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Airbnb’s mission statement asserts that one can “belong anywhere.” But because of the company’s disruption of the travel industry, some cities have implied that Airbnb itself is unwelcome – through strict regulations and ongoing legal battles.This week in the news, we see evidence that Airbnb is finding new ways to work with city governments and nonprofits to both improve their image and impact social change.Jasper is joined by Hostfully’s Head of Marketing, Silvia Li, to discuss Airbnb’s partnership with the city of San Francisco to combat homelessness. They also cover the company’s efforts to diversify beyond their core product as they expand into other areas of the travel space, specifically exploring the Airbnb Trips product. Listen and learn how Experiences hosts feel about the ‘experience’ thus far… And find out about Jasper’s submission to host a tour in Amsterdam!Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb Teams Up with SF Giants to Help Homeless Families•Donate $1,000 for every home run scored by team•Hamilton

New York is known as the city that never sleeps. But if you are an Airbnb host there, you may be losing sleep over the state’s anti-Airbnb crusade and complicated short-term rental regulations.Today Jasper is on the line with Brendan MacKenzie, the founder of MetroButler, a short-term management company in New York. His background in law and familiarity with the Airbnb ecosystem make him the perfect candidate to explain what you need to know about the Multiple Dwelling Law and how it affects hosts in the Big Apple.Beyond clarifying the laws around short-term rentals, Brendan breaks down the pros and cons of the city’s hardline approach as well as the opportunities NYC is missing out on by discounting Airbnb’s benefits. Listen in to understand New York’s housing crisis and how the city might compromise with Airbnb to help – rather than hinder – the housing market!Topics CoveredNew York’s Multiple Dwelling Law•Applies to Class A buildings•Restricts from renting for fewer than 30 days if host isn’t present•Desig

SW2 + WC = MO.Don’t worry: This isn’t an algebra lesson. The formula above is actually some inspiring advice Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia learned from an RISD professor about how to deal with rejection. In a recent interview with Signapore’s Strait Times, Gebbia shared his journey from selling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drawings to his elementary classmates for $2 to co-founding global powerhouse Airbnb.Today Jasper chats with Hostfully’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Nicole Prentice Williams, about the Gebbia interview and other current Airbnb news items. They cover the IPO timeline, potential disruption in the air travel industry and enforcement of the “One Host, One Home” policy in San Francisco. Listen in to see what’s going on in the world of Airbnb!Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: Going Public is a ‘Two-Year Project’•Implied IPO in 2018•Investors have been patient•Legal uncertainty would affect stock market•Positioning through diversification of servicesArticle #2: The C

There is no doubt that the short-term rental market is here to stay. Airbnb has experienced a wildfire expansion in the last ten years, and it only continues to grow.Listen in to learn about a new book that looks at the development of the industry through a series of interviews with eight players, both large and small, exploring the details of its expansion and predicting its future direction.Today Jasper speaks with Tristan Rutherford, travel reporter for The Times, the Guardian, and the Daily Telegraph as well as co-author of Room for Profit: Make Airbnb and the Short Rent Revolution Work for You. They cover the rise of the short-term rental market and its ecosystem, the regulation of the industry, and how to use negative reviews to your advantage.Topics CoveredHow Tristan and his co-author got the idea for Room for Profit•Interview with neighbor struggling to make ends meet•Tristan has been a host himself since 2004•Market has been life-changing for many individualsThe rise of the short-term rental industr

Has the student become the teacher?One of the headlines in Airbnb news this week comes from the South China Morning Post, its author arguing that Chinese copycat home-sharing sites have begun to surpass Airbnb when it comes to innovation.Silvia Li Pham of Hostfully is back to chat with Jasper about this and other news stories, including the additional capital Airbnb has raised, the company’s intention to expand corporate business travel, and the reason behind Brian Chesky’s new title as CEO and head of community. Jasper and Silvia have fun unpacking this information – though maybe not as much fun as the guests at an Airbnb flat in Islington last week!Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb Raises $1 Billion More in a Funding Round•Extends private face, postpones IPO•Facilitates additional acquisitions in the travel spaceArticle #2: Airbnb Explores Expansion in Long-Term Home Rentals•Cater to business travelers•Stays up to six months•Craigslist currently dominatesArticle #3: How China’s Airbnb Copycats Beat the Silic

