Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast Airbnb Just Rolled Out a Trap for Hosts (Opt Out Fast) | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 15
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Jun 12, 2025 Mark Simpson, founder of Boostly, helps short-term rental owners enhance their marketing and direct bookings. In this discussion, he reveals Airbnb's troubling new feature, 'Services,' allowing guests to book experiences without host approval, putting them at liability risk. Simpson shares a simple three-step opt-out process and underscores the urgency for hosts to act collectively. He also emphasizes diversifying their business beyond Airbnb and the importance of collaborating with local providers to create enticing upsell opportunities.
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Airbnb Services Risk to Hosts
- Airbnb's new Services feature lets guests book third-party services without host approval, shifting liability onto hosts.
- This creates major risks for professional hosts who carry all liability without benefits.
How to Opt Out of Services
- Opt out of Airbnb Services by calling support, sending a message, and adding the opt-out in your house rules.
- Collective host action is required to push Airbnb to make opting out easier.
Build Your Own Services Channel
- Build relationships with local service providers rather than relying on Airbnb for service bookings.
- Add a Services tab to your direct booking site to upsell vetted local services, improving guest experience and margin.