The travel blogging landscape changed dramatically in March 2021. Airbnb, once a top choice for affiliate marketers, shut down its popular program.
This left many content creators scrambling to find new ways to monetize their travel-related content.
What was Airbnb affiliate program?
The Airbnb Affiliate Program was a marketing initiative that allowed individuals and businesses to earn commissions by promoting Airbnb’s services.
Airbnb’s Associates program allowed anyone with an audience to make money by promoting traveling or hosting on Airbnb. This opened up opportunities for content creators, bloggers, and influencers to monetize their platforms.
Participants in the program could earn commissions by referring new users to Airbnb. When these referrals resulted in bookings or new host sign-ups, the affiliate would receive a percentage of the transaction value.
The program offered various promotional tools to its affiliates, including custom links, banners, and widgets. These tools made it easy for affiliates to integrate Airbnb promotions into their content seamlessly.
Commission rates varied, typically ranging from 2% to 6% based on what was being promoted (vacation rentals, hotels, flights, etc.) and differed by brand, site, and country.
This allowed for flexibility and potentially lucrative earnings for successful affiliates.
One of the key benefits of the program was its global reach. Affiliates could promote Airbnb services worldwide, tapping into the company’s vast network of listings and experiences.
Unfortunately, the Airbnb Affiliate Program ended in 2021. This closure left many affiliates searching for alternative programs to continue earning from travel-related promotions.
Key features of the program included:
- Commission-based earnings
- Global reach
- Variety of promotional tools
- Opportunity to monetize travel-related content
While the program is no longer active, its structure and benefits serve as a model for other affiliate programs in the travel and hospitality industry.
Why did Airbnb associates program end?
Airbnb’s decision to end its affiliate program in 2021 caught many marketers off guard, leaving them with just a month to adapt their income strategies.
This abrupt change left many wondering about the reasoning behind this move. Let’s explore the potential factors that led to this decision:
- Shift in marketing focus: Airbnb decided to prioritize host recruitment over guest acquisition. They anticipated that investing in attracting new hosts would yield a higher percentage of overall revenue compared to the affiliate program.
- Cost-benefit analysis: The company may have concluded that the commissions paid to affiliates were no longer justifiable when weighed against the benefits. This could be especially true if they found that a significant portion of bookings would have occurred even without affiliate referrals.
- Brand recognition: As Airbnb’s popularity grew, they might have felt less need for third-party promotion. With increased brand awareness, direct searches for Airbnb likely increased, reducing the value of affiliate-driven traffic.
- Post-pandemic strategy: Some speculate that the affiliate program was primarily a response to decreased travel during the 2020 pandemic. As travel resumed, Airbnb may have felt confident enough in their direct booking numbers to discontinue the program.
- Data-driven decision: Airbnb likely analyzed the performance data of their affiliate program and determined that the return on investment wasn’t meeting their expectations or aligning with their new strategic goals.
This change highlights the importance for marketers to diversify their income streams and be prepared for sudden shifts in affiliate programs.
Airbnb affiliate program alternatives
1) Expedia Group’s earning opportunities
Expedia Group’s affiliate program stands as a formidable alternative to Airbnb associate program. It lets you earn money by linking to Expedia’s offers and inventory.
You’ll get access to big names like:
- Vrbo
- Hotels.com
- Abritel
- FeWo Direct
Expedia Group gives you tools to drive traffic:
- Trackable links
- Widgets
- Site banners
You can earn up to 6% commission on bookings made through your site or links. The exact amount varies based on what you promote:
Rates differ by brand, site, and country. You’ll need to check the Affiliate Dashboard for specific details.
2) Booking.com’s profit potential
Booking.com is a giant in the short-term rental world. It offers listings in over 220 countries and has 28 million accommodation options. Their affiliate program could be a great fit for your travel blog or website.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up on their website
- Get approved
- Start promoting using your unique affiliate link
- Earn money on every booking made through your link
The commission structure is progressive. You’ll earn between 25% and 40% of Booking.com’s commission for each booking.
Your rate goes up as you generate more bookings each month.
You can join the program directly through Booking.com or via select affiliate networks for certain European countries.
Payment details:
- Paid monthly
- Minimum payout: 100 EUR
- Smaller amounts roll over to the next month
This program can be a great way to monetize your travel blog or social media channels.
You can share hotel recommendations, write about travel experiences, and earn money while doing it.
3) Vrbo referral program
Vrbo focuses exclusively on vacation rentals, similar to Airbnb. Their affiliate program offers:
- 2% commission on completed bookings
- 7-day cookie duration
- $20 bonus for new property listings (60-day cookie)
Affiliates earn a flat percentage of the total booking value. For a $100 rental, you’d earn $2. The program is available through the CJ Affiliate network.
4) Travala crypto-friendly program
Travala offers a unique angle as a blockchain-based booking platform. Their Impact-hosted program features:
- 30-day cookie duration
- 4-5.5% commission rates
- Covers accommodation, flights, activities
New customer bookings earn 5.5% on accommodations, while existing customers generate 5%.
Travala accepts various cryptocurrencies for payment.
5) Hotels.com partnership option
While known for hotels, Hotels.com also lists vacation rentals. Their affiliate program provides:
- 4% commission rate
- 7-day cookie window
- Access via CJ Affiliate
Multiple program versions exist targeting different regions. The main U.S. program covers sales from the U.S. and Canada only.
Common questions about the Airbnb affiliate program
Can I join the Airbnb affiliate program?
Unfortunately, the Airbnb affiliate program ended in March 2021.
Airbnb no longer offers an affiliate program for content creators or publishers to earn commissions by promoting their platform.
If you’re looking to partner with Airbnb, you may want to explore their Host Referral program instead.
How did the program work?
The Airbnb Associates program allowed participants to promote both guest bookings and new host sign-ups.
Affiliates would share special links on their websites or social media. When users clicked those links and completed a qualifying action, the affiliate earned a commission.
Were there specific requirements to join?
While the program is no longer active, most affiliate programs have some basic requirements.
These often include having an established website or social media presence, creating quality content, and adhering to the company’s terms and conditions.
Airbnb likely had similar criteria for their affiliates.
What support did Airbnb offer?
Typically, companies provide resources to help their affiliates succeed. This might have included marketing materials, performance tracking tools, and a dedicated support team.
However, since the program has ended, Airbnb no longer offers affiliate-specific support.
