{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"","title":"EP144: This Week in the World of Airbnb","description":"Airbnb was in the headlines for the wrong reasons this week, as an Asian-American guest was stranded by a vicious host who offered race as the reason for the last-minute cancellation. Despite Airbnb’s best efforts to combat discrimination via changes to the platform, the issue continues to plague the company.
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\nToday Jasper chats with Nicole Prentice Williams, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Hostfully, about the adjustments Airbnb has made to create an unbiased environment and whether those changes go far enough. They also cover the governor’s race in California, and the big donations Airbnb employees are making to a certain candidate.
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\nListen and learn about the currency conversion fee Airbnb guests are facing as well as the gear you need to outfit your vacation rental. Want that coveted five-star review? Provide your Airbnb guests with these amenities!
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\nTopics Covered
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\nArticle #1: ‘One Word Says It All – Asian’: Airbnb Host Reportedly Leaves Guest Stranded Because of Her Race
\n•\tGuest booked property near Big Bear, California, for ski trip
\n•\tReservation canceled upon arrival
\n•\tHost texted outrageous, racist comments as explanation
\n•\tEmotional guest interviewed by local news crew
\n•\tHost banned from the platform
\n•\tTiming of video release (six weeks later) seems odd
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\nArticle #2: How Airbnb’s Redesign Aims to Combat Discrimination on the Service
\n•\tInstant Book feature
\n•\tRemoval of host pics in search results
\n•\tProfile photos of guests and hosts minimized
\n•\tCritics suggest suppression of photos until booking is complete
\n•\tAirbnb counters that photos are important for security, culture
\n•\tHosts rely on photos to help make informed decisions
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\nArticle #3: The Best Gear to Outfit a Vacation Rental or Airbnb
\n•\tOffers 24-item checklist
\n•\tProvide better experience for guests (comparable to hotel)
\n•\tIncludes mattress and pillow protectors for the bedroom
\n•\tRecommends quality towels, hair dryer and clean shower liner for bath
\n•\tSuggests Wi-Fi extender
\n•\tLittle things like a bottle opener and better toilet paper make a big difference
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\nArticle #4: Newsom Raises Most for Governor’s Race, With Boost from Airbnb
\n•\tProgressive former mayor of San Francisco
\n•\tAirbnb employees have donated more than $200,000 to his campaign
\n•\tOther candidates report largest single-source contributions under $100,000
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\nArticle #5: People are Really Annoyed About Airbnb’s ‘Hidden’ 3% Conversion Fee
\n•\tGuests who book in a country with a different currency must pay 3% fee
\n•\tCredit card company typically charges this conversion fee
\n•\tAirbnb likely saw an opportunity to make money by doing conversion themselves
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\nResources Mentioned
\nArticle #1: washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/04/07/one-word-says-it-all-asian-airbnb-host-reportedly-leaves-guest-stranded-because-of-her-race
\nArticle #2: cnbc.com/2017/04/07/airbnb-experimenting-with-site-design-to-fight-discrimination
\nAirbnb Open Doors Policy
\nArticle #3: thesweethome.com/reviews/best-gear-to-outfit-a-vacation-rental-or-airbnb
\nAirbnb News Facebook Group
\nGPFYP Email Newsletter
\nArticle #4: sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-raises-most-for-governor-s-race-with-11060806.php
\nArticle #5: businessinsider.com/airbnb-charges-a-sneaky-3-per-cent-conversion-fee-on-bookings-2017-4
\nAirbnb’s Currency Conversion Fee
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\nConnect with Jasper
\nEmail: jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com
\nTwitter: @GetPaidForUrPad
\nInstagram: @GetPaidForYourPad
\nFacebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpad
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\nThis episode is sponsored by Aviva IQ. Aviva IQ automates messages to your Airbnb guests. It's also free!","author_name":"Freewyld Foundry"}