Airbnb Ambassador Program: To Join or Not to Join?

If you ever thought about becoming a consultant, teacher, or coach but decided on hosting instead, becoming an Airbnb Ambassador might just be for you. It’s more than simply sharing referral links. 

It’s an opportunity to make a real difference and help new hosts leverage the Airbnb platform and earn their first bookings. Plus, you’ll also earn payments. From how to share a referral invitation to which types of questions new hosts like to ask, here’s an overview of what to expect. 

What’s the Airbnb Ambassador Program?

The Airbnb Ambassador Program connects Superhosts with new property owners, helping them uncover the perks of hosting and setting them up for success. For every new host that signs up to Airbnb, the Superhost Ambassador is rewarded with a referral fee. 

Superhost Ambassadors are categorized as “non-exclusive independent Airbnb contractors”. In other words, they don’t become Airbnb employees. Instead, they’re seen as entrepreneurs who can earn side money on their own time and in their own way (as long as they abide by the program rules). 

Who Can Join?

To join the program, you must meet the following criteria:

• You need to be a Superhost.
• Your Airbnb account must be in good standing. 

These are the only two eligibility requirements. Keep in mind, though, that Airbnb will check every three months to ensure you still meet these criteria. If your account is no longer in good standing or you lost your Superhost status, no need to worry. You’ll be able to apply to rejoin the program again at a later date. 

If you meet these criteria, you’ll also need to agree to the Ts and Cs. Examples of some of the program rules include:

• Ambassadors must keep all the data about the new hosts that Airbnb shares with them confidential. 
• Ambassadors may not make any representations or commitments on behalf of the Airbnb platform. 
• Ambassadors may not complete any activities that require a real estate license. 
• Ambassadors may also not offer any specialized advice relating to legal or tax matters. 

How Does the Program Work?

The program takes the shape of one-on-one mentoring. It’s the Ambassador’s responsibility to mentor the new host and share tools that will help them turn their venture into a successful business. 

This means that, unlike other types of affiliate or referral marketing campaigns, it comes with more responsibility. You’ll have to do more than simply share a unique referral link on your social media profiles and sit back. 

Airbnb expects you to onboard and train your aspiring hosts. You should be available as a mentor till your mentees receive their first reservation.

Examples of ways that you can help brand-new hosts include:

• Editing the property listing
• Offering recommendations about which photos to include
• Advising about how to set and adjust the nightly rate 
• Sharing best practices for cleaning
• Offering general feedback on their approach

 The Matching System Explained

Airbnb will match Ambassadors with new hosts that have joined Airbnb Setup. While you’ll need to be available to offer one-on-one guidance, it can be done virtually. This means that you can be connected with people from all over the world and work remotely from the convenience of your own home. 

That said, Airbnb will take into account the country, the host’s proximity to you as well as language. The Airbnb platform usually tries to connect Ambassadors with hosts that stay in the same country and time zone. In addition to these three factors, the platform also currently uses the listing type to help it decide which new hosts to pair with which mentors. 

Alternatively, you can also refer them to Airbnb. This way, you won’t connect with them directly via the program. In this case, you’ll need to do more work on your own. You’ll copy the unique referral link (this is found on your Ambassador dashboard) which you’ll then share with new hosts on platforms such as your direct booking website, Facebook page, or YouTube channel.  When potential hosts click on this link, they’ll be redirected to a customized page that has your details. The host will then create a listing in the same session, for you to receive your reward. 

How Does the Payment Work?

You’ll receive a cash reward after the host assigned to you has completed their first eligible booking. The reservation’s total value must be at least $100 and must be completed within 90 days after the host clicks on your link. 

Several factors will impact the amount of the reward, with your country of residence being one of them. This means that the payouts will most likely be different each time. The finer details about this cash reward are available via your Ambassador dashboard. 

As for how long you’ll need to wait, payouts are usually finalized about 14 days after the guest has checked out. For example, if the guest checked out on 10 December, you can expect to receive your payment on 24 December. 

It’s also important to note that the hosts won’t carry any costs. From when they sign up to when they receive their first reservation, they can have all their questions answered at no extra cost. However, under the guidelines shared for Superhost Ambassadors, you’ll need to disclose beforehand that you’ll earn a reward for the referral. 

Tools to Help Ambassadors

Airbnb will give Ambassadors access to tools and resources that they can use to answer their mentees’ questions. For a more hands-on approach, you can sign up for a workshop. 

You’ll be able to access these exclusive tools via your dashboard. Here, you’ll also be able to monitor the progress of your new host connections. To analyze your interactions, you’ll also have access to stats like your response rate and the number of posts you’ve helped to secure their first booking. 

What Are the Advantages of Becoming Superhosts Ambassadors?

Everything isn’t always about money. In addition to the cash payments, Superhosts Ambassadors can also look forward to benefits like:

• Access to exclusive features, tools, and insightful resources
• Enhanced support
• Connecting with new hosts

Airbnb Ambassador Program Case Study

The Airbnb Ambassador Program is all about creating connections. This took on a whole new form when Katie, a Superhost Ambassador and Airbnb Host Advisory Board Member, connected with a TV (and fellow Airbnb) host to advise a new host. 

When Michelle listed an entire place for the first time on Airbnb, she was partnered with Katie. As part of the process, Michelle opted to host an experienced guest for her first booking. However, it wasn’t just any guest. Her first guest was Bobby Berk, the host of Queer Eye, an American reality TV series on Netflix. Bobby and Katie also hopped on a virtual call with Michelle during which he shared his suggestions for Michelle’s listing. His tips extended to simply how to create and maintain her listing, but also included suggestions for how to create a memorable guest experience. 

Today, Michelle is also a Superhost with a rating of 4.94 and 16 reviews behind her name. What’s more, her entire home in Crestline, California, has been voted as a guest favorite. According to guests, it’s one of the most loved homes on the platform. 

Michelle has praised the program. For her, it was especially helpful during the last stretch when several details need to be fine-tuned.

What Are the Most Common New Hosts Questions?

According to a couple of experienced Airbnb Ambassadors, guests typically want to know about how the publishing process works. They’re unsure about what happens when they hit that publish button. 

Another common question is about pricing. Hosts want to know how to price their listings. 

Other popular questions include:

• How do I photograph my listing?
• How do I write a nice listing title?
• Will my place do well on Airbnb?
• How do I set up my calendar?
• How do I block dates?

Guests are nervous about getting started. As an Ambassador, you’ll find that you’ll need to convince them that it doesn’t need to be perfect before they go live. Instead, they should approach it as a project that requires their continuous attention. 

To Join or Not to Join?

You’ll need to be able to commit to at least one weekly video call. You’ll also need to communicate to them that you’re available. If you come across as unavailable, they’ll lose interest quickly. Aside from communication, you also need to have the analytical skills to help new hosts identify the potential of their listings. 

If this sounds like you and you meet the requirements, becoming an Airbnb Ambassador can be a great way to give back and make more host connections. All in all, it’s fairly simple. Just be available and ready to focus on the potential.