Airbnb-ing a property in Boston soon ? Here’s what you need to consider

Abdulrahman Almutlaq
5 min readApr 2, 2023

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A data based approach to enhance your Airbnb listing.

Introduction

Airbnb has revolutionized the travel industry, allowing travelers to explore the world while staying in unique and affordable accommodations. Founded in 2008, the company has grown exponentially, now offering over 7 million listings in more than 220 countries and regions. Airbnb’s success has not only disrupted the traditional hotel industry but has also created new opportunities for homeowners to earn extra income by renting out their properties.

What does a successful Airbnb listing look like ? Well, needless to say people would have different answers, but there are a few key elements that are essential for a listing to stand out and attract potential guests. The analysis of Airbnb data can reveal the key elements, and would be highly valuable to both hosts and visitors.

For hosts, analyzing Airbnb data can help them to better understand the market and make informed decisions about their listing. By analyzing the factors that strongly correlate with pricing, hosts can optimize their listing to maximize their earnings. Additionally, by analyzing the factors that correlate with availability, hosts can better manage their bookings and ensure that they are offering a competitive and attractive listing to potential guests.

For visitors, analyzing Airbnb data can help them to make informed decisions about their travel plans. By looking at the pricing trends and availability of listings, visitors can choose the best time to travel and the best listings to stay in. Additionally, by analyzing factors such as reviews and amenities, visitors can ensure that they are selecting a listing that meets their needs and expectations.

Part I: What are the aspects of a listing that best correlate to price ?

The data analysis revealed that several factors strongly correlate with the price of a listing. Specifically, the number of people a listing accommodates, the number of beds it offers, and the number of bedrooms it has were found to have the strongest positive correlation with price. This suggests that larger and more spacious listings generally command higher prices. On the other hand, having a private room was found to have a negative correlation with price. This may be because listings that offer a private room rather than an entire apartment or house are typically smaller and therefore less expensive. Hosts who want to maximize their earning potential on Airbnb should take these factors into account when creating their listings and setting their prices. By providing more beds and larger spaces, hosts can potentially earn higher revenue, while those with private rooms may want to consider offering additional amenities or adjusting their pricing strategy to compensate for the smaller size of their listing.

Top 4 features correlated to price

Part II: What are the aspects of a listing that best correlate to the availability of the listing ?

It was found that numerous factors were correlated with the availability of a listing. It is worth noting that availability can be viewed positively or negatively depending on the context. For example, for hosts who want to maximize their occupancy rates and income, high availability may not be ideal. However, for travelers who are looking for more options and flexibility in their travel plans, high availability can be beneficial.

The factors that were found to correlate with availability can provide valuable insights for both hosts and travelers. For hosts, these factors can inform decisions about pricing, booking policies, and strategies to increase demand for their listing. For travelers, these factors can help them to identify the best time to book and the most available and suitable listings. Ultimately, understanding the factors that influence availability can help hosts and travelers to make better-informed decisions and achieve their desired outcomes.

There are a couple of interesting findings regarding the factors that are correlated with the availability of a listing. One such finding is that being a super-host has a negative correlation with availability. This suggests that super-hosts, who are known for their high-quality listings and excellent hospitality, may have less availability due to high demand from guests.

Additionally, it was found that the maximum nights the host offers is positively correlated with availability. This implies that hosts who are willing to offer longer stays may have higher availability, which could be attractive to guests looking for extended stays.

Moreover, the analysis revealed that reviews per month and number of reviews last twelve months are negatively correlated with availability. This indicates that hosts who receive more reviews may have less availability, possibly because their listings are in high demand and frequently booked by guests.

Overall, these findings suggest that there are several key factors that impact the availability of a listing on Airbnb, and understanding these factors can help hosts and guests make informed decisions when booking and listing their properties on the platform.

Top 4 features correlated to availability

Part III: What are the aspects of a listing that best correlate to the being a super-host ?

The data suggests that the number of reviews a host receives is strongly correlated with achieving super-host status. Specifically, the overall number of reviews, as well as the number of reviews received in the last thirty days and last twelve months, are all positively correlated with being a super-host. This suggests that hosts who receive more positive reviews and maintain high levels of guest satisfaction are more likely to achieve super-host status, which can lead to increased visibility, bookings, and revenue. By focusing on providing excellent guest experiences and encouraging positive reviews, hosts can improve their chances of achieving this coveted status on the Airbnb platform.

Top 4 features correlated to a host being super-host

Conclusion

The analysis of Airbnb data has provided valuable insights into the key factors that influence the success of a listing on the platform. Hosts can optimize their earnings by taking into account the factors that strongly correlate with pricing, such as the number of people accommodated, beds offered, and bedrooms available. They can also manage their bookings better by understanding the factors that impact availability, such as being a super-host, maximum nights offered, and the frequency and quality of reviews. Meanwhile, travelers can make more informed decisions about their travel plans by analyzing pricing trends, availability, and reviews of listings. Overall, this data-driven approach to Airbnb can help both hosts and travelers achieve their desired outcomes and enjoy the unique and affordable travel experiences that the platform has to offer.

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