Airbnb owes much of its success to the visual appeal of the site, which has been referred to as “Pinterest meets real estate porn.” But did you know that in Airbnb’s early days, Brian and Joe spent time with hosts in New York and took the pictures themselves to help upgrade the listings?The Airbnb story is a compelling one, and you might be surprised by many moments in Airbnb history that made a significant impact.Today Jasper chats with Leigh Gallagher, Fortune editor and author of The Airbnb Story: How Three Ordinary Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions … and Created Plenty of Controversy. They discuss the company’s early struggles, pivotal moments in their growth and development as well as the ongoing controversies that plague Airbnb.Topics CoveredThe inception of Airbnb and its early struggles•Joe and Brian met at RISD•Rented out their apartment in San Francisco to pay rent•Each racked up $20,000 in credit card debt during development•Launched at SXSW but gained little traction in first year•Investor

As Airbnb continues to grow and pursue its ambition of becoming the Superbrand of Travel, changes in the company’s model are sure to follow. On some fronts, Airbnb seems committed to maintaining the hands-off, platform-only approach to business in the sharing economy. Yet in other areas, they are taking a more proactive approach that allows the company more control over the guest experience.Jasper is joined by Deanna Ting, Hospitality Editor for Skift, and David Jacoby, CEO and Co-founder of Hostfully, to discuss Airbnb’s pursuit of world domination in the travel space. Their round-table discussion delves into the company’s ongoing legal issues and how recent acquisitions point to a shift in the company’s tactics.Listen in to learn how you can stay on top of what’s happening in the travel industry as well as the specifics of Airbnb’s evolving approach to business. Topics CoveredAirbnb’s Legal Issues•Cities more cognizant of complications that can arise with Airbnb•Company seems to have different response in E

This week on the podcast, Jasper has a conversation with Brian Chen, lead consumer technology writer for the New York Times and Airbnb Superhost. Brian’s cabin in northern California has been a lucrative business investment, though he has had some surprising experiences with Airbnb guests – and not in a good way.Brian shares a few horror stories about guests who engaged in illegal activity and how Airbnb responded through the dispute resolution process. Listen to find out what lessons Brian has learned from his negative hosting experiences!Topics CoveredBrian’s Wedding Guests•Guest with no reviews booked for a group of 8•Neighbors informed Brian of 50 wedding guests and caterers entering his home•Airbnb assisted in canceling the reservation after guest denied breaking house rules (despite photographic evidence)•Airbnb’s dispute resolution center helped Brian get a portion of the $100/person penalty built into his house rules for exceeding 8 people•Airbnb’s ruling disproportionately favored the guestThe lesson

It was a quiet news week for Airbnb, though the themes of acquisitions, group travel and regulations remain top of mind.This week, Jasper chats with Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully. They deliberate Airbnb’s recent acquisition of micropayments platform Tilt as well as an interesting perspective on regulations that appeared on BaconsRebellion.com this week.Margot also covers her recent Airbnb experiences in Hawaii, offering feedback to hosts regarding consistency and responsiveness, and Jasper shares a recent investment that will make his international travels easier – and more exclusive!Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb Buys Tilt, Signaling Its Growing Interest in Group Travel•Micropayment platform that had early success on college campuses•Tilt talent now part of Airbnb•Indicates a plan to enter the group travel spaceArticle #2: Just a Thought: Instead of Extending Regs to Airbnb Rentals, Let’s Roll Back Regs on Hotels•The hotel lobby argues that Airbnb should be subject to the same regulation

This week, Jasper is chatting with Marc Figueras, the CEO and Co-founder of KeyNest, a smart key exchange service with a network of locations across London where Airbnb hosts and property managers can securely store their keys.Marc explains the specifics of the regulations particular to London as well as the options available to Airbnb hosts in the face of these newly enforced restrictions. Find out more about how Airbnb’s image has affected the rules and what you can do to stay on the right side of the law!Topics CoveredHow Parliament changed the rules in January 2015•Allowed for short-term lets without planning permission•Limited to 90 nights per calendar yearAirbnb’s self-enforcement•The rules haven’t been enforced because it was up to local councils•Hotel lobbies have pressed the new mayor•Airbnb agreed to self-enforce, but only for those hosts who are renting out an entire home•When the restrictions go live this spring, the Airbnb site will no longer allow bookings after the counter on a listing hits the

