Airbnb’s New 15.5% Host-Only Fee — What Property Owners Need to Know

Airbnb has announced a new 15.5% host-only service fee, changing the financial landscape for many property owners and managers. While this update aligns Airbnb’s pricing with other major booking platforms, it also reduces margins for hosts — making efficient management more crucial than ever.

What’s Changing

Previously, Airbnb used a split-fee model where both guests and hosts paid a percentage. The new host-only fee model means hosts now absorb the entire 15.5% cost, while guests see a lower service fee. The aim? Greater pricing transparency for travellers — but at the expense of hosts’ earnings.

How This Impacts Property Owners

• Reduced Net Income: The higher fee directly cuts into profits unless nightly rates are adjusted.

• Pricing Challenges: Raising prices to offset the fee could affect competitiveness on crowded platforms.

• Revenue Management Complexity: Strategic pricing and OTA diversification become essential to maintain occupancy and profit margins.

How to Adapt

Smart property owners are already:

• Reviewing OTA strategies and exploring multi-platform exposure (e.g. Booking.com, Plum Guide, direct booking sites).

• Using dynamic pricing tools to stay competitive while protecting margins.

• Improving guest retention through direct bookings, email marketing, and loyalty incentives.

How Curated Property Can Help

At Curated Property, we help owners maximise income and visibility while reducing dependency on OTA fees. Our team manages listings across multiple platforms, enhances SEO for direct bookings, and uses data-driven pricing to protect your returns — even as market conditions evolve.

We handle the strategy, so you don’t absorb the cost.