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EP135: The Airbnb Story with Leigh Gallagher Mar 13, 2017

Show notes

Airbnb owes much of its success to the visual appeal of the site, which has been referred to as “Pinterest meets real estate porn.” But did you know that in Airbnb’s early days, Brian and Joe spent time with hosts in New York and took the pictures themselves to help upgrade the listings?
The Airbnb story is a compelling one, and you might be surprised by many moments in Airbnb history that made a significant impact.
Today Jasper chats with Leigh Gallagher, Fortune editor and author of The Airbnb Story: How Three Ordinary Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions … and Created Plenty of Controversy. They discuss the company’s early struggles, pivotal moments in their growth and development as well as the ongoing controversies that plague Airbnb.
Topics Covered
The inception of Airbnb and its early struggles
•Joe and Brian met at RISD
•Rented out their apartment in San Francisco to pay rent
•Each racked up $20,000 in credit card debt during development
•Launched at SXSW but gained little traction in first year
•Investors skeptical due to issues around safety
When Airbnb finally began to turn things around
•Pushed to apply for Y Combinator in 2009
•Received critical advice from Paul Graham
•Go to your users
•Do things that don’t scale
•Obtained investment from VC Greg McAdoo
The major challenges of creating a company around the Airbnb product
•German competitor Wimdu
•Ransacking incident in June 2011
•Building a culture
•Hiring seasoned executives, i.e.: Chip Conley
How Airbnb shifted from technology to hospitality
•Began as a platform with software as product
•Realized hosts were product
•Sought to formalize standards and teach hospitality at scale
Airbnb’s grand ambitions to expand to products outside homes
•Experiences
•Restaurant reservations
•Event booking
•Flights
•Other services
The controversial aspects of Airbnb
•Legal challenges
•Neighbor issues
•Safety incidents
•Discrimination
Connect with Leigh
leighgallagher.com
Resources Mentioned
The Airbnb Story on Amazon
The Airbnb Story at Barnes & Noble
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully.com where you can create a custom digital guidebook for your guests!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP134: This Week in the World of Airbnb Mar 09, 2017

Show notes

As Airbnb continues to grow and pursue its ambition of becoming the Superbrand of Travel, changes in the company’s model are sure to follow. On some fronts, Airbnb seems committed to maintaining the hands-off, platform-only approach to business in the sharing economy. Yet in other areas, they are taking a more proactive approach that allows the company more control over the guest experience.
Jasper is joined by Deanna Ting, Hospitality Editor for Skift, and David Jacoby, CEO and Co-founder of Hostfully, to discuss Airbnb’s pursuit of world domination in the travel space. Their round-table discussion delves into the company’s ongoing legal issues and how recent acquisitions point to a shift in the company’s tactics.
Listen in to learn how you can stay on top of what’s happening in the travel industry as well as the specifics of Airbnb’s evolving approach to business.
Topics Covered
Airbnb’s Legal Issues
•Cities more cognizant of complications that can arise with Airbnb
•Company seems to have different response in Europe vs. US
•Airbnb assisting with enforcement of regulations in London and Amsterdam
•Partnership with Chicago shares host info with city, but raises privacy concerns
Airbnb Experiences
•On brand
•Unlikely to match success of home product
•Anyone can apply, but tour guides hand-selected by Airbnb
•Airbnb involved in building itinerary
Airbnb Acquisitions
•Luxury Retreats indicates an intention to gain more control of guest experience
•Tilt technology is a good fit to allow for ease of payment for groups
The future of Airbnb
•Continued pursuit of Travel Superbrand status
•Addition of flights, complementary services
•Persistent regulatory issues
•IPO in 2018 or later
Resources Mentioned
skift.com
Airbnb Experiences
Co-Working Space Article
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP133: When Your Guests Hold a Wedding at Your Airbnb Mar 06, 2017

