Airbnb is requiring most professional hosts outside North America to include all service fees in the rate presented to guests, a move that mirrors how rival platforms operate.
Airbnb will require hosts who use third-party software to manage bookings to eliminate the “service fee” paid by guests that is traditionally tacked on to the listing price. Instead hosts will pay a standard fee of 15 percent, up from the typical 3 percent they are assessed now.
Hosts interviewed by Reuters said they expect most will raise their listed prices to account for the larger host fee, making the change cost-neutral for most guests and for Airbnb. But hosts with fewer properties expressed some concerns.
The new fee structure comes as the San Francisco-based home rental platform prepares to sell shares in its initial public offering this week. Airbnb said early tests show the simplified pricing helped drive 17 percent more bookings.
“Following feedback from hosts we recently introduced a simplified host-only fee structure for professional hosts who connect to our API in certain countries,” said Airbnb spokesperson Christopher Nulty. “Our fee structure for individual hosts remains unchanged.”
But Airbnb declined to comment on some of the negative feedback from hosts about the change, citing a quiet period before its IPO.
The fee change has been communicated to professional hosts but not reported widely.
Airbnb began with hosts renting out air mattresses in their homes. A former Airbnb host acquisition specialist told Reuters “individual hosts are good for PR.” But hosts managing hundreds or thousands of properties drive an outsized portion of revenue. As of end-September, 10 percent of Airbnb’s hosts were professional managers, and they accounted for 28 percent of nights booked, according to Airbnb’s IPO filings.
Management software platform Uplisting’s CEO Vincent Breslin said hotels and professional managers of multiple properties have asked for the change to make it easier to list across different platforms with one sticker price.
“Having fee parity across all platforms is a benefit to all,” said Ryan Danz, CEO of Air Concierge Inc., which manages about 500 properties. “It makes a better apples-to-apples comparison for the traveler if they find the same home listed on various websites.”
But some smaller property managers are worried the change could hurt them if they can’t raise prices enough to cover the increased host fee.
Airbnb already gave itself a black eye with many hosts when it made them issue refunds for cancelations caused by the global pandemic. It now faces a class action suit and hundreds of arbitration cases stemming from that.
Johnny Buckingham, who manages nine listings on Airbnb across the US, said he would not want to raise his listing price to cover the increased host fee and believed Airbnb was discouraging hosts from using software to cross-list on other platforms.
“They’ve made their message clear. Stick exclusively with us or pay us 5x as much,” he said.
Sarah DuPre, sales director at AirDNA, an analytics firm specializing in vacation rentals, said that they will have a minimal impact on host retention but could impact Airbnb’s “ability to be seen as the most economical source of accommodation.”
Rowan Clifford, who helps Airbnb hosts improve visibility of their listings and is also a host, predicted in a blog post two years ago that host fees would go up as hosts become reliant on Airbnb. He expects individual hosts will eventually also see a fee hike and said smaller hosts could face price competition from professionally managed listings that don’t raise prices to cover the increased host fee. “They don’t need us as much anymore, basically.”
Airbnb streamlines fees as it tilts toward biggest hosts
https://arab.news/894rr
Airbnb streamlines fees as it tilts toward biggest hosts
- Airbnb will require hosts who use third-party software to manage bookings to eliminate the ‘service fee’ paid by guests
Saudi industrial output rises in Feb. on manufacturing gains: GASTAT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index rose modestly in February, driven by stronger manufacturing activity as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its economic diversification agenda.
The indicator — which reflects changes in the volume of industrial output — increased 0.7 percent month on month, reaching 104.8, up from 104.1 in January, according to preliminary data released by the General Authority for Statistics.
Strengthening the industrial sector is central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program aiming to reduce reliance on oil by positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing in petrochemicals, mining, and renewable energy.
“On a monthly basis, the sub-index of manufacturing activity showed an increase of 0.9 percent, supported by the rise in the activity of the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, which increased by 0.1 percent, and the manufacture of food products which increased by 3.7 percent,” stated GASTAT.
According to GASTAT, the sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activities rose by 5.8 percent in February compared to the previous month.
Mining and quarrying activities also increased by 0.3 percent month on month, while water supply, sewerage, and waste management and remediation activities declined by 0.8 percent.
Compared to January, the index for oil activities rose by 0.3 percent, while the index for non-oil activities increased by 1.5 percent.
Annual comparison
On a year-on-year basis, Saudi Arabia’s IPI fell by 0.2 percent in February, driven by a decline in mining and quarrying activity, which fell by 0.7 percent.
The Kingdom’s oil production declined to 8.95 million barrels per day in February, down from 9.01 million bpd a year earlier.
