Host User Guide

1. Getting Started

Before you can list a property, you'll need a Gaybnb Travel Hub account. Sign up at our registration page, then navigate to your dashboard and switch to hosting mode using the "Switch to Hosting" toggle. If you don't see the hosting tools, contact our team to enable host access on your account.

2. Creating Your First Listing

From your Host Dashboard, select "Create Listing" to open the listing wizard. You'll be guided through the following steps:

• Property Details — Add a descriptive title, choose your property type (apartment, house, studio, loft, villa, room, boat, or unique), and set the maximum number of guests.
• Location — Enter your full address and city. This powers our map discovery and Gay hotspot proximity matching.
• Pricing — Set your nightly rate. You can later override prices for specific dates using the calendar.
• Photos — Upload high-quality images. We recommend well-lit photos of every room — accurate photos build trust and reduce complaints.
• Amenities — Select all applicable amenities (WiFi, pool, kitchen, parking, etc.) so guests can filter by what matters to them.
• House Rules & Description — Write a welcoming description and clearly state any house rules (quiet hours, pet policy, smoking, etc.).

You can save a listing as a draft and publish it when you're ready. All listings default to Instant Booking for faster confirmations, but you can switch to request-to-book at any time from your listings manager.

3. Identity Verification (AutoHost)

To protect our community, we require all hosts to complete identity verification through AutoHost before publishing a live listing. Verification takes a few minutes:

1. Open the Host Verification Wizard from your dashboard.
2. Enter your legal name, date of birth, and country of residence.
3. Upload a government-issued photo ID.
4. Complete the selfie check when prompted.

Once verified, a Verified Host badge appears on your profile and listings. Reviews and bookings consistently improve after verification, so we encourage every host to complete it early.

4. Managing Your Calendar and Availability

The hosting calendar lets you control which nights are bookable. From the calendar view you can:

• Block dates for personal use, maintenance, or any reason — blocked dates won't accept bookings.
• Set custom nightly prices for holidays, weekends, or special events.
• Review confirmed reservations — confirmed bookings automatically block their date ranges.
• Sync minimum and maximum stay rules for seasonal flexibility.

We recommend updating your calendar at least once a week, especially during Pride season and peak travel months when demand is highest.

5. Receiving and Confirming Bookings

When a guest books your property, you'll receive an instant confirmation email and a notification in your dashboard. For Instant Booking listings, the reservation is confirmed automatically — no action needed on your part. For request-to-book listings, you'll have 24 hours to accept or decline before the request expires.

Once confirmed, the guest's dates are blocked on your calendar and a booking reference is generated. You can view full booking details, guest contact information, and trip notes from your dashboard's Booking Calendar.

6. Communicating with Guests

Use the in-app messaging system for all guest coordination. Messages are logged, timestamped, and tied to the booking record — this protects both you and the guest in the rare event of a dispute. Tips for great communication:

• Respond within a few hours whenever possible.
• Share check-in instructions (door codes, parking, wi-fi) before arrival.
• Be clear about any local customs or neighborhood nuances.
• Keep sensitive details (exact address, phone numbers) inside the in-app thread — never on public listings.

7. Pricing, Service Fees, and Payouts

Your nightly price is what guests see. Gaybnb Travel Hub adds a transparent guest service fee on top at checkout. For each confirmed booking, your earnings are calculated as:

• Nightly total = your nightly price × number of nights.
• Platform margin = a percentage retained by Gaybnb Travel Hub (shown in your listing settings).
• Truvi guest screening fee = a per-night screening charge, deducted from the guest side.
• Host payout = nightly total − platform margin. This is what lands in your account.

Payouts are processed through Stripe Connect. Before receiving your first payout, you'll need to complete a one-time Stripe Connect onboarding from your dashboard. Once connected, payouts for completed stays are released according to our standard payout schedule. You can track every transaction from the Earnings & Payouts tab.

8. Cancellations and Refunds

Every listing follows the cancellation policy you selected during creation. Guests see this policy before booking. If a guest cancels within the free cancellation window, they receive a full refund and the dates reopen on your calendar. If they cancel closer to check-in, the refund depends on your selected policy — review the policy details on each listing carefully.

Host-initiated cancellations should be a last resort. Repeated host cancellations can lower your listing ranking and, in serious cases, result in account review. If you must cancel, contact support early so we can help rebook the guest.

9. Safety and Community Standards

As a host, you're part of a community built on respect and inclusion. Please review our Community Standards. Key host responsibilities include:

• Provide a safe, clean, accurately described space.
• Never refuse a booking based on a guest's identity.
• Maintain working smoke detectors, secure locks, and clearly marked emergency exits.
• Respect guest privacy — hidden cameras in private spaces are strictly prohibited.
• Honor the cancellation and house rules you published.

10. Handling Issues and Disputes

If something goes wrong — damage, noise, or a disagreement with a guest — follow these steps:

1. Document the issue with photos and timestamps.
2. Reach out to the guest through the in-app thread first.
3. If unresolved, open a request through your dashboard's support section.
4. Our team will review the case and mediate using the booking record and message history.

11. Improving Your Visibility

Listings with complete profiles, high-quality photos, and responsive hosts rank higher in search results. To boost your visibility:

• Fill out every section of your listing — empty fields reduce ranking.
• Keep your calendar updated and unblock dates proactively.
• Aim for fast response times on guest messages.
• Encourage happy guests to leave reviews after their stay.
• Consider enabling Instant Booking to appear in more filtered searches.

12. Contacting Support

Our host support team is here to help. Reach us at hello@gaybnbtravel.com for listing help, payout questions, verification issues, or anything else. For urgent booking emergencies, use the in-booking support link inside your dashboard for priority handling.