Airbnb Ramps Up Push to Get More Hosts to Choose Instant Booking

Airbnb wants to incentivize more of its hosts to make their listings instantly bookable. The alternative accommodations platform is introducing a suite of new tools for hosts who opt into the feature, making it easier for them to manage their listings. Currently, 1.7 million out of Airbnb's more than 3 million listings are instantly bookable, and the company says more than 70 percent of new listings on the site are from hosts who enabled Instant Book as soon as it became available. Airbnb also said that 60 percent of its bookings from guests are now being handled via Instant Book. The new tools include the following features for hosts who sign up for Instant Book: Hosts with multiple listings have access to an improved calendar tool designed to prevent double bookings and set minimum night stays for specific dates. Hosts can hold certain days from being instantly bookable by other guests if they're already in conversations with guests who are inquiring about those dates. First-time Airbnb guests will receive information explaining the difference between an Airbnb versus a hotel stay, for example. Currently, all Airbnb guests must read and agree to an individual hosts' house rules and expectations prior to booking. Hosts can allow check-ins and check-outs on specific days of the week and at certain times. If a guest rates a host with three stars or lower, that guest cannot instantly book with that host again. What Airbnb Hosts Think of the New Tools It's clear that Airbnb's new suite of tools is designed to make things easier for hosts, and to give them control over when and how their guests place a booking on the platform. Prior to the introduction of these new features, the primary incentive for hosts who chose to opt into Instant Book was better visibility on the platform and a higher chance of getting more bookings, said San Francisco-based Airbnb hosts Davi