Airbnb’s growth is in the news this week, and acquisitions are in the air. Having only spent $300 million of the $3 billion raised, Airbnb has capital available. And they will have to invest in order to facilitate the growth necessary to reach the publicized goal of $3 billion in profit by 2020.Jasper is joined by Hostfully Growth Guru, Silvia Li Sam, to discuss acquisitions that are already being negotiated as well as their suggestions for possible purchases. Jasper and Silvia cover the latest lawsuit against Airbnb as well, filed by apartment management company Aimco.Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb’s Profits to Top $3 Billion by 2020•Ambitious but possible•Vertical acquisitions may facilitate growthArticle #2: Airbnb is Buying Luxury Retreats for Around $200M•Focus on high-end homes•$1,000/night or more•Airbnb will attain team and technology•Likely to occupy a separate section of the Airbnb siteArticle #3: Airbnb is in Talks to Acquire Social Payments Startup Tilt•Technology for group purchases is a good

Jasper talks with Peter, the host of Clyde River Cottage in southern Australia. With a background in the hospitality business, Peter is well-versed in providing guests with a quality experience and marketing to travelers both directly and through third-party platforms.Peter shares the advantages of diversifying your Airbnb business and discusses how he uses the Triple Wow Factor to procure five-star reviews. Listen and learn when it’s beneficial to post your listing on multiple platforms – or perhaps even create your own website!Topics CoveredHow Airbnb clients differ from other travelers•Airbnb guests are buying an experience•Most are looking to be a part of a communityThe benefits of sticking with a single platform•Allows you to build a strong reputation•Keeps things simple (no chance of double-booking)The disadvantages of using just one platform•Miss out on demand provided by other marketplaces•Can be risky to put all your eggs in one basketWhy Peter utilizes multiple platforms•Airbnb alone doesn’t provide

Regulations and enforcement dominate the conversation today, as two big news stories out of NYC and London are making headlines.Jasper is joined by Nicole Williams, VP of Strategy and Marketing for Hostfully, to chat about the property managers fined in NYC this week as well as the feasibility of enforcing the rules established in London.Jasper and Nicole also cover the exponential growth of Airsorted, a management startup in the news and Jasper’s investment in Cali, Colombia.Some of the topics coveredArticle #1: Airsorted, a Fast-Growing Airbnb Management Startup, Raises £1.5M•Manages 1,000 properties in the UK, a four-fold increase in the past six months•Expanding to Sydney•CEO with banking background is focused on hosts’ profitabilityArticle #2: New York City Issues First Illegal Airbnb Fines•Two property managers fined for 17 violations•Each violation carries a $1,000 fine•Law against short-term apartment rentals went into effect in October•Listings were pulled from Airbnb to avoid even larger finesArticl

Jasper talks with Kevin the Financial Panther, an Airbnb superhost and expert side hustler. Kevin is a lawyer who has capitalized on the sharing economy to pay off $87,000 worth of student loans in just two and a half years!Kevin shares his journey to becoming an Airbnb superhost and explains how he uses other platforms including DogVacay, Postmates and OfferUp to make extra money. Listen and learn how to incorporate side gigs into your life.Some of the topics coveredThe unexpected advantages of Airbnb hosting•Kevin has received freebies from companies looking to get their products in front of consumers•“Your house will never be cleaner”How targeting a specific audience makes hosting easier•Consider who is likely to book with you based on location•Recognize what your target audience is looking for (i.e.: affordability, proximity to events)Kevin’s advice for potential hosts who fear theft or damage•More people are normal than you think•His guests have been very polite and unobtrusiveKevin’s tips for hosts who

In November of 2015, Airbnb Global Policy Chief Chris Lehane announced the bold goal of forming 100 home sharing clubs in 2016. Today, a global network of 112 of these advocacy organizations fight regulatory battles and engage in partnerships with small businesses to enrich the local economy and culture.On this episode of the podcast, Jasper is joined by Emery Lieberman, Airbnb’s Global Home Sharing Clubs Mobilization Program Manager, and David Jacoby, CEO and Co-founder of Hostfully, to discuss how the company was able to reach the ambitious aim of establishing 100 organizations in a year, the role they play in their communities and the clubs that have celebrated particular success in fighting regulations – by telling their stories.They also cover Airbnb’s statement-making Super Bowl commercial highlighting the company’s commitment to inclusiveness. Find how Airbnb took a big stand on a big stage!Some of the topics coveredAirbnb Community vs. Airbnb Citizen Clubs•The community is an online platform where hos

