Airbnb Co-Hosting Takes Off on Social Media. Is it a Threat to Property Managers?

Co-hosting on Airbnb has struck a chord on social media, where practitioners offer tips and guides on how to make big money on Airbnb without having to own any property.

There are dozens of posts on platforms like TikTok and YouTube detailing how you can contract with a host to earn commissions of 10-30%, or negotiate a flat monthly fee. Some bill it as a stepping stone to arbitraging rentals into profitable Airbnbs, and eventually buying properties.

“The end goal is not to co-host forever," said Kaya Reena Vennam, a self-styled "wealth multiplier," on TikTok. "The end goal is to eventually buy a property yourself."

In October, Airbnb launched a beefed up co-hosting marketplace, where hosts and co-hosts can hook up and negotiate working relationships. Airbnb said as of the end of the third quarter it has received interest from tens of thousands of would-be co-hosts.

Many of the tasks the co-host carries out overlap with traditional property managers. The co-host handles everything a host wants to delegate from decorating the property to guest communications, ha