In 2025, Airbnb announced a series of changes to its Payment Terms, set to take effect on September 8, 2025, for existing users. Among these updates, one particular feature has caught our attention: the ability for travelers to book without immediate payment.

At CasaBooking, we’re closely monitoring these changes. While we understand the aim of simplifying the customer experience behind this initiative, we believe that, in its current form, it raises important concerns for professional hosts and property owners.

The new feature allows a traveler to reserve accommodation without paying upfront, with payment due 72 hours before arrival. If the payment fails and isn’t settled within that time, Airbnb will automatically cancel the reservation.

For the host, this means:

● A property could remain blocked for several days — sometimes during peak season — with no financial guarantee.
● No income will be paid out if the guest’s payment isn’t completed.
● The cancellation policy won’t apply, as the booking is canceled by the platform, not by the guest.

While this change aims to improve booking conversion rates, it could expose owners to lost revenue on key dates, with no compensation.

Airbnb has been a key player in the rise of short-term rentals. It’s a platform that has opened up tremendous opportunities for both hosts and travelers, and we fully acknowledge its pivotal role in shaping the industry.

It’s precisely because Airbnb has always shown an ability to listen and adapt that we believe there’s still a chance for this new feature to be recalibrated or adjusted before it comes into effect. We hope that feedback from professional hosts, managers, and owners will be heard.

Summer 2025: Ongoing Presence on Airbnb
CasaBooking will continue listing properties on Airbnb through July and August, aiming to take full advantage of the summer season while preparing for a smooth transition if needed.

From September: Broadening Our Strategy
If the new terms are confirmed without adjustment, we will gradually shift our efforts towards:

● Booking.com, Expedia, Abritel/VRBO, and other reliable platforms
● Expanding direct bookings through casabooking.com, by enhancing our online presence, customer communications, and loyalty program.

Our top priorities will remain protecting your revenue, maintaining control over calendars, and reducing reliance on a single platform.

These changes reinforce the importance of building more independent booking channels. To that end, we will:

● Improve our website’s search engine optimization (SEO),
● Launch new Google and social media advertising campaigns,
● Grow our loyal traveler base with tailored offers,
● Optimize the customer experience to encourage direct repeat bookings.

This shift is part of a healthy diversification and long-term sustainability strategy.

We’re approaching these developments with a dual mindset: professional and constructive.

Professional — because it’s our responsibility to anticipate risks and protect your interests.
Constructive — because we recognize that platforms evolve, and that open dialogue between Airbnb and its users remains possible.

If the September conditions remain unchanged, we’ll adapt our strategy to maintain the same level of reliability and performance.
If they’re revised, we’ll remain open to continuing our partnership with Airbnb within a fair and secure framework.

Would you like to talk it over? Have a question about your property?
As always, we’re here and happy to discuss it with you.

Marc Cassina
Founder of CasaBooking