Airbnb’s New 15% Host Fee & What Mt. Hood Owners Really Need to Know
There’s been a lot of confusion lately around Airbnb’s switch from the split-fee model (3% host / 12% guest) to the new 15% host-only fee for professional software users (soon it will be for all hosts).
A lot of owners have reacted with,
“Why are hosts paying so much more now?”
But the truth is, nothing actually changed for the guest, and hosts can adapt easily without hurting competitiveness.
Let’s break this down clearly.
Before vs. After: How Airbnb’s Fee Structure Works
Old Model (Split Fees):
Host pays 3%
Guest pays 12%
Total: 15%
(Just split between both parties)
New Model (Host-Only Fee):
Host pays 15%
Guest pays 0%
Total: still 15%
So, Airbnb is not taking more money. They are just shifting who it comes from.
So Does This Hurt Hosts?
No, because guests don’t care where the fee is charged. They only look at the total price they pay.
And with the new structure, hosts can simply:
✔ Increase their nightly rate by the extra 12%
✔ Remain just as competitive
✔ Absorb the change without losing bookings
Guests will pay the same total amount they were paying before, nothing changes for them.
In Some Cases, This Change Can Even Help You
Here’s why:
Let’s say a guest is comparing two properties:
One with the host-only fee
One with a split fee
If the total price is the same, but one property shows “No Airbnb fees,” some guests see that as a perk, even though the math is identical.
Psychologically, they feel like they’re “saving” something, even though the pricing nets out the same.
This can actually increase click-through and booking conversions.
Why Airbnb Made This Change
This model is standard for property management software integrations. Airbnb simplifies the process by letting the host control the full price, while they take the fixed 15% off the top.
This gives hosts more control of:
How they structure pricing
How they adjust seasonally
How transparent the listing appears to guests
The Bottom Line for Mt. Hood Owners
This change should not scare anyone.
With a simple rate adjustment, nothing changes from the guest’s point of view.
You remain competitive, your revenue stays level (or improves), and guests see fewer confusing fees on their end.
At Silver Oak Retreats, we adjust all pricing accordingly, so listings are always optimized under the new structure.
If anything, this update makes listings look cleaner and gives us more control.