GASTAT noted: “Compared to February of the previous year, the sub-index of manufacturing activity increased by 0.2 percent, supported by the increase in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, which increased by 3.5 percent, and the manufacture of food products, which increased by 6.3 percent.”
Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activities rose by 1.1 percent year on year in February, while water supply, sewerage, and waste management and remediation activities surged by 13.1 percent.
The index for oil activities declined by 1.6 percent year on year, while the non-oil activities index climbed 3.2 percent over the same period.
Oil Updates — crude retreats as US-China trade war escalates
SINGAPORE: Oil prices retreated on Thursday as US President Donald Trump ramped up a trade war with China, even as he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs aimed at other countries.
Brent futures fell 39 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $65.09 a barrel by 9:30 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 29 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $62.06.
Following the tariff pause for most countries, the benchmark crude contracts had settled 4 percent higher on Wednesday after dropping as much as 7 percent during the session.
Trump, however, raised the tariff rate for China to 125 percent effective immediately, from the previously announced 104 percent tariff that had kicked off earlier on Wednesday.
The higher US tariffs on China leave plenty of uncertainty in the markets, ING commodities strategists said in a research note on Thursday.
“This uncertainty is still likely to drag on global growth, which is clearly a concern for oil demand,” they said.
“The ICE Brent forward curve is signalling a better-supplied oil market,” the strategists said, with ICE Brent shifting into contango from the January 2026 contract onwards.
China also announced an additional import levy on US goods, imposing an 84 percent tariff from Thursday.
“We may expect oil prices to resume its broader downward trend once the optimism around the recent tariff reprieve fades,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at online trading platform IG.
“Demand-side headwinds persist, with China’s growth outlook at risk from the ongoing tit-for-tat,” Yeap said.
Investors were eyeing mixed supply drivers as well.
“Prices also found some support after the Keystone Pipeline declared force majeure on scheduled oil shipments,” said ANZ Research analysts on Thursday, noting though there were downside risks on signs of surging supply from OPEC members.
The Keystone oil pipeline from Canada to the US remained shut on Wednesday following an oil spill near Fort Ransom, North Dakota, while plans to return it to service were being evaluated, its operator South Bow said.
Elsewhere, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium resumed loading oil at one of two previously shut Black Sea moorings, it said on Wednesday, after a court lifted restrictions put on the Western-backed group’s facility by a Russian regulator.
In the US, crude inventories rose by 2.6 million barrels in the week to April 4, the Energy Information Administration said, nearly double the expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.4-million-barrel rise.
Saudi Aramco discovers 14 new oil, gas fields
- Further cements Saudi Arabia’s position as a global energy leader
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has made a series of groundbreaking oil and gas discoveries in the Eastern Province and the Empty Quarter, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global energy leader.
Announced by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday, the discoveries include six oil fields, two oil reservoirs, two natural gas fields, and four natural gas reservoirs—highlighting the Kingdom’s vast and growing hydrocarbon potential.
In the Eastern Province, the Jabu oil field was identified after very light Arab crude oil flowed at a rate of 800 barrels per day from well Jabu-1.
Another notable find was in the Sayahid field, where very light crude flowed from well Sayahid-2 at a rate of 630 bpd. The Ayfan field also showed promising results, with well Ayfan-2 producing 2,840 bpd of very light crude and approximately 0.44 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Further exploration confirmed the Jubaila reservoir in the Berri field, where light crude flowed from well Berri-907 at a rate of 520 bpd, along with 0.2 MMscf of gas daily. Additionally, the Unayzah-A reservoir in the Mazalij field yielded premium light crude from well Mazalij-64 at 1,011 bpd, coupled with 0.92 MMscf of gas per day.
In the Empty Quarter, the Nuwayr field produced medium Arabian crude at 1,800 bpd from well Nuwayr-1, along with 0.55 MMscf of gas daily. The Damdah field, tapped via well Damda-1, showed medium crude flow from the Mishrif-C reservoir at 200 bpd, and very light crude from the Mishrif-D reservoir at 115 bpd. The Qurqas field also produced medium crude at 210 bpd from well Qurqas-1.
Regarding natural gas, notable discoveries were made in the Eastern Province. Gas was found in the Unayzah B/C reservoir of the Ghizlan field, with well Ghizlan-1 yielding 32 MMscf of gas per day and 2,525 barrels of condensate. In the Araam field, well Araam-1 produced 24 MMscf of gas per day along with 3,000 barrels of condensate. Unconventional gas was also discovered in the Qusaiba reservoir of the Mihwaz field, where well Mihwaz-193101 produced 3.5 MMscf per day and 485 barrels of condensate.