Show notes

This week on the podcast, Jasper has a conversation with Brian Chen, lead consumer technology writer for the New York Times and Airbnb Superhost. Brian’s cabin in northern California has been a lucrative business investment, though he has had some surprising experiences with Airbnb guests – and not in a good way.
Brian shares a few horror stories about guests who engaged in illegal activity and how Airbnb responded through the dispute resolution process. Listen to find out what lessons Brian has learned from his negative hosting experiences!
Topics Covered
Brian’s Wedding Guests
•Guest with no reviews booked for a group of 8
•Neighbors informed Brian of 50 wedding guests and caterers entering his home
•Airbnb assisted in canceling the reservation after guest denied breaking house rules (despite photographic evidence)
•Airbnb’s dispute resolution center helped Brian get a portion of the $100/person penalty built into his house rules for exceeding 8 people
•Airbnb’s ruling disproportionately favored the guest
The lessons Brian learned from hosting ‘bad eggs’
•Protect yourself by establishing strict house rules
•Be diligent in screening potential guests
•Document as much as possible
•Consider taking ‘before’ photos of expensive items
The Cocaine Story
•Brian booked seemingly trustworthy guest with good reviews
•Group broke the dishwasher and left trash, including evidence of illegal drug use
•Due to thorough documentation, Brian was able to collect for all damages
The shortcomings of the Airbnb dispute resolution process
•Little recourse for illegal activity
•Lack of urgency in addressing disputes
•Seem to be proactive only when media gets involved in a conflict
Connect with Brian
New York Times Webpage
Resources Mentioned
Brian’s NYT Superhost Article
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully.com where you can create a custom digital guidebook for your guests!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP132: This Week in the World of Airbnb Mar 02, 2017

Show notes

It was a quiet news week for Airbnb, though the themes of acquisitions, group travel and regulations remain top of mind.
This week, Jasper chats with Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully. They deliberate Airbnb’s recent acquisition of micropayments platform Tilt as well as an interesting perspective on regulations that appeared on BaconsRebellion.com this week.
Margot also covers her recent Airbnb experiences in Hawaii, offering feedback to hosts regarding consistency and responsiveness, and Jasper shares a recent investment that will make his international travels easier – and more exclusive!
Topics Covered
Article #1: Airbnb Buys Tilt, Signaling Its Growing Interest in Group Travel
•Micropayment platform that had early success on college campuses
•Tilt talent now part of Airbnb
•Indicates a plan to enter the group travel space
Article #2: Just a Thought: Instead of Extending Regs to Airbnb Rentals, Let’s Roll Back Regs on Hotels
•The hotel lobby argues that Airbnb should be subject to the same regulations
•Due to sites like Yelp, some of these consumer protections may be obsolete
•Author suggests a review and reduction of the current regulations
Margot’s Feedback for Airbnb Hosts
•Consider interviewing your guests to find out what stood out
•Highlight what differentiates you in the listing title
•Be sure the information you provide guests is accurate
•It is better to under-promise and overdeliver than to create unrealistic expectations
Jasper’s New Membership in JetSmarter
•Airbnb for private jets
•Unlimited flights for $15,000 annual membership
•Less hassle at the airport
•Worthwhile for travelers who take several international flights per year
Resources Mentioned
Article #1: fastcompany.com/3068446/new-money/airbnb-buys-tilt-signaling-its-growing-interest-in-group-travel
Article #2: baconsrebellion.com/heres-an-idea-instead-of-extending-regs-to-airbnb-rentals-lets-roll-back-regs-on-hotels-and-bbs/
jetsmarter.com
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP131: Airbnb Regulations in London Explained Feb 27, 2017

