards such exemplary hosts by automatically granting them this badge of recognition, immediately visible and recognizable on their listing and profile.

The Supherhost status, established in 2009, naturally encourages people to trust you. It's a great way to thrive in this highly competitive field and continue growing your business. Just like earning a degree or a medal, obtaining this badge is subject to a rigorous evaluation by Airbnb. The evaluation takes place four times a year (once per quarter). It lasts for five days and is based on several conditions to be met, which we'll detail below.

If nothing stands in the way of this approval and all the requirements are met, the badge is awarded in about a week. An Airbnb host can gain or lose their badge multiple times within a year. This allows Airbnb to offer travelers properties that always meet their expectations. This may be why Airbnb has maintained its position as the undisputed market leader for all these years!

2. Criteria for Becoming a Superhost

As long as your properties are part of Airbnb's catalog, you need to fulfill four specific criteria. Reevaluated every quarter, they form the essential foundation for obtaining your Superhost status. By upholding this commitment to excellence over time, there's a strong chance your accommodations will become must-stays in the short-term rental scene in your region. Let's delve into what it takes to achieve this.

Demonstrating a sufficient number of stays

Over the past 12 months, you'll need to have hosted guests at least 10 times. The platform will also consider you if you’ve hosted guests three times (within the previous year) out of a minimum of 100 reserved nights. Experienced hosts are, unsurprisingly, better positioned for this accolade than newcomers. To make achieving these milestones easier, it's recommended to implement a flexible pricing policy:

• Offer a special rate for "extended stays."
• Use the "promotion" feature on Airbnb for very short stays.

Remember to adapt your prices based on the duration and timing of the rental period.

Implementing a trial phase, known as the "BETA method," is also an excellent way to increase your occupancy rate and fine-tune your property. Offer discounted dates to your acquaintances so they can provide constructive feedback and impressions before you officially list your property.

Being a highly responsive host

The rule is simple: you must respond to 90% of messages within 24 hours of receiving them. This high response rate demonstrates to Airbnb the importance you place on guests and the efforts you make to assist them as effectively as possible throughout their "traveler journey." Here are a few methods you can use to make sure you never miss out on questions or feedback:

• You can – and should – install the Airbnb app on your mobile device. It alerts you the moment you receive a message, enabling you to respond much more quickly.
• Airbnb's "quick responses" are a convenient feature if you want to save more time addressing commonly discussed topics with guests.
• Thanks to our Minut sensor, you can ensure that new guests have successfully checked in. This will help you become even more attentive and ready to address all their requests promptly. Send them all the messages and recommendations you deem useful for a smooth stay. Use this opportunity to remind them of the presence of the Airbnb noise monitor used in the property – your Minut sensor – and the rules regarding noise disturbances and indoor smoking. 

Maintaining an almost non-existent cancellation rate

Airbnb is adamant that this indicator should not exceed 1%. This proves that you've done everything in your power to manage your reservations and minimize the risk of cancellations. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize cancellations: 

• Keeping your calendars up to date to avoid any instances of double bookings.
• Using a channel manager to assist in calendar management. Did you know that Minut integrated with some of them? Thanks to these integrations, we can help you become even more efficient.
• Avoiding voluntary cancellations of reservations as much as possible.

As for the latter case, pandemics, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events beyond your control are considered force majeure. These circumstances allow you to cancel a reservation without affecting your eligibility for Superhost status.

Maintaining an excellent overall rating

After they’ve left your property, guests will leave a review accompanied by a star rating with 5 stars being the highest possible rating. To become a Superhost, it is crucial that your average rating is equal to or higher than 4.8 to qualify for Superhost status. The criteria taken into account include:

• The overall experience of the stay.
• The cleanliness of the premises, which must be of a high standard and free from any health or well-being risks to travelers.
• Accuracy: ensuring that your property matches its description in the listing with up-to-date information and photos.
• The check-in process and how smoothly guests take possession of the property.
• Communication — did you respond to all guest messages in a timely manner?
• Location, including information about the local area and surroundings (neighborhood safety, transportation access, points of interest, etc.).
• Value for money.
• Amenities, if listed in the description, must be readily available and in perfect working condition.

3. The Benefits of Airbnb Superhost Status

Becoming a Superhost benefits the host – but it doesn’t stop there! Travelers, and even Airbnb itself, have a vested interest in you achieving and maintaining this highly coveted status…

Benefits for you as the Host

These benefits are numerous, and some have an immediate effect:

• Visibility: A higher ranking in Airbnb search results naturally leads to more bookings.
• You receive a $100 coupon if you maintain Airbnb Superhost status for four consecutive quarters.
• The opportunity to earn an additional 20% bonus by referring new hosts to the platform.
• Priority assistance dedicated to Superhosts, which proves particularly useful in resolving certain disputes.

Benefits for Your Guests

The benefits your guests will reap from booking their vacation rental with a Superhost are all about quality assurance. To make their choice, potential guests need to feel that the accommodation you're offering is worth their attention – and investment. With the Superhost badge, guests know that your property has garnered numerous stellar reviews and ratings. This will ultimately convince them to click the "Book" button. But this is just the beginning – many more bookings will follow, resulting in even more positive reviews. Isn’t that what we’d call a virtuous circle?

Benefits for Airbnb

Last but not least, Superhosts are also beneficial to Airbnb itself! Encouraging hosts to go above and beyond to attain this vacation rental holy grail ensures that Airbnb's offerings and community maintain exemplary quality standards all around.

The active participation of hosts guarantees Airbnb high-quality listings and experiences. This has a direct impact on the brand's image and reputation. It's a virtuous circle that benefits both the platform and its hosts.

4. Maximizing Your Chances of Becoming an Airbnb Superhost

You now understand the undeniable benefits that come with Airbnb Superhost status. You know the criteria to meet in order to achieve it. Here are a few tips to help you put all this information into practice.

Crafting the Perfect Listing

The more attractive your listing is, the more people will be drawn to stay in your property. Therefore, consider:

• Crafting a detailed description.
• Uploading high-quality photos.
• Keeping it real. Avoid using wide-angle lenses to make rooms appear larger, for example.
• Providing a comprehensive inventory of all available amenities on-site.
• Highlighting the steps you've taken to ensure the security of the premises.

A comprehensive listing is more likely to attract guests who are a good fit for your property, increasing the chances of receiving positive reviews and high ratings on Airbnb.

If you're a Minut user, we encourage you to inform travelers about the presence of an Airbnb noise monitor in the property – while highlighting its privacy-safe nature, of course. This will help you keep problematic and noisy guests away from your premises. 

Thoughtful Communication with Travelers

Offering an ideal traveler experience involves effective communication throughout their stay. From booking to the eve of departure, don't hesitate to send messages to:

• Express gratitude for choosing your accommodation.
• Provide practical information to facilitate their arrival.
• Extend a warm welcome.
• Inquire if everything went smoothly as their departure approaches.

At Minut, we offer you the option to schedule all your messages to save you valuable time.

Finally, creating a comprehensive guest guide further enhances communication. Whether in print or digital format, this guide should contain all the necessary information for a seamless stay at your property. It minimizes the chances of guests reaching out to you with questions that could easily be answered in this manual.

Congratulations! By reading this article, you've already taken a significant step towards achieving Airbnb Superhost status.

To learn more, visit the dedicated Airbnb page.