Airbnb Management Services in Nairobi, Kenya

The global accommodation market is growing rapidly, especially with the increased demand from millennial travellers. In response to this trend, a number of new hospitality companies have emerged over the past few years that offer management services for housing providers. These services are known as “alternative accommodations”, and they include companies such as Airbnb, HomeAway and StayAway. If you own an apartment or hotel and want to start making money from it by listing it on one of these websites, you need to set up an effective Airbnb management service in Nairobi, Kenya. With so many options available and so much opportunity for growth in this space, determining which company is right for you can be challenging. Here’s what you should know about Airbnb management services in Nairobi, Kenya before making your final decision:

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb is a global online community that connects people who have space to spare with those who are looking for a place to stay. The company was founded in 2008, and as of 2019 it had over 640,000 properties listed in 81,000 cities and 191 sovereign nations. In other words, Airbnb connects hosts who have a spare room to rent with travellers who are looking for a place to stay. It’s a convenient service for both parties: travellers can book a room for a lower price than they’d pay at a hotel, and hosts can make extra cash from their underutilized space.

How Does Airbnb Work?

If you have a space to rent, you can sign up to become a host on Airbnb and list your property. If you are looking for a place to stay, you can search through a wide variety of listings to find the right fit for you. Hosts can tailor their listing to specific demographics, such as age and length of stay. For travellers, this means there’s a wide selection of rooms to choose from depending on factors such as price, location and amenities. When you book a space, you pay Airbnb directly. Airbnb holds the payment until the stay is over, at which point they transfer your payment to the host. Airbnb charges a service fee of 3% to hosts and 6% to travellers.

Why Use an Airbnb Management Service?

Airbnb is a great way to generate income from a spare room, apartment or house. However, some people who own these properties are uncomfortable with the idea of hosting strangers in their homes. For this reason, some hosts find Airbnb management services useful. An Airbnb management service relieves you of the responsibility of screening and approving guests, responding to inquiries and dealing with any complaints. Managing your own Airbnb listing can be time-consuming, and you may not be able to keep up with demand. This is where an Airbnb management service comes in: they can handle guest inquiries and bookings, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

The Pros of Using an Airbnb Management Company

Many property owners who list their space on Airbnb choose to work with a management company. Airbnb management companies can handle everything from guest inquiries to booking, cleaning and payment. Different management companies have different approaches to the business. Some offer a concierge-like experience, where the host is completely hands-off and guests communicate solely with the managers. Other companies provide more autonomy for the host, giving them the option of being more hands-on with their guests.

The Cons of Using an Airbnb Management Company

Like all business relationships, deciding to work with an Airbnb management company is a decision that should be made with careful consideration. You want to make sure you select a management company that is trustworthy and reliable. Check to see if the company is certified by Airbnb; this shows that they are a legitimate and recognized partner. You should also ask around and do some research to see what others who work with that company have to say. You want to select a management company that will best serve you. In addition, you should be aware that using an Airbnb management company means giving a third party access to your Airbnb account. It’s important to carefully select the company you choose to work with and to keep your account information secure.

Conclusion

Airbnb is a great way to generate income from a spare room, apartment or house. However, some people who own these properties are uncomfortable with the idea of hosting strangers in their homes. For this reason, some hosts find Airbnb management services useful. An Airbnb management service relieves you of the responsibility of screening and approving guests, responding to inquiries and dealing with any complaints. Managing your own Airbnb listing can be time-consuming, and you may not be able to keep up with demand. This is where an Airbnb management company comes in: they can handle guest inquiries and bookings, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your business.