Do Your Guests Know Who Receives the Service Fee?
How many times have you heard travelers complain about a $200 cleaning fee–yet happily pay a $600 service fee to an online travel agency?
Have you ever noticed both Airbnb and Vrbo only use the words "Service Fee" in their price detail breakdown? And neither site puts their company name in front of it?
At a glance travelers can easily assume the "service fee" is charged by the host. Take a look at what travelers are shown during Airbnb's checkout.
And take a look at Vrbo's traveler service fee. The traveler must hover over the "?" symbol to learn more information.
Guests should clearly understand what money their host receives, versus fees paid to a 3rd party platform. The guest may believe they paid YOU several hundred dollars more, and their expectations for your home are higher. It's always a good idea to include a detailed price breakdown in your guest rental agreement.
Don't forget to educate departing guests to always google a vacation property's name to find the best rate.
If you have more questions, please join our facebook member group