In the Empty Quarter, significant natural gas flows were recorded in the Marzouq field, with 9.5 MMscf per day from the Arab-C reservoir and 10 MMscf from the Arab-D reservoir. Additionally, the Upper Jubaila reservoir yielded 1.5 MMscf of gas per day from the same well.
Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of these discoveries, noting their contribution to solidifying Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global energy sector and enhancing the Kingdom’s hydrocarbon potential.
These findings are expected to drive economic growth, strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet both domestic and international energy demand efficiently, and support the country’s long-term sustainability goals. They align with the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to maximize the value of natural resources and ensure global energy security.
Saudi Arabia records 89% growth in licensed tourism hospitality facilities
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector saw significant growth in 2024, with the number of licensed hospitality facilities increasing by 89 percent to 4,425 across various regions of the Kingdom.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Tourism’s official spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rasasimah described the surge as “remarkable,” adding that it reflects efforts “to support the sector’s growth and enhance its investment attractiveness.”
He added that the expansion comes amid a significant boom in the Kingdom’s tourism sector, driven by an influx of travelers and the ministry’s commitment to fostering a world-class hospitality environment.
The ministry reported in March that the number of licensed hospitality facilities in Makkah reached 1,030 by the end of 2024, marking an 80 percent rise compared to the previous year.
This increase positions the province as the leader in the Kingdom for the highest number of licensed facilities and rooms, underscoring the region’s dedication to enhancing visitor experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This move also reinforces the ministry’s dedication to protecting the rights of visitors and Umrah pilgrims using hospitality services in Makkah as part of its ongoing efforts to improve service quality.
“The ministry’s inspection teams conduct regular monitoring and inspection visits throughout the year to ensure that all facilities comply with licensing requirements, detect violations, and impose fines under the Tourism Law and Regulations of Tourist Accommodation Facilities,” SPA said.
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is growing beyond Makkah. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, the total number of licensed hospitality facilities across the Kingdom surpassed 3,950, a 99 percent increase from the third quarter of 2023. Licensed rooms climbed to 443,000, a 107 percent jump from the 214,000 recorded a year earlier.
According to CoStar, a global real estate data provider, Makkah and Madinah have 17,646 and 20,079 rooms, respectively, in various stages of development in 2025.
This comes as Saudi Arabia recorded 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, up from 27.4 million in 2023, government data revealed. The Kingdom aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, with plans to raise the tourism sector’s gross domestic product contribution from 6 percent to 10 percent.
Saudi Arabia’s aggressive expansion in hospitality and tourism underscores its ambition to position itself as a global travel hub, catering to religious and leisure visitors.
Closing Bell: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index closes in red at 11,096
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index concluded Wednesday’s trading session at 11,096.65 points, marking a decrease of 206.11 points, or 1.82 percent.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.83 billion ($1.82 billion), as 23 stocks advanced, while 225 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index also declined by 23.02 points, or 1.61 percent, to close at 1,409.46.
The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, reported a decrease as well, declining by 103.58 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 28,369.89 points. This comes as 24 of the listed stocks advanced, while 57 retreated.
The index’s top performer, Raoom Trading Co., saw a 3.56 percent increase in its share price to close at SR168.80.
Other top performers included Al-Rajhi Co. for Cooperative Insurance, which saw a 2.86 percent increase to reach SR129.60, while Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co.’s share price rose by 2.74 percent to SR60.
Almoosa Health Co. also recorded a positive trajectory, with share prices rising 2.49 percent to reach SR140. Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. also witnessed positive gains, with a 1.55 percent increase, reaching SR301.60.
Bank Albilad led losses on the main index, falling 6.39 percent to SR32.25, followed by Sadr Logistics Co., which dropped 6.08 percent to SR2.78. Kingdom Holding Co. also registered a notable fall of 5.87 percent, closing at SR7.86.
Other significant decliners included Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co., down 5.85 percent, and Derayah Financial Co., which lost 5.83 percent.
On the parallel market Nomu, Balady Poultry Co. was the top gainer, with its share price surging by 13.79 percent to SR330.
Other top gainers in the parallel market included Tam Development Co., which jumped 8.55 percent to SR165.00, and Balsm Alofoq Medical Co., which rose 8.19 percent to SR77.90.
Digital Research Co. and Al-Razi Medical Co. were the other top gainers on the parallel market.
Knowledge Net Co. was the biggest decliner on Nomu, with its share price falling 10.98 percent to SR30. Naas Petrol Factory Co. and Mulkia Investment Co. also posted steep losses, dropping 9.09 percent to SR60 and 8.89 percent to SR41, respectively.
