Airbnb hosts are only as successful as their guests are happy. At the same time, Airbnb itself is only as successful as its hosts are, well, successful and happy. Since 2021, the platform has taken the initiative to better understand user needs through a dedicated Airbnb Host Advisory Board. Its members – hailing from all around the world – are to thank for many positive policy and program changes over recent years. Today, we'll introduce you whose influence, experience, and perspectives are behind this consequential team.
About the Airbnb Host Advisory Board
The Airbnb Host Advisory Board is a consortium of hand-picked, seasoned hosts with notable track records, integrity, and engagement within their local markets.
Members meet regularly with Airbnb’s leadership to discuss topics like guest safety, sustainability, trust, and platform innovation.
While the board doesn't have legislative power over Airbnb’s decisions, it wields growing influence. Members provide firsthand insights that shape new tools, community support programs, and even product design. In return, they gain a unique vantage point into Airbnb’s direction and a chance to help balance company goals with the realities of hosting.
Why the Host Advisory Board Is Needed
The existence of a Community Center and Resource Center begs the question of whether an additional advisory board is worth organizing to begin with. There's a logical answer.
After years of tension stemming from major unilateral decisions – most notably during the pandemic when refund policies disrupted host income – Airbnb recognized the need for structured, ongoing dialogue. The board was designed to serve as that bridge with a mission to represent host voices directly to Airbnb leadership and ensure policy changes consider the real-life impacts on short-term rental operators.
Anatomy of the Airbnb Host Advisory Board
Airbnb is a big business, so it only makes sense to develop its echelons in separate categories. The Host Advisory Board comprises three subgroups dedicated to different aspects of the platform: the Home Host Advisory Board, the Experience Host Advisory Board, and the Service Host Advisory Board. We explain each team's scope of interests below.
Home Host Advisory Board
This group focuses on traditional home hosting, tackling issues like pricing structures, cleaning standards, guest verification, and host protection. Members bring diverse perspectives from cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike, ensuring Airbnb’s policies work across all environments.
Experience Host Advisory Board
This board supports hosts offering cultural and activity-based experiences rather than stays. From small workshops to adventure tours, its members advise on safety requirements, quality standards, and how Airbnb can better promote local experiences in the marketplace.
Service Host Advisory Board
This subgroup explores the behind-the-scenes side of hosting: customer support, payment systems, accessibility, and the tools hosts depend on daily. Their feedback often drives practical improvements in communication, automation, and dispute resolution processes.
How to Apply for the Airbnb Host Advisory Board
If you’re interested in serving on the Airbnb Host Advisory Board, the first step is to become a consistently active, well-reviewed host who engages with the wider Airbnb community (through the Community Center, programs, or local initiatives). Airbnb looks for hosts with a strong track record of hospitality, demonstrated impact in their communities, and a willingness to collaborate on big-picture decisions.
From time to time, Airbnb opens nominations for new board seats, allowing hosts to either put their own names forward or nominate another standout host by completing a form on Airbnb’s website. With 45 hosts currently serving across the Home, Experience, and Service Host Advisory Boards, there are a limited number of spots each cycle, which makes the Host Advisory Board Member badge a genuine mark of trust and leadership on your profile.
Didn't Make the Host Advisory Board?
If you're not one of the mere tens of hosts out of one million that Airbnb has chosen to represent its community, rest assured there are other ways to get involved, stand out, and establish credibility among your peers. The Host Advisory Board Member badge is only one Among many credentials one can embellish their profile with.
The Community Leader badge stands out as a similar but less powerful form of recognition. It’s typically awarded to hosts who consistently support others in the Community Center or local host clubs – answering questions, organizing meetups, and mentoring newer hosts.
While both badges showcase your commitment, the Advisory Board badge leans toward high‑level influence, and the Community Leader badge highlights day‑to‑day service and peer support. Together, they tell guests and fellow hosts that you’re actively helping shape and sustain the Airbnb ecosystem.
Every seat at the Host Advisory Board table should be appreciated for the unique perspective and lived experience each member brings to shaping Airbnb's future. Together with the Community Center and Resource Center, these platforms and programs ensure that hosting remains a collaborative journey – one where your voice matters, your challenges are heard, and your success directly influences the platform's evolution for hosts everywhere.
