Airbnb Hosting Glossary

Total accommodation revenue divided by the number of nights sold, measuring the average income earned per booked night.

The practice of leasing a property long-term and relisting it on Airbnb as a short-term rental to profit from the rate differential.

Airbnb's integrated host protection program providing damage and liability coverage for eligible bookings.

Features and supplies provided to guests, such as Wi-Fi, toiletries, kitchen essentials, parking, and a washer/dryer, that affect booking appeal and guest satisfaction.

Software that synchronizes calendars, rates, and availability across multiple short-term rental platforms to prevent double bookings.

A one-time charge added per booking to cover the cost of professional cleaning and restocking between guests.

A person or company that helps manage an Airbnb listing on behalf of the property owner, typically for a percentage of revenue.

A reservation made through a host's own website or communication channel rather than through a third-party platform like Airbnb.

A strategy of adjusting nightly rates based on real-time demand, seasonality, events, and competitor activity to optimize revenue.

The process of evaluating potential guests based on reviews, verification status, and communication before accepting a booking.

A comprehensive guide for guests containing property instructions, appliance guides, Wi-Fi credentials, house rules, and emergency contacts.

An Airbnb feature that allows guests to book a listing immediately without waiting for the host to accept the reservation request.

Electronic lock systems that allow guests to access the property using codes, apps, or smart devices, eliminating the need for physical key exchanges.

A reduced rate offered for bookings exceeding a specified duration, typically weekly (7+ nights) or monthly (28+ nights).

The practice of refining a property listing's photos, title, description, and pricing to improve search ranking and booking conversion.

A host-configured restriction on the shortest booking duration allowed for a listing.

The percentage of available nights that are booked during a given period, calculated as booked nights divided by available nights.

A government-imposed tax on short-term lodging, similar to a hotel tax, that may be collected by Airbnb or the host depending on the jurisdiction.

Software used to manage one or more short-term rental listings, automating messaging, cleaning schedules, pricing, and financial reporting.

Total revenue divided by total available nights, combining the effects of occupancy rate and average daily rate into one metric.

A check-in process that allows guests to access the property independently using a lockbox, smart lock, or building entry system.

A furnished property rented for short durations, typically less than 30 consecutive days, often through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo.

An Airbnb designation for hosts meeting high performance standards including a 4.8+ rating, low cancellation rate, and high responsiveness.

The process of preparing a property between guest stays, including cleaning, restocking consumables, and inspecting for damage.

A competing short-term rental platform owned by Expedia Group where property owners list vacation rentals, often used alongside Airbnb via channel management.