How Airbnb Hosts Can Make the Most of Nashville's Explosive Growth

“Nashville is building a name for itself as a millennial mecca with fashionable neighborhoods like The Gulch, 12 South, and East Nashville brimming with brewpubs, wacky ice-cream parlors, and hipster coffeehouses.”

— Men’s Journal

We couldn’t agree more. This, in conjunction with the fact that our city experienced a huge influx thanks to the Nashville TV show means that Nashvegas has become a buzzed-about destination overnight. In fact, Nashville was voted one of the best places to visit in 2017 by Travel + Leisure magazine. And who can ignore that, thanks to a plethora of bars and wide acceptance of day-drinking, we’ve also become a mecca for bachelor and bachelorette parties, which last year alone brought in a record high of 13.1 million visitors, raking in nearly $5 billion in visitor spending (Tennessean.com).

So how can you, an excited Airbnb host, take advantage of the massive influx of visitors our city is seeing?

Make Your Listing Stand Out.

Make sure all photos advertising your listing are high-quality. In fact, hire a photographer if necessary. You can use Airbnb's process to get a quote from someone, or post on your local Facebook page and see if there are local photographers looking for work. Additionally, make sure you use captivating descriptions and an eye-catching listing title. Make sure that each piece appeals to the groups you want to host and/or the events you want to bring people in for. Be sure to emphasize how close you are to key locations.

Be Responsive.

Nothing is more frustrating for a guest than to contact a host and to get a response days later or, even worse, no response at all. If you want to appeal to guests and to be competitive, you need to be quick to respond.

Turn on Instant Book.

Hosts with Instant Book turned on get higher ranking in searches. Don’t worry, you’ll still have control over who you rent to! Find more information on Instant Book here.

Make Your Listing Business Travel Ready.

This link offers the info on what amenities you must have for your listing to qualify as Business Travel Ready. Add any missing amenities, then update your listing to reflect all these items. At that point, your listing will automatically qualify as Business Travel Ready, which is a filter option guests can utilize when searching for a property that fits their needs.

Work Your Pricing.

Take a look at how much other hosts are charging in your area and make sure that your pricing is competitive. Be sure to adjust for seasons and special events happening in town.

Advertise on Facebook.

If you’re willing to spend a little money to attract visitors to your property, a targeted Facebook ad is always a great way to get in front of those you’re trying to reach. Try targeting engaged men and women aged 21+ in the South. For a tutorial on Facebook ads, check out this great resource.

Be an Expert on All Things Local.

Make sure to stay on top of events, including big concerts, sporting events, and conventions happening in the area and mention them in your listing (and your ads). You may also consider mentioning some local businesses, teasing your local knowledge, and promising a guide will await them including only the best local spots, because our city stretches far beyond Broadway!

Of course, when visitors arrive, follow through on this promise with a quality city guide. Empower your guests to have an authentic local experience by promoting local businesses with a guide to the city. Don’t have the time or energy to make one of your own? No problem, you can use ours! You can find our Nashville Guide here.

You could also consider a gift basket to welcome guests including Christie Cookies, Olive & Sinclair Chocolates, and even a bottle of wine from Arrington Vineyards.

Write Reviews to Get Reviews.

When guests leave, encourage them to write you a review, since great reviews are your golden ticket to more visitors. A great way to do this is to be quick to review your guests. This often acts as a prompt, gently nudging them to write their review of their stay.

We’re so fortunate to live in a city that people are flocking to. You have the power to take advantage of this exciting time in our city’s history—you just have to have the drive and the right tools.

You got this!

Haven't checked out our ebook yet? Please do! It's chock full of tips on starting your Airbnb. Maybe you're far enough along that you don't need it, but perhaps a friend does? You (or your friend) can grab it here free!