The Dark Side of Airbnb: How One Host Lost Everything in a Day

In this episode of "Behind the Stays," we bring you a special and urgent conversation with a guest who's no stranger to the show, Elam King — we featured his story on Episode 180 of the podcast.  

Elam's story is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the Amish community, he transitioned into a successful hospitality entrepreneur, building an impressive portfolio of short-term rentals. However, just a few days ago, Elam faced a devastating blow—Airbnb kicked him off their platform, leading to a loss of over6 figures in canceled revenue by Airbnb.

As the host of this podcast, I have a deep respect and admiration for Airbnb. The platform has revolutionized the hospitality industry, providing incredible opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world. This podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of some of the most inspiring and innovative hospitality entrepreneurs in the space. But it’s also important to share the hard stories—stories that hold Airbnb accountable to their promise of supporting hosts. This is one of those stories.

In this gripping conversation, Elam shares the shocking events that led to his account suspension, the challenges of being overly reliant on a single booking platform, and the emotional toll of questioning his own integrity and business practices. We delve into the specifics of how a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings spiraled into a full account ban, impacting not just Elam but also his family and business associates.

This episode is not just a cautionary tale but also a story of resilience and determination. Elam opens up about his plans moving forward, his faith, and the support he's received from his community. Whether you're a seasoned host or new to the short-term rental space, Elam's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of diversification and the unpredictable nature of the hospitality business.

Without further ado, get ready to hear one of the most compelling and eye-opening stories we've ever shared on "Behind the Stays."

Connect with Elam

About the Show

Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.

You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.

Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee