Chase the lever, not the trophy

Key finding: Among 164,811 US two-bedroom listings, homes holding both the Superhost and Guest Favorite badges earned 6.3% above their local median, while Superhost alone edged positive and Guest Favorite alone still sat 4.8% below.

The short version

Not all badges pull the same weight. Superhost is earned through host behavior you can control, and it moves money. Guest Favorite is mostly handed out based on how a listing already performs, so on its own it does not lift you above the pack. If you are deciding where to put your effort, chase the badge that is a lever, not the one that is a trophy.

The data

We compared badge combinations against the local median inside the same ZIP code, holding bedroom count fixed at two. The pattern is clean:

• Neither badge: 10.1% below the local median.

• Guest Favorite alone: 4.8% below the median.

• Superhost alone: edges positive, just above the median.

• Both badges together: 6.3% above the median.

Those are the only figures in this study. There is no hidden breakdown behind them.

Why it works

Guest Favorite is largely awarded based on outcomes. It rewards listings that already collect strong reviews, high ratings, and low cancellation rates. That makes it a symptom of a good listing rather than a cause of one, which is why the badge alone does not carry a listing above its neighbors. Superhost is different. It is earned through host behavior you steer directly: response rate, review score, completed stays, and low cancellations. When you improve those inputs to reach Superhost, you improve the same things guests reward with bookings. That is why Superhost tracks with real revenue and Guest Favorite mostly reflects it.

What to actually do

1. Treat Superhost as the target you manage toward. Watch your response rate, review score, completion rate, and cancellations, and protect all four every quarter.

2. Do not spend energy trying to game Guest Favorite. Earn the fundamentals and the badge tends to follow on its own.

3. Once you hold both, keep the qualifying metrics healthy so you stay in the top group rather than slipping back toward the median.

The honest caveats

This is a correlational finding, not a controlled experiment. It shows that listings with both badges tend to sit 6.3% above their local median, but it does not prove the badges alone caused that gap. The same host discipline that earns Superhost also produces better stays, so some of the lift reflects the underlying quality rather than the badge itself. The study covers US two-bedroom listings only, so read it as directional for other sizes and markets rather than exact.

Methodology

The sample is 164,811 US two-bedroom listings, drawn from IntelliHost and Key Data in 2026. We grouped listings by badge status and compared each group’s revenue against the median for its own ZIP code, holding bedroom count constant at two. Comparing within ZIP and bedroom count keeps local demand and property size from distorting the picture, so the differences reflect the badges rather than the neighborhood.

Frequently asked questions

Does Guest Favorite increase my revenue?

On its own, no meaningful lift shows up. Guest Favorite alone still sat 4.8% below the local median in this sample, because the badge mostly reflects a listing that was already performing well.

Is Superhost worth chasing?

Yes. Superhost alone edged above the local median, and paired with Guest Favorite the two reached 6.3% above it. Superhost is earned through host behavior you control, which is why it lines up with revenue.

Which badge should I focus on first?

Focus on Superhost. It is the lever you can pull directly, and earning it tends to bring Guest Favorite along, since both reward the same fundamentals of reviews, ratings, and reliable stays.