At New York’s Dealbook conference, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced new safety features on its platform that include verifying 100 percent of hosts and listings, according to a report on Axios.
The announcement comes after five people were killed at a Halloween party at a rental home in Northern California. A story on Vice also found that many identities on the platform were fake.
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The new changes are “high-touch,” according to Chesky, and represents a “significant investment.”
“It’s the very best outcome for our community … and it will provide a lot more peace of mind,” said Chesky.
Enhancements to the platform include ensuring “100 percent of hosts and listings are reviewed and verified by the end of next year.”
There will be a new “guest guarantee” for guests who arrive at a property that does not match what was presented online. A “neighbor hotline” will be staffed by real people, and the company plans to review high-risk listings manually.
The guest guarantee will be a welcome enhancement for many people.
Recently, a British couple turned up at a property in Ibiza only to find out it didn’t exist. They had spent more than $11,000 on a two-week booking and were promised a luxe two-bedroom property equipped with a Turkish bath, hot tub, super king-size bed, private lift and marble-decked terrace.
The property did not exist and the couple was forced to find alternative accommodations.
Airbnb is currently investigating the alleged scam.
