How to Become an Airbnb Superhost — and Why It Matters for Your Bookings

“A Superhost is a host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile.” — Airbnb, 2025 (Airbnb Help Article #828)

For many guests, seeing the Superhost badge is a deciding factor when booking a stay. It signals quality, trust, and consistency. And for hosts, it’s a sign that you're delivering best practice every day.

At Red Kite Hosts, we’ve been a Superhost on Airbnb since 2016. In that time, we’ve welcomed thousands of guests and earned hundreds of five-star reviews. But Superhost status isn’t a one-time achievement, it’s a quarterly review that requires consistent excellence.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• What Superhost means on Airbnb
• How to become a Superhost
• The benefits of Superhost status
• Why it’s hard to maintain without support
• Why partnering with a Superhost is a smart move

What does Superhost mean on Airbnb?

Superhost is Airbnb’s official recognition for top-rated hosts. Airbnb awards the badge to hosts who meet strict criteria every quarter — including high review scores, fast response times, low cancellation rates, and regular bookings.

This isn’t just for show. Many travellers actively filter for Superhost listings when searching on Airbnb, so earning and maintaining the badge can directly impact your visibility and booking rate.

What are the Superhost requirements?

To qualify as a Superhost, Airbnb says you must meet all four of these criteria during a 12-month assessment period:

• Maintain a 4.8+ overall rating from guest reviews
• Respond to 90% of messages within 24 hours
• Host at least 10 stays (or 3 reservations with a total of 100+ nights)
• Maintain a less than 1% cancellation rate

(Source: Airbnb, 2025)

Airbnb automatically checks these metrics every 3 months. If you meet the standard, your badge is awarded or renewed. Fall short, and you lose it.

What are the benefits of Superhost status?

Superhost status doesn’t just feel good — it helps your business.

• Increased bookings – many guests prefer to book with Superhosts
• Higher placement in search results
• Greater trust and credibility
• Priority support from Airbnb
• Invitations to exclusive programmes and insights

For example, as a long-standing top-tier Superhost, Red Kite Hosts was invited to the in-person Airbnb ProHost Summits — in 2023 (top 70 UK hosts) and 2024 (top 200 Northern Europe hosts). Airbnb also shares advanced data and performance insights with us to help improve our listings and pricing strategies.

Why it’s difficult to achieve Superhost status on your own

Airbnb hosting is much complex than people realise. To consistently meet Superhost standards, you need:

• Seamless communication
• Reliable housekeeping and maintenance
• A fast, personal guest response process
• Listing optimisation to drive bookings and reviews
• Systems that avoid cancellations, even in emergencies

That’s why many hosts find it difficult to achieve, or keep, Superhost status without a professional partner.

Why partnering with a Superhost makes sense

Working with a Superhost management company means you're putting your property in trusted hands.

At Red Kite Hosts:

• We’ve held Superhost status since 2016, across hundreds of listings
• Our team handles everything — from guest comms and changeovers to pricing and photography
• We know the local area, and use Airbnb’s best practices to deliver exceptional guest stays
• You benefit from our Superhost badge, insights, and exposure — without needing to manage the daily operations

FAQs

What does it mean to be a Superhost on Airbnb?

Superhosts are top-rated Airbnb hosts who meet strict standards around reviews, response times, and reliability. It’s a badge of trust and quality that increases visibility in search and boosts guest confidence. (Airbnb, 2025)

How do I become a Superhost?

You must meet Airbnb’s criteria over a 12-month period: 4.8+ rating, 90% response rate, 10+ stays (or 100+ nights), and <1% cancellation rate. Airbnb reviews your performance every 3 months.

Can I become a Superhost with a management company?

Yes. If your property is managed under a Superhost account — like Red Kite Hosts — you benefit from their badge, status, and performance without needing to meet the criteria yourself.

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