We'll at least he is finally acknowledging that without decent hosts there is no business. And I do hope he will keep his word. If I were to make a suggestion it would be that Airbnb split out 'commercial rentals' with multiple listings from hosts own single home and private room in host present properties. Then let the 'guest' community market decide whether they want a commercial or a community host booking.
Commercial rental businesses, IMHO, are unlikely to be joining host clubs nor much interested in community. And as such their interests and needs are very different from home owners who are far more vulnerable.
I wanted to attend tomorrow's London meeting, tweeted Brian directly - no response. Emailed him directly - no response. Hummm - the whistle stop tour meeting a handle of hosts, is perhaps a missed opportunity. An open invite sent a month inadvance to hosts would have given a much greater insight to him than a couple of hours before jumping on a plane to next location. He'll burn himself out if he's not careful.
1000 host clubs is quite an ambition, if each one will include an airbnb staffer. The host Advisory Board is a good idea so long as it directly engages with hosts and is not just a one way street.
Chip Connoly's advice to Brian was spot on - do 'for' the community not 'to' the community.
Here's hoping he succeeds - respected and happy hosts = happy guests. And bad guests should be thrown out of the community as it is they who cause the most damage to the community of hosts.
And finally, the host Security Deposit Host Guarantee scheme should actually mean something. Too many hosts have suffered damage by guests whose deposit is handed straight back to them the moment they say "I didn't do it' or they just point blank refuse to respond to a resolution centre request and airbnb close the ticket and refuse to engage further. He needs to know that has caused many a great host to leave airbnb.