On this episode of the podcast, Jasper chats with Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder of smartbnb, an application that provides value to Airbnb hosts via automated messaging. Smartbnb gives superpowers to superhosts, improving response times and listings placement!Jasper explains how his own experience as an Airbnb host informed the development of smartbnb, the flexible functionality of the application, and the freedom smartbnb allows its users. Listen in to learn how smartbnb can make your Airbnb venture easier and more profitable!Some of the topics coveredHow Pierre’s experience as an Airbnb host inspired smartbnb •Airbnb is a quality marketing and design product, but lacks features •He found the messaging aspect to be drainingHow smartbnb creates personalized messages at scale •Hosts schedule automated messages •Shortcuts create custom messages including the guest’s first name, the city they are traveling from, etc. •Availability and price inquiries are answered immediately with the total price in the gues

Trump is on our radar again this week as his travel ban on refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries has left travelers stranded at airports all over the world.Jasper is joined by Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-founder of Hostfully, to discuss the details of Airbnb’s response to the executive order and tech executives speaking out against the policy.In other news, Jasper and Margot cover Airbnb’s milestone in becoming profitable in the second half of 2016, a complementary service (Traveling Spoon) that offers travelers a meaningful cultural experience, and Jasper’s personal update regarding an exciting new investment.Some of the topics coveredArticle #1: Airbnb Offers Free Housing to People Stranded by Immigration Order •CEO Brian Chesky is soliciting volunteers to host people in need •Airbnb will subsidize the cost in locations where free housing is unavailableArticle #2: Airbnb Reaches Profitability •Significant because other sharing economy firms are still losing money •Uber lost 3 billion last year

Jasper is joined by Henry Bennett, Co-founder and CEO of Your Welcome. Your Welcome’s product is a tablet system that hosts can use to provide important information to their guests as well as sell additional services!In today’s episode, Henry explains why he started the company, and how Your Welcome can save you time, increase the likelihood of a 5-star review, and even generate additional income!Some of the topics coveredHow Henry came up with the idea to start Your Welcome •Rented out his house on Airbnb •Left out a tablet for guests to use and realized they were using it to research local activities/hotspotsHow hosts can customize the tablet for their Airbnb •Ability to create custom recommendations •Ability to display instructional videosHow hosts can use the tablet to sell additional services to guests •Late checkout •Mid-stay clean •Parking permits •Food delivery (most popular)The cost of Your Welcome •UK: £49.99 for 6 months, £99 for 12 months •US: $59.99 for 6 months, $119.99 for 12 months

What does Donald Trump’s inauguration mean for the future of Airbnb?This week Jasper is joined by Silvia Li, Head of Marketing at Hostfully, to discuss what impact the Trump administration will have on Airbnb corporate as well as Airbnb hosts around the world. Some of what Trump has said and done might hurt Airbnb while some might help.Also discussed is Professional Airbnb Investors and their impact on the market, Airbnb’s impact on the hotel industry and the one gadget that solves Airbnb hosts’ “biggest problem”.Some of the topics coveredArticle #1: How will Uber, Lyft and Airbnb fare under Trump? •What might hurt: oDeteriorating relationship with China oTrump’s conflict of interest as a hotel owner •What might help: oTrump’s focus on reducing regulationsArticle #2: The Rise of the Professional Airbnb Investor •Large real estate companies are looking at Airbnb closely •ROI is generally greater for short term vs. long term rentals •6% of Airbnb hosts in New York City have 3 units or more oAcc

Jasper is joined by Dirk Minnebo, Founder of Iamb&b which is the largest short term rental management company in Amsterdam! Dirk’s company manages listings in both Amsterdam and Paris and he brings some valuable knowledge to this interview on the topic of optimizing your listing and creating a great experience for your guests.As many of you know, Airbnb is now limiting the number of nights a year hosts can rent out their place in Amsterdam, but surprisingly Dirk says this will help instead of hurt his business. Tune in for a great interview!Some of the topics coveredBackground of Iamb&b •Largest short term rental management company in Amsterdam •Founded by Dirk In 2014 •Manages 800 listings in Amsterdam and 100 in ParisRecent Airbnb enforcement of rental restrictionsWhy the restrictions will actually help Iamb&bWhy Airbnb is stepping up regulation enforcementDirk’s advice to Airbnb hosts •Be honest about your listing (mention the faults) •Remember that what is “normal” in your country might n