As part of ongoing efforts to prevent its listed properties from being booked for raucous blowouts, accommodation site Airbnb on Tuesday announced that it’s piloting new “anti-party technology” designed to automatically flag high-risk reservations.
The pilot comes three years after five people died in a shooting during a house party at an Airbnb property in California. The tragedy dented Airbnb’s reputation, as critics lambasted the company for allowing its properties to be used for large unauthorized events that were at risk of getting out of control.
Since then, Airbnb has made a number of moves to reduce the risk of guests using its listings for what it describes as “disruptive parties and events.” While the company has placed a temporary ban on such gatherings two years ago, they made the ban permanent in June.
Airbnb said this week that, following a successful trial in Australia, where it saw a 35% fall in unauthorized parties at its properties, the new technology is now ready to be tested in the U.S. and Canada.
The system considers factors like “history of positive reviews (or lack of positive reviews), length of time the guest has been on Airbnb, length of the trip, distance to the listing, weekend vs. weekday, among many others,” Airbnb said, adding: “The primary objective is attempting to reduce the ability of bad actors to throw unauthorized parties which negatively impact our hosts, neighbors, and the communities we serve.”
When the technology flags a high-risk reservation, the booking will be prevented from going through. In such a case, the guest will not be able to book an entire home, though they will be able to book a private room in a hotel or home — places where staff or host are more likely to be on site and therefore able to prevent an unauthorized gathering.
The new system is described by Airbnb as a “more robust and sophisticated version” of an existing technology that it deployed in 2020 and that focuses mainly on “guests under the age of 25 without positive reviews who are booking locally.”
The company added that “no system is perfect,” an apparent acknowledgement that some party planners may be able to dodge the safeguards. Still, it’s promising to offer an update on the success — or not — of the current pilot once enough data comes in.
Related Posts
Mercedes-AMG F1 City Edition E-Bike: High-Octane Performance on Two Wheels
Unleash the Power: Performance Meets Precision Under the hood…errr frame…the City Edition e-bike houses a 750W motor that powers you to speeds of up to 28 mph with pedal assist. Need an extra push? When necessary, the throttle assist engages allowing you to cruise effortlessly. They’ve even provided four riding modes::
Tax Season Deals: Get the most out of your refund this year
If you want one of the best tablets for business, you'll quickly realize that you might want a keyboard along with it. One of the greatest parts about the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, as well as one of its biggest drawbacks, is its keyboard. See, normally, the keyboard comes separately (it is fully detachable) and that can seriously jack up the price. However, if you get this bundled deal you can get both components in one helpful box and even save yourself $300.
Unleash fun and savings: discover local adventures with Groupon’s “Things to Do”
Why Groupon’s "Things to Do" is Worth Exploring Groupon deals go a step beyond saving on your everyday purchases and open the door to unforgettable experiences. Imagine escaping from a high-stakes mystery room, perfecting your crepe-making skills in a cooking class, or enjoying a discounted spa day. You’ll also find deals on fitness classes, local tours, and even activities like ax-throwing (highly recommend this) and glass-blowing workshops.