We’re writing an article on how Airbnb has handled damage protection over time. We’d love to get quotes about your direct experiences and what you’ve witnessed firsthand. In return, we can offer a link to your direct booking website, your listing page, or a business page connected to the STR industry. Insurers are also welcome. We cannot feature anyone who can’t demonstrate ties to the STR industry or rental property insurance. Explaining the link isn’t enough; it must be clear from your online presence. Here are the questions: 1) Have Airbnb guests ever caused damages at your property? What happened, and what role did Airbnb play? 2) How do you feel about changes to Airbnb’s damage protection over time? Have they helped protect your property? 3) What advantages have you noticed, and how have these affected your business? 4) What disadvantages have you noticed? How do you fill these gaps? 5) How would you like Airbnb’s damage protection to change in the future, and why? 6) What tips would you give new STR operators about managing damage protection through Airbnb? 7) What have you tried yourself, and what were the results? 8) How has the lack of traditional damage deposits affected your use of Airbnb and your business operations? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

As soon as I first opened the doors of Stingray Villa in Cozumel, the salty ocean air filled the room with an aura of fresh beginnings. For me, there was something special about the handshake and mutual respect guests showed me when they treated my home like their own. That type of hospitality is now a thing of the past. Managing a luxury villa in the Caribbean comes with many challenges, such as managing humidity, guests leaving spills (wine, tacos) on white sofas, etc. In addition to these challenges, I've seen how Airbnb has changed its stance towards protecting properties over time. From a generic statement that promised some level of protection to the glossy promotion of AirCover, it has been quite a rollercoaster. When Things Go Sideways As mentioned before, I've experienced my fair share of "oh no" moments. There was one particular incident where a group of guests left the AC on max fan speed and every sliding glass door wide open for 72 hours. Not only did this cause an extreme spike in my electrical costs, but it also caused the compressor unit to freeze, making it extremely costly to fix. Thankfully, Airbnb came to the rescue by covering the repair after providing them with a copy of the invoice along with pictures of the frozen compressor unit. Although it was a good outcome, I also remembered that the entire process took an eternity and included a large amount of paperwork. This experience made me think of going through the same process with a traditional insurance company from the 1990's. The Glitz of AirCover By removing guest-paid deposits, Airbnb decided to take a "Guest First" position. By doing so, it made booking much easier for travelers, it put all the risks on the shoulders of the hosts. In order to cover this void I have begun researching third party short term rental insurance companies such as Safely. Having a dedicated policy that isn't associated with a specific booking platform adds a layer of professionalism that AirCover cannot offer. Do not depend on the platform alone to protect you. Consider damage protection offered through platforms to be your secondary form of protection. Documenting everything and having a plan in place will make your experience less stressful if/when damage occurs. I would love to see Airbnb reinstate some form of formal security deposits or allow hosts to include requirements for guests to purchase damage waiver policies directly through the platform.