OTAs
Airbnb Partnerships with Software Providers: Why They Matter for Hosts
Airbnb partnerships are critical when evaluating software for your business. Learn about the advantages of choosing a provider with Preferred+ Partner status.
With more than 9 million active listings worldwide, 5 million hosts, and billions in bookings flowing through the platform each year, Airbnb is one of the biggest names in travel. What truly sets Airbnb apart from its competitors is its ecosystem, built on trust and collaboration.
By partnering with property management software providers, tourism boards, city councils, and global organizations like UNESCO, Airbnb has built a global travel community, not just a booking platform. These Airbnb partnerships help build trust with guests and offer more opportunities for hosts to turn their home into a business.
Types of Airbnb Partnerships
Airbnb uses collaborations to support the platform’s growth and the success of individual hosts.
Airbnb works with trusted property and channel management software providers, which help hosts and property managers optimize operations and run their businesses efficiently. As an Airbnb Preferred+ Partner, Hospitable is a part of this network. As Airbnb management software, Hospitable offers a comprehensive set of features and AI-powered tools that allow you to run your short-term rentals on autopilot, protect your properties, and grow your revenue.
Airbnb also collaborates with local governments and tourism boards to promote safe and sustainable travel practices and ensure that short-term rentals make a positive contribution to local economies.
In partnership with some of the largest real estate companies, Airbnb launched the Airbnb-friendly Apartments program as a part of its strategy to bring the economic benefits of hosting to more people. The program is designed to help renters find buildings that allow responsible part-time hosting.
Airbnb Software Partners
Airbnb works with leading software providers globally, making it easy for hosts to connect to the Airbnb platform, manage their properties efficiently, and provide high-quality experiences for guests during their stays.
Airbnb has a recognition program for software solutions (property management systems and channel managers) that integrate with the platform. Airbnb’s Preferred Software Partner program provides hosts with a curated list of trusted property management and channel management software partners to support a range of business-related tasks.
There are different levels of recognition:
Recognized Airbnb Partners have a written agreement with Airbnb and are mentioned as official partners on its website. These Airbnb API partners provide the essential functionality and software connections that meet Airbnb’s minimum technical benchmarks.
Airbnb Preferred Partners are top-performing partners that provide the necessary functionality and software connections that meet all of Airbnb’s technical and performance benchmarks.
Airbnb Preferred+ Partners like Hospitable occupy the top-tier status in the program. They provide the requisite functionality and software connections that exceed all of Airbnb’s technical and performance benchmarks.
Why Does it Matter for Hosts?
Airbnb Preferred Partner Program can serve as a trusted resource for short-term rental hosts and property managers when selecting a reliable Airbnb PMS or channel manager for their business. Preferred and Preferred+ statuses highlight software providers that meet and exceed Airbnb’s technical, performance, and quality standards and show commitment to innovation, reliability, secure practices, and hosts’ success.
By choosing a software provider with Preferred+ Partner status like Hospitable, you can benefit from reliable connections, faster updates, fewer errors, early access to Airbnb’s new features and tools, and priority tech support. Preferred+ software partners must continuously evolve to keep pace with Airbnb’s updates and expectations, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your short-term rental property management software will grow with your business.
How to Become an Airbnb API Partner
Access to Airbnb’s full API isn’t open to just anyone. It’s only available to official Airbnb partners, such as PMS providers, channel management software providers, and software companies that meet Airbnb’s requirements and offer a solution guaranteed to benefit Airbnb users.
You can’t apply to become an Airbnb partner. At this time, Airbnb is not accepting new requests for API access and partnerships. Instead, Airbnb’s team of partner managers searches for prospective partners, reaches out to them, and invites them to join. Airbnb’s decision is based on the supply opportunity a potential Airbnb partner represents, the strength of the potential partner’s technology, and the ability to support shared customers.
An Airbnb API integration allows software providers to sync their platforms or applications with Airbnb, providing users with seamless access to Airbnb’s services and data. Hospitable’s channel manager is a good example of how integration with Airbnb’s API works. Our STR super app uses a full two-way Airbnb API connection to sync booking information, availability, pricing, guest messages, listing details, and more between Hospitable and Airbnb in real time.
Airbnb Preferred Partners Program Selection Criteria
The Preferred Software Partners program recognizes a select group of connectivity partners that help hosts optimize operations and awards them with a Preferred or Preferred+ status. Achieving this recognition is not easy. It can take multiple years for Airbnb software providers to rise to the highest recognition tiers.
That’s why the top tiers (Preferred and Preferred+) have far fewer partners than the hundreds listed on the Airbnb website. These software providers have successfully undergone comprehensive reviews to ensure their systems meet Airbnb’s high quality and security requirements.
They’ve been evaluated and selected based on their adherence to Airbnb’s rigorous integration, technical, foundational, and performance standards. Airbnb software partners must also complete a data security and API quality review to determine their eligibility for the program.
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Common questions
What are Airbnb software partners?
Airbnb software partners are property management systems and channel managers that integrate directly with Airbnb to help hosts manage their listings more efficiently. These tools connect to Airbnb via API and allow hosts to sync calendars, pricing, bookings, and guest communication in real time. They are part of Airbnb’s broader ecosystem and are designed to help hosts streamline operations, improve guest experience, and run their short-term rental business more effectively.
What is the difference between Recognized, Preferred, and Preferred+ partners?
The difference between these partner tiers comes down to how well the software meets Airbnb’s technical, performance, and quality standards. Recognized partners meet the minimum requirements and have official integration with Airbnb. Preferred partners go further by meeting all of Airbnb’s benchmarks for functionality and reliability, while Preferred+ partners represent the top tier, exceeding these standards and demonstrating the highest level of performance, stability, and innovation within Airbnb’s ecosystem.
Why does Preferred+ Partner status matter for hosts?
Preferred+ Partner status matters because it signals that the software has been thoroughly vetted by Airbnb and meets the highest standards for integration quality, performance, and reliability. It gives hosts confidence that the tool will work seamlessly with Airbnb and support their business as it grows. Choosing a Preferred+ partner reduces the risk of technical issues, sync errors, or missed updates, which can directly impact bookings, guest experience, and overall performance.
What benefits do hosts get from using Preferred+ software?
Using Preferred+ software gives hosts access to more reliable connections, faster updates, and fewer operational errors. These tools often receive early access to new Airbnb features and benefit from closer collaboration with Airbnb’s development teams. As a result, hosts can expect smoother day-to-day operations, better synchronization across systems, and more stability as they scale their business.
How do you choose the right Airbnb software partner?
To choose the right Airbnb software partner, you should look for a solution that offers strong API integration, reliable performance, and features that match your operational needs. Partner status can be a useful indicator, as Preferred and Preferred+ providers have been vetted by Airbnb and meet higher standards. Tools like Hospitable, which hold Preferred+ status, combine reliable integration with automation and operational features, making them a strong option for hosts who want a dependable and scalable solution.