Show notes

This week, Jasper is chatting with Marc Figueras, the CEO and Co-founder of KeyNest, a smart key exchange service with a network of locations across London where Airbnb hosts and property managers can securely store their keys.
Marc explains the specifics of the regulations particular to London as well as the options available to Airbnb hosts in the face of these newly enforced restrictions. Find out more about how Airbnb’s image has affected the rules and what you can do to stay on the right side of the law!
Topics Covered
How Parliament changed the rules in January 2015
•Allowed for short-term lets without planning permission
•Limited to 90 nights per calendar year
Airbnb’s self-enforcement
•The rules haven’t been enforced because it was up to local councils
•Hotel lobbies have pressed the new mayor
•Airbnb agreed to self-enforce, but only for those hosts who are renting out an entire home
•When the restrictions go live this spring, the Airbnb site will no longer allow bookings after the counter on a listing hits the 90-day limit
The legal options for Airbnb hosts
•Sell and move to a different market
•Initiate the long and costly process of changing your permission from residential to commercial
•Host for fewer than 90 days
•Pursue long-term lets of 91-plus days
The danger of circumventing the rules
•Though listing on different platforms is an option, it is still illegal
•Listing an entire house as a private room or creating new Airbnb accounts may result in having your account banned
•Hosts are dependent on the platform for customers, so damaging that relationship is unwise
How Airbnb’s image can be restored
•Return to the original model of private residents using the platform to make extra income and meet new people
•The community itself must be vocal about the positive aspects of the service
The KeyNest service
•Network of cafes and convenience stores for secure key drop-off
•35 London locations
•£5.95/key collection or £14.95/month
Connect with Marc
keynest.co.uk
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully.com where you can create a custom digital guidebook for your guests!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP130: This Week in the World of Airbnb Feb 24, 2017

Show notes

Airbnb’s growth is in the news this week, and acquisitions are in the air. Having only spent $300 million of the $3 billion raised, Airbnb has capital available. And they will have to invest in order to facilitate the growth necessary to reach the publicized goal of $3 billion in profit by 2020.
Jasper is joined by Hostfully Growth Guru, Silvia Li Sam, to discuss acquisitions that are already being negotiated as well as their suggestions for possible purchases.
Jasper and Silvia cover the latest lawsuit against Airbnb as well, filed by apartment management company Aimco.
Topics Covered
Article #1: Airbnb’s Profits to Top $3 Billion by 2020
•Ambitious but possible
•Vertical acquisitions may facilitate growth
Article #2: Airbnb is Buying Luxury Retreats for Around $200M
•Focus on high-end homes
•$1,000/night or more
•Airbnb will attain team and technology
•Likely to occupy a separate section of the Airbnb site
Article #3: Airbnb is in Talks to Acquire Social Payments Startup Tilt
•Technology for group purchases is a good fit
•Paying significantly less than last valuation of $400M
Jasper and Silvia’s Suggestions for Potential Airbnb Investments
•Expand further into the travel space with airline aggregator
•Airbnb’s quality user experience could compete with sites like Expedia and Kayak
•Flightfox and Airwander assist in booking multi-city trips
•Eventually, Airbnb could recommend flights, accommodations and experiences
Article #4: A Big Apartment Management Company is Suing Airbnb
•Suit accuses Airbnb of deliberately incentivizing people to breach their leases
•Aimco will have to prove monetary loss
•In similar past lawsuits, platforms were not held responsible for user behavior
Resources Mentioned
Article #1: http://fortune.com/2017/02/15/airbnb-profits/
Article #2: https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/09/airbnb-is-buying-luxury-retreats-for-around-200m/
Article #3: https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/24/airbnb-is-in-talks-to-acquire-social-payments-startup-tilt/
Article #4: https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/18/a-big-apartment-management-company-is-suing-airbnb/
flightfox.com
airwander.com
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP129: The Importance of Diversifying Your Airbnb Business Feb 20, 2017

