How the Airbnb Referral Program Can Benefit Vacation Rental Hosts

Are you a vacation rental host looking to make some extra money? Have you heard about the Airbnb Referral Program? If not, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to earn some extra cash.

In this blog post, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the Airbnb Referral Program and how you can benefit from referring new hosts to Airbnb.

Explanation of Airbnb Referral Program

The Airbnb Referral Program is a marketing strategy used by Airbnb to encourage current hosts to refer new hosts to the platform. As a current host, you can earn money by inviting your friends, family, and colleagues to become hosts on Airbnb using your referral link or invitation.

This program is a great way for vacation rental hosts to earn promotional coupon credits, travel credits, and referral bonuses by inviting their friends to join the Airbnb community. When you refer a friend to Airbnb and they sign up using your referral link, you can earn credits that can be used towards your own qualifying home reservation on the platform.

In addition, when your referred friend completes their qualifying hosting reservation, you can earn travel credits that can be used towards your own travels.

Benefits of Referring New Hosts to Airbnb

Referring new hosts to Airbnb can have a variety of benefits, including:

1. Extra income: As a current host, you can earn money by referring new hosts to Airbnb. You’ll earn a referral bonus for each new host that signs up using your referral link and has their first qualifying reservation.
2. Helping out a friend: If you have friends or family who are interested in hosting on Airbnb, referring them through the referral program can be a great way to help them get started and earn some extra cash.
3. Building your network: Referring new hosts to Airbnb can help you build your network of hosts and guests, which can lead to more bookings and increased visibility on the platform.

To participate in the program, you must have a valid Airbnb account and have had at least one qualifying hosting reservation. Your referral link or invitation must be used by a new host to sign up for Airbnb and they must have their first qualifying reservation within a certain timeframe. By referring new hosts to Airbnb, you can earn some extra cash and help grow the Airbnb community.

How the Airbnb Referral Program Works: A Step-by-step Guide

To participate in the program, simply invite your friends to sign up for a valid Airbnb account using your referral link. Your friend will then receive a referral invitation and instructions on how to complete their first qualifying hosting reservation. Once your referred friend’s qualifying reservation is complete, you’ll earn your referral bonus.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Airbnb account and go to the “Refer a Friend” section.
2. Invite friends, family, or acquaintances to join Airbnb as guests or hosts by sharing your unique referral link through email, social media, or any other medium.
3. Your invitees receive a discount on their first booking or a cash reward when they become a host.
4. Once your invitees have made a booking or become a host, you will receive a reward.

Eligibility Requirements for the Program

To be eligible, hosts need to meet the following requirements:

1. Be a registered Airbnb user with a verified account.
2. Have completed at least one stay or experience on Airbnb.
3. Not be a professional property manager or real estate broker.
4. Abide by the Airbnb Referral Program’s terms and conditions.

Types of Rewards Hosts Can Earn through Referrals

There are two types of rewards that vacation rental hosts can earn:

1. Referral Credits – These are travel credits that can be used towards future Airbnb bookings. When an invitee makes their first booking on Airbnb using your referral link, you will receive a referral credit that you can use towards your next booking.
2. Cash Rewards – When an invitee becomes a host and earns their first payout on Airbnb, you will receive a cash reward that will be deposited directly into your account. The amount of the reward varies depending on the invitee’s location and the type of property they host.

It is a simple and effective way for vacation rental hosts to expand their network and earn rewards. The different types of rewards, referral credits, and cash rewards, also provide hosts with flexibility in how they can use the program to their advantage.

Benefits of the Airbnb Referral Program for Hosts

The program provides numerous benefits for vacation rental hosts, including:

1. Increased exposure for their vacation rental properties

   By inviting friends and acquaintances to Airbnb as guests, hosts can showcase their vacation rental properties to a wider audience, thereby increasing their exposure and visibility on the platform.

2. Higher chances of getting bookings through referrals

   Guests who are referred to Airbnb by hosts are more likely to book their vacation rental properties because they already have a connection with the host, and trust their recommendations.

3. Opportunity to earn extra income through referrals

   By participating, hosts can earn additional income by referring guests or inviting new hosts to Airbnb. The rewards earned through referrals can be used towards future bookings or deposited directly into their account as cash rewards.

4. Ability to build a network of trusted guests

   By referring guests, hosts can build a network of trusted guests who are more likely to make repeat bookings and recommend their vacation rental properties to others. This can lead to increased bookings and a more stable stream of income.

It provides hosts with an excellent opportunity to increase their exposure, earn additional income, and build a network of trusted guests.

Tips for Maximizing Referral Rewards

To maximize referral rewards and enhance the guest experience, here are some tips for vacation rental hosts:

1. Ways to promote the referral program to potential guests

   Hosts can promote the Airbnb Referral Program by sharing their unique link through social media, email marketing, or other marketing channels. They can also include information about the program on their website, social media profiles, and guest communication.

2. Strategies for encouraging guests to refer others

   Hosts can encourage guests to refer others by offering incentives such as a discount on their next booking, a free upgrade, or other perks. They can also provide excellent customer service and follow up with guests after their stay to ask for referrals.

3. Ideas for using referral rewards to enhance the guest experience

   Hosts can use referral rewards to enhance the guest experience by offering complementary services or experiences such as a local tour, wine tasting, or restaurant reservation. They can also use the rewards to offer discounts on future bookings or to upgrade the guest’s accommodations.

In addition to these tips, it’s important for hosts to be transparent and ethical when promoting the referral program. You should clearly disclose the terms and conditions of the program and ensure that marketing materials are accurate and truthful.

Conclusion

Airbnb’s referral program is a win-win for vacation rental hosts looking to earn rewards for spreading the word about the platform. With the ability to get promotional coupon credits, travel credits, and referral bonuses for each referred friend’s qualifying reservation, it’s easy to see why so many hosts are taking advantage of this opportunity.

Try it for yourself and see the benefits firsthand. By sharing your unique referral link and following the tips outlined in this article, you can maximize your rewards and take your vacation rental business to the next level.

You can take it even further with vacation rental software to help you manage every facet of the business. This is where iGMS comes in. iGMS can help you by:

• Synchronizing reservations across multiple platforms to eliminate double bookings.
• Using the unified inbox to organize your messages into a single feed to ensure prompt replies.
• Using automated templates and triggered messaging to improve communication.
• Automating the process of guest review send-outs.
• Creating and coordinating cleaning tasks with live tracking to completion.
• Task creation and team management with access control.

About the Author

Daniëlle Kruger is an SEO Content Writer at iGMS. She is an avid reader and researcher of all things travel, always trying to keep her finger on the pulse of the latest trends and innovations. A self-proclaimed nerd, in her free time Dani enjoys reading, rollerskating, and dabbling in tabletop RPGs.