Spot hidden cameras at your trip rental
Cameras could be hidden in vents, lamps, energy retailers and even objects like humidifiers and TV remotes.
Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
Travelers spoke, and Airbnb listened. The trip rental platform introduced a number of new options Wednesday based mostly on buyer suggestions as a part of its 2023 Fall Update, together with up to date search filters and a rigorous course of for verifying listings.
The modifications handle a lot of strategies CEO Brian Chesky obtained when he posted on X, previously Twitter, in May, asking what enhancements the corporate may make.
“We’re a pretty big-sized company,” Chesky advised USA TODAY. “A lot of CEOs of companies, they’ve gotten pretty removed.” But Chesky stated he desires to maintain up with what prospects need and regulate accordingly.
Here’s what to know in regards to the latest modifications.
What are Airbnb’s up to date search filters?
Airbnb customers can now filter for listings with king-sized beds in case they need additional room whereas they sleep.
The platform has additionally introduced again a pet-friendly properties filter, so vacationers can extra simply see which listings will accommodate four-legged friends. The firm beforehand retired the filter in 2021. There have been greater than 6 million pet stays in Airbnbs over the previous yr, in accordance with the corporate.
“We’ve been asked about king beds and pet filters endlessly,” Chesky stated.
How will Airbnb confirm listings?
The platform will even begin including verified icons to properties in an effort to crack down on fraudulent listings. “We firmly believe guests shouldn’t have to worry about whether a listing is fake or isn’t located where it says it is,” the corporate stated in its update.
Every itemizing within the U.S., Canada, U.Okay., France and Australia will endure a verification course of starting later this yr. That course of entails analyzing the property’s coordinates knowledge to substantiate it’s positioned the place the host claims, evaluating beforehand uploaded images with reside images and movies the host submits and extra.
Verified icons will likely be seen to customers starting in February, and the platform will proceed the method in 30 extra nations within the fall of 2024 (although customers won’t be able to filter search outcomes by verified listings).
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“This complements our ongoing work to implement tools to help prevent fraud, remove bad actors, and increase trust in our community,” the corporate added. The firm eliminated 59,000 pretend listings from the platform this yr, and prevented 157,000 from becoming a member of.
What else is new at Airbnb?
Airbnb made different modifications, too, like streamlining its search perform when outcomes are restricted, making it simpler to see listings for related dates.
The firm beforehand responded to a different frequent buyer criticism about hidden charges by permitting customers to see the total worth of their reserving with charges – earlier than taxes – all through the method. That function started rolling out final yr.
Nathan Diller is a shopper journey reporter for USA TODAY based mostly in Nashville. You can attain him at [email protected].
