What makes an Airbnb host a superhost? Empirical evidence from San Francisco and the Bay Area

Using data on Airbnb listings from San Francisco and the Bay Area, the present study investigates the relative importance of the four criteria that need to be fulfilled to obtain the Airbnb superhost status. In order to quantify the marginal contributions of the four criteria, different index models of binary response (logit, probit, and IV probit, which allows for the endogeneity of Airbnb demand) are applied. The results, which are consistent across models, show that in San Francisco and the Bay Area obtaining (and maintaining) excellent ratings is, by far, the most important criterion, followed by reliable cancellation behavior of the host, host responsiveness, and sufficient Airbnb demand. Moreover, commercial Airbnb providers are more likely to obtain the superhost status. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.