According to recent Airbnb indicators, Flagstaff is the third most hospitable city in the United States.
According to recent Airbnb indicators, Flagstaff is the third most hospitable city in the United States. With 55% of total Airbnb hosts holding Superhost status, Flagstaff is in the top five destinations on Airbnb with the highest percentage of Superhosts. And that makes it one of the most hospitable cities in the nation.
Sevierville, TN: 60%
Asheville, NC: 59%
Flagstaff, AZ: 55%
Galveston, TX: 50%
Nashville, TN: 49%
Airbnb hosts with high satisfaction ratings and who meet other criteria earn the designation of Superhost. In addition, their listings on the online marketplace for vacation rentals include a special badge that indicates to potential guests that their short-term homestays have been reviewed and rated positively by previous lodgers.
Airbnb Superhost Beth Tucker is not surprised that Flagstaff ranks highly in friendliness and hospitality. “I have some thoughts – three things that might seem random,” said the 11-year Flagstaff Airbnb veteran. “First, we’re a physically active town. Studies show that physical activity increases our sense of well-being. We’re outdoors, we’re active and that helps us feel good.
“Second thing is, we’re a tourist town that gets exposed to international travelers. A good percentage of my guests are foreigners. You need to like interacting with people and turning them on to your town.
“Third is the size of our town. It’s not tiny, but it’s not massive. We have narrow sidewalks – you have to interact. They put you in eye-line with people. Plus, we have a lot of sunny days, so who can frown?” said the Superhost who privatized the back area of her home in downtown Flagstaff for short-term vacation rental more than a decade ago.
“I enjoy meeting the guests,” Tucker said. “I meet them and help them have an experience. I want people to come back and dig the area. It gives me great pleasure to hear, ‘I didn’t know there was so much to do here.’ I have a lot of repeat guests,” she said.
Tucker worked and traveled in Third World countries for her job before retiring. “I feel I gained insight from those travel experiences and can provide comforts,” she said. “Everybody travels differently, but being able to anticipate the guest’s needs makes me successful.”
One way she makes guests feel at home is to turn the internet radio onto a station streaming from the guest’s home country. “I had people from the Netherlands come in, so I set the radio to an Amsterdam station. Turns out they were getting homesick, so the radio in their native language really helped. You need to think about what kind of situation your guest is in.”
Darryl Brown, who rents out two rooms in his Flagstaff home, also earns the Superhost designation. “I made a separate entrance and closed [the rooms] off from the rest of my home. I had a blast creating the space, furnishing and decorating,” he told Flagstaff Business News. “I tried to make each space beautiful, fun and a different experience from what people have in their own homes.”
Brown says Airbnb success comes from “tangible” and “intangible” elements. “Photography catches people’s eye, but before long, people are booking on your reviews, so reviews have to be high. The feedback I get on my place is that people love the interior design and attention to detail. I have unique furniture, art, quality linens, a comfy bed and a beautiful bathroom. I have good coffee, tea and hot cocoa,” said Brown, who has been an Airbnb host for the past five years.
“I have seen short-term rentals done irresponsibly where large homes are rented out and the guests are loud and disrespectful to the neighborhood,” he added. “An aspect of being a good businessperson means respecting the community you are a part of.”
Superhosts in Prescott
Wendy Chavis designed and built her Prescott home to raise her teenage daughters. But the empty nest syndrome began to emerge when they left home after high school. “Airbnb took the empty nest right out of the house,” declared the Airbnb Superhost.
“It seems like a blessing for all who come, so it’s an honor to provide a welcoming space,” Chavis said. She believes her success comes from how she welcomes people and sees to their comfort. “I anticipate my guests’ needs, like bringing a cup of hot tea to a weary traveler arriving late.”
Airbnb guests can see the National Forest and the mountains from her four-bedroom home. “The online description of my Airbnb talks about plenty of peace and quiet, so it brings in the kind of guest that fits right in. I get many female solo travelers who are attracted to the description,” said Chavis, a residential sales realtor with Weichert, Realtors – CLA.
“I like the idea of maintaining my home and yard for people who are appreciative,” said the Superhost, who also consults with those considering becoming an Airbnb host.
Criteria for Becoming a Superhost
Every quarter, Airbnb evaluates the hosting performance of the past 12 months for all listings on the host’s account. Hosting performance is measured on various criteria, including response rate, cancelation rate and overall rating. Hosts must maintain a 4.8 overall rating to earn the Superhost badge.
“The Superhost program was created in 2014 to celebrate and reward the top-rated and most experienced Airbnb hosts,” reports an Airbnb news release. “Regardless of what kind of space they list on the platform – from a simple spare room to a sprawling estate – any host can become a Superhost by consistently offering exceptional hospitality. And it pays off.”
Indeed, the typical Superhost earned 64% more than a regular host, according to the Airbnb report.
“I think Airbnb is an amazing way to earn money,” said Brown. “It has provided a convenient, simple, person-to-person digital framework to make connections. I have a space, and you need one – let’s make it happen! It is an example of the best of what the internet is capable of.” FBN
By Stacey Wittig, FBN
Stacey Wittig is a travel journalist based near Flagstaff. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to her website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
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