Show notes

Jasper talks with Peter, the host of Clyde River Cottage in southern Australia. With a background in the hospitality business, Peter is well-versed in providing guests with a quality experience and marketing to travelers both directly and through third-party platforms.
Peter shares the advantages of diversifying your Airbnb business and discusses how he uses the Triple Wow Factor to procure five-star reviews. Listen and learn when it’s beneficial to post your listing on multiple platforms – or perhaps even create your own website!
Topics Covered
How Airbnb clients differ from other travelers
•Airbnb guests are buying an experience
•Most are looking to be a part of a community
The benefits of sticking with a single platform
•Allows you to build a strong reputation
•Keeps things simple (no chance of double-booking)
The disadvantages of using just one platform
•Miss out on demand provided by other marketplaces
•Can be risky to put all your eggs in one basket
Why Peter utilizes multiple platforms
•Airbnb alone doesn’t provide enough demand to reach full occupancy in smaller markets
•Clients who don’t trust Airbnb still have access to his listing
•A Google search for accommodations in his area will pop three different results that lead to his listing
The advantages of having your own website
•Opportunities for promotion (i.e.: YouTube video links, blog, newsletter for past guests)
•Clients who prefer to deal directly with a host have access to your listing
How to prevent/manage double-bookings
•Immediately remove your listing from other platforms when you receive a booking
•Make connections with other Airbnb hosts in your area and offer referrals to guests who were double-booked, waiving the price difference
•Avoid cancellations on Airbnb; you will lose your Superhost status
Peter’s secret to five-star reviews, the Triple Wow Factor
1.Clean, comfortable accommodations
2.Recommendations for local experiences (coffee shops, restaurants, etc.)
3.Welcoming, available hosts
Connect with Peter
clyderivercottage.com.au
Resources Mentioned
stayz.com.au
Peter’s Prawning Video
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully.com where you can create a custom digital guidebook for your guests!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP128: This Week in the World of Airbnb Feb 16, 2017

Show notes

Regulations and enforcement dominate the conversation today, as two big news stories out of NYC and London are making headlines.
Jasper is joined by Nicole Williams, VP of Strategy and Marketing for Hostfully, to chat about the property managers fined in NYC this week as well as the feasibility of enforcing the rules established in London.
Jasper and Nicole also cover the exponential growth of Airsorted, a management startup in the news and Jasper’s investment in Cali, Colombia.
Some of the topics covered
Article #1: Airsorted, a Fast-Growing Airbnb Management Startup, Raises £1.5M
•Manages 1,000 properties in the UK, a four-fold increase in the past six months
•Expanding to Sydney
•CEO with banking background is focused on hosts’ profitability
Article #2: New York City Issues First Illegal Airbnb Fines
•Two property managers fined for 17 violations
•Each violation carries a $1,000 fine
•Law against short-term apartment rentals went into effect in October
•Listings were pulled from Airbnb to avoid even larger fines
Article #3: Airbnb Introduces 90-Day Annual Limit for London Hosts
•Airbnb will ban hosts in London from renting homes for more than 90 days/year without official consent
•Local councils in charge of enforcement
•Hosts may list on other platforms to get around the rules
Article #4: Airbnb: $30 Billion Startup: This is What Wikipedia Can’t Tell You
•Explains the genesis of Airbnb
•Includes a breakdown of investment funding and an overview of acquisitions
•Surprising statistics
•10% of Airbnb hosts are seniors
•54% of Airbnb guests are female
•Airbnb has served 80,000,000+ guests in 34,000+ cities in 191+ countries
•List of key competitors may be useful for hosts looking to diversify
Jasper’s Personal News
•Investment in penthouse in Cali, Colombia
•Latest blogpost outlines his decision-making process
Resources Mentioned
Article #1: techcrunch.com/2017/02/07/airsorted
Article #2: theverge.com/2017/2/7/14532388/nyc-airbnb-first-illegal-renting-fines-issued
Article #3: theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/01/airbnb-introduces-90-day-a-year-limit-for-london-hosts
Article #4: valuewalk.com/2017/02/airbnb-30-billion-startup-wikipedia-cant-tell-infographic
Jasper’s Blogpost:getpaidforyourpad.com/blog/bought-penthouse-cali-colombia-rent-airbnb
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP127: Airbnb Hosting Tips from a Superhost and a Side Hustler Feb 13, 2017

