Airbnb, the online vacation rental platform, is set to deploy AI-powered technology to reinforce restrictions on certain bookings during New Year’s Eve. This initiative is aimed at mitigating the risk of unauthorized parties within local communities. This approach by Airbnb underlines their staunch commitment to creating a harmonious environment for both hosts and guests.
“The focus of our implementation of AI technology is taking a considerate approach that aims to benefit hosts, guests, and neighborhoods. We remain hopeful about the positive impact these measures will produce for the communities we serve,” affirms Naba Banerjee, Head of Trust and Safety at Airbnb.
The AI-powered technology, combined with machine learning, will be unleashed in multiple countries and popular regions worldwide. The main goal of this system is to identify and block booking attempts that could possibly lead to unauthorized party incidents. These could be for single, double, or triple-night reservations for entire home listings during the holiday weekend.
The advanced technology is designed to scrutinize hundreds of indicators that might suggest a booking is at risk of being used for a disruptive party. These factors include the length of the booking, the distance of the listing from the guest’s location, the nature of the listing, and if the reservation was made at the eleventh hour, among other factors.
As part of the approach, Airbnb will enforce restrictions on certain one-three night reservations, which the technology identifies as potentially problematic.
All guests making local reservations will be obliged to attest that they understand Airbnb’s party ban and the penalties associated with breaking this rule, including the possibility of suspension or removal from the platform.
Last year, Airbnb successfully launched anti-party measures for New Year’s Eve. As a result, thousands of people worldwide were prohibited from booking entire home listings, including approximately 63,550 individuals in the United States, 13,200 in the UK, and 5,400 in Australia.
Since the initiation of these party prevention measures in 2020, there has been a significant reduction in party reports during New Year’s Eve. This suggests that such measures are serviceable in fostering responsible travel and aiding in enforcing Airbnb’s global party ban.
These efforts are indeed an addition to Airbnb’s already comprehensive array of measures and resources. For instance, the platform uses reservation screening, which is globally operational throughout the year.
In collaboration with property tech company Minut, Airbnb also offers a free noise sensor for hosts. Moreover, they’ve established a Neighborhood Support Line for local communities to report urgent issues linked to Airbnb listings, such as ongoing parties.
Additionally, Airbnb maintains a 24-hour safety line that allows hosts and guests to contact the company’s safety team directly for support, including reporting a party.
Airbnb remains a highly popular platform for both travelers and hosts. The platform has been responsible for over 1.5 billion guest arrivals since its inception in 2007. With options in more than 100,000 cities and towns, there are over six million active listings and 150 million users worldwide.
