For many Australians, listing a property on Airbnb has become a smart way to earn extra income. Thanks to the country’s steady stream of local and international travellers, the demand for short-term accommodation remains strong, especially in popular destinations such as New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
Homeowners and investors are increasingly turning to short-stay rentals as an alternative to traditional leasing. While managing an Airbnb does require a more hands-on approach, it also offers greater flexibility and earning potential. With the right tools and systems in place, hosts can streamline their operations and make the process surprisingly simple.
Whether you’re looking to supplement your income, cover household costs, or explore property as a side hustle, Airbnb can offer a rewarding and sustainable opportunity in the right market.
What Can You Do to Make Your Airbnb More Profitable?
Running a successful Airbnb takes more than just listing a property and hoping for the best. To maximise your income, you need a strategy that covers everything from platform exposure to guest experience. Below are some tried-and-tested ways to help boost your Airbnb profitability in Australia.
List Across Multiple Booking Platforms
While Airbnb is often the first platform that comes to mind, it shouldn’t be the only one you rely on. Limiting yourself to one booking site means missing out on guests who use different travel apps, have brand preferences, or are booking from specific regions where another platform has more traction.
By listing on multiple platforms, you’ll expose your property to a broader audience and fill more nights throughout the year.
Airbnb
Airbnb remains the leader in the short-term rental market, known for its strong community feel, review system, and seamless booking process. It caters to a wide variety of guests,from solo travellers to digital nomads to families. Airbnb also offers flexible cancellation options and a user-friendly interface for both hosts and guests.
One of Airbnb’s standout features is its ability to personalise the guest experience. Reviews, host profiles, and the unique feel of each listing are core to its success. For many, this is their first stop when searching for short stays.
Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the largest global travel platforms, with a massive user base and a reputation for professional, hotel-like bookings. It’s especially popular among international travellers and business guests who are accustomed to traditional booking sites.
Unlike Airbnb, Booking.com doesn’t require guests to make an account to book, which often leads to higher conversion rates. It also tends to attract short-notice or last-minute bookings, making it a great option to fill gaps in your calendar.
However, its system can feel more transactional, and the lack of screening for guests is something to be aware of. Still, the volume of bookings it brings makes it a valuable addition to your strategy.
Stayz
Stayz is part of the HomeAway network and is popular among Australian families planning local getaways. The platform is well established in the domestic holiday rental space and tends to perform well in regional areas and coastal towns.
Guests using Stayz are often looking for family-friendly homes, pet-friendly properties, or weekend escapes within driving distance. If your property caters to families, large groups, or holidaymakers, Stayz can be a great revenue stream, especially during school holidays and long weekends.
VRBO
VRBO also part of the Expedia Group alongside Stayz, focuses primarily on full-property rentals. It’s a strong choice for hosts with standalone homes or entire apartments, as VRBO does not allow shared spaces.
This platform is especially appealing to overseas travellers and families looking for longer stays with a bit more space and privacy. The guest profile tends to be more mature and often includes international tourists who are planning ahead and booking early.
What platforms are best?
Every booking platform has its strengths and attracts different guest types. By listing across Airbnb, Booking.com, Stayz, and VRBO, you can tap into a wider market and minimise gaps in your calendar.
To give you a clearer picture:
According to AirDNA’s 2023 OTA Market Share Data, the general distribution of bookings in Australia is:
- Airbnb: ~70–75%
- Booking.com: ~15–20%
- Stayz & VRBO: ~5–10% combined
So while Airbnb leads the way, diversifying can significantly increase your occupancy rate, especially during peak seasons or local events.
Consider Using an Airbnb Management Team
Running a short-term rental can be time-consuming. Between cleaning, guest communication, maintenance, pricing, and managing reviews, many hosts find it quickly becomes a full-time job. That’s where a professional Airbnb management team can make a big difference.
An experienced team handles everything for you, from creating optimised listings and setting the right nightly rate, to guest check-ins, troubleshooting, cleaning coordination, and 24/7 communication. This means you can enjoy the benefits of Airbnb income without the stress of daily management.
If you’re looking for a reliable and hands-off approach to Airbnb management, partnering with a professional Airbnb management team in Australia can be a smart choice. With a focus on maximising returns and delivering five-star guest experiences, these services help property owners unlock the full potential of their homes while saving time and effort.
Sync Calendars with a Channel Manager or iCal
Managing bookings across multiple platforms can get messy, double bookings, missed messages, or inconsistent pricing can cost you money and damage your reputation. A channel manager or iCal sync solves this by automatically syncing your calendars, availability, and sometimes even pricing across platforms.
There are plenty of tools available, some are full-service software platforms, while others are lightweight calendar integrations. Either way, they ensure that when a guest books on one site, all the others update automatically, keeping your operations smooth and efficient.
Final Thoughts
Boosting your Airbnb income doesn’t require drastic changes, but it does take smart planning. By listing on multiple platforms, keeping your calendars synced, and considering professional management, you can increase your visibility, reduce workload, and improve your bottom line.
Whether you’re a first-time host or a seasoned investor, these strategies can help you make the most of your short-term rental.