Show notes

Jasper talks with Kevin the Financial Panther, an Airbnb superhost and expert side hustler. Kevin is a lawyer who has capitalized on the sharing economy to pay off $87,000 worth of student loans in just two and a half years!
Kevin shares his journey to becoming an Airbnb superhost and explains how he uses other platforms including DogVacay, Postmates and OfferUp to make extra money. Listen and learn how to incorporate side gigs into your life.
Some of the topics covered
The unexpected advantages of Airbnb hosting
•Kevin has received freebies from companies looking to get their products in front of consumers
•“Your house will never be cleaner”
How targeting a specific audience makes hosting easier
•Consider who is likely to book with you based on location
•Recognize what your target audience is looking for (i.e.: affordability, proximity to events)
Kevin’s advice for potential hosts who fear theft or damage
•More people are normal than you think
•His guests have been very polite and unobtrusive
Kevin’s tips for hosts who are just getting started
•Just do it
•Communicate with your guests
•Keep your house clean
Kevin’s approach to communicating with guests
•Do a walk-through to explain where to find and how to use appliances, etc.
•Utilize the Airbnb messaging system to keep a record of your correspondence
•Email a Hostfully guidebook upon booking and again a few days before the guest’s arrival
Why Airbnb is better than a roommate
•Your house is still fully yours (rather than having to share ownership)
•Kevin’s guests have been very respectful of the space and his privacy
Connect with Kevin
financialpanther.co
Resources Mentioned
Nest Bedding Partnership
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully.com where you can create a custom digital guidebook for your guests!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP126: This Week in the World of Airbnb Feb 09, 2017

Show notes

In November of 2015, Airbnb Global Policy Chief Chris Lehane announced the bold goal of forming 100 home sharing clubs in 2016. Today, a global network of 112 of these advocacy organizations fight regulatory battles and engage in partnerships with small businesses to enrich the local economy and culture.
On this episode of the podcast, Jasper is joined by Emery Lieberman, Airbnb’s Global Home Sharing Clubs Mobilization Program Manager, and David Jacoby, CEO and Co-founder of Hostfully, to discuss how the company was able to reach the ambitious aim of establishing 100 organizations in a year, the role they play in their communities and the clubs that have celebrated particular success in fighting regulations – by telling their stories.
They also cover Airbnb’s statement-making Super Bowl commercial highlighting the company’s commitment to inclusiveness. Find how Airbnb took a big stand on a big stage!
Some of the topics covered
Airbnb Community vs. Airbnb Citizen Clubs
•The community is an online platform where hosts connect and ask general questions
•Clubs are specific to a given city and focus on location-specific public policy issues and philanthropic projects
The Role of Home Sharing Clubs Around the World
•Gives hosts a voice in the political sphere
•Airbnb provides resources, but clubs are led by hosts
•Allows hosts the opportunity to educate communities and partner with other small businesses
The Journey to Establishing 100 Clubs
•Many were organizing already
•In cities with multiple hosts, leaders were identified and offered resources to create their own vision
•Hosts want to feel connected to a support system
Home Sharing Club Success Stories
•Defeat of Prop F in San Francisco
•Advocacy in Barcelona
•The power of storytelling in New Orleans
Airbnb’s Political Super Bowl Ad
•CEO Brian Chesky has criticized Trump’s travel ban
•The ad’s #weaccept aligns with Airbnb’s mission of creating a world where anyone can belong
Resources Mentioned
Airbnb Community Forum
Airbnb Community Clubs Page
Airbnb Citizen Forum
Airbnb Citizen Clubs Page
Airbnb’s Super Bowl Ad
Connect with Jasper
Email: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
Twitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
Instagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
This episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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