Subject: Airbnb Hosting
Date: July 17, 2016
Dear Council Members and Fellow Cantabrigians,
My wife, Joanna Fink, and I have been Airbnb hosts at both our Cambridge home and our Rockport, MA cottage for three years. We attained "Superhost" status some time ago. This citation is awarded by Airbnb as a function of guest reviews, which must remain stellar through quarterly reviews by Airbnb. Last year, we were also nominated as "International Hosts of the Year." Out of over 600,000 hosts worldwide, only 2000 were so honored. The nominations were provided by our guests, and we were not even aware of this program. It was very touching that our guests took the time to put our names forward for consideration.
On the other side of the equation, we have had the most extraordinary guests. Individuals and couples from their 20's to their 70's. Young families with infants and toddlers. Numerous nonEnglish speaking guests. For us, it has been like traveling the world without the hassle of TSA. But, it really comes as no surprise that all of our experiences have been excellent. More than part of the "shared economy," the Airbnb community is a "peerto peer" family. Just as we are evaluated ahead of time by potential visitors, we likewise can view their profiles and reviews. I have never actually turned down a guest request for any reason other than scheduling conflicts. Maybe that's because the vast majority of users on both sides are likeminded folk, with a great sense of respect and appreciation for the "value" of the service.
In our case, in Cambridge we rent a bedroom with private bath on the lowest level of our townhouse. We stock a minifridge in the bedroom with breakfast treats based on guest preferences that we learn in emails before arrival. To that point, we always have extensive email and phone interaction before guests arrive, which they all appreciate, as it is such a more personal connection than one has with a hotel.
To be candid, there was a relevant monetary consideration for us when we undertook hosting. The company for whom I worked suffered a couple of major shocks, and though I was not laidoff per se, I only received our health insurance coverage and a modest monthly stipend for a long period of time. Our Airbnb setting was not only home to travelers... it helped keep us in our home. But, we have enjoyed hosting so much that even when finances improved, we didn't think for a minute that we would stop.
A large number of our guests attend seminars, conferences and other special programs at Harvard, MIT and Lesley University. Many of them are with us for a week or more. We always hear tales about the dearth of affordable hotel rooms in Cambridge/Boston. Even with the relatively high number of Airbnb offerings in our fair city, I know anecdotally (at least) that we hosts are not eating into hotel revenues in any meaningful way. It bears mentioning that in many cases we have hosted the parents of young adult residents in our very own neighborhood. In every suchcase, our walking proximity for those sons and daughters to their homes was very important. I would humbly assert that this is another service we hosts provide to the city through our broad geographical distribution.
In a small way, we are also ambassadors for Cambridge. As longtime residents, like many of our fellow hosts, we have intimate knowledge of the city. We act like a concierge for our visitors, always providing recommendations for dining and recreation. Every host keeps a roster of menus for local restaurants... so, we act as a "feeder" for those businesses, as well (pardon the pun.)
From a "regulatory" perspective, neither we, nor the mother company, have any issues with appropriate taxation, either at the state or municipal level. And, while the press (print and electronic) have a fondness for re cycling tropes about whole buildings given over to Airbnb, I will tell you as a host (Superhost, that is) that would be a poor business model in my mind. The level of attention that has to be paid to our transient guests and their individual needs would be a substantial limiting factor in the decision to become a de facto hotelier. The Airbnb experience is all about quality... not quantity.
In reviewing this email, my wife suggested the following: It is the very combination of relative affordability and room availability that redounds to the benefit of the city as a whole. Simply put, many more people can stay as travelers in the city proper, hence using all the services provided by other merchants and hospitality venues.
We appreciate your thoughtful review and consideration of the full scope of the Airbnb "footprint" in Cambridge, and we trust you will find a means of reasonable accommodation (oh no, another pun) for all concerned.
Respectfully,
Richard Gönci Joanna Fink