I'm always traveling (it's part of my job) and I rent it out while I'm away. Airbnb handles the payment, and the reviews can only be left by people who have stayed through the community so you know they are legit. You can also choose who stays - that's why everyone has profiles. In any case, I offset my rent about $400/month and have "travel fun" money now. I'm 70% to my goal of heading to Thailand in March! Can't wait!

Excuse me for being presumptuous, but it's sort of customary to self-identify in a post like this if you happen to be affiliated with the company.

"The pretty lady in the video is Venetia Pristavec, who does all the in-house video content for Airbnb, traveling around to different countries and interviewing hosts. She’s great."

Sorry, newbie mistake! I was (and am) a host before working at airbnb so sometimes the two worlds collide. Just excited about the video and my first comment on HN. Thanks for watching!

How exactly do you do that if you are away, doesn't some one have to be there to give the guest the key to the place?

Couple handy ways. 1) Taskrabbit.com (I have an awesome runner check people in for me) 2) I just have a friend do it 3) I leave the key at a local cafe for them to pick it up.