Airbnb Implements Anti-Party Measures for New Year's Eve in Houston

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Published  December 27, 2024 6:27pm CST
FOX 26 Houston

The Brief

    • Global Anti-Party Initiative: Airbnb is implementing anti-party technology worldwide to prevent unauthorized and disruptive parties during New Year's Eve, enhancing safety and responsible hosting.
    • Technology and Restrictions: The system uses machine learning to assess booking risks based on factors like trip length and proximity. High-risk bookings may be blocked or redirected, with restrictions on one- to three-night reservations for entire home listings.
    • Positive Impact and Additional Measures: Since 2020, these measures have significantly reduced reported parties. Airbnb also offers year-round reservation screening, noise sensors, and support lines to promote responsible travel and safety.

HOUSTON - Airbnb is deploying anti-party technology globally to mitigate the risk of unauthorized and disruptive parties during New Year's Eve. This initiative aims to foster positive travel experiences and responsible hosting on the platform.

The technology utilizes machine learning to evaluate various factors, such as trip length, listing type, proximity of the listing to the guest's location, and timing of the reservation, to assess the potential risk of a disruptive party. If a booking is deemed high-risk, the guest may be blocked from booking or redirected to alternative accommodations.

FOX 26 spoke with Carlos Olivos, the Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Airbnb in Latin America and US Hispanics, who said the company is committed to safety. 

"We like to keep our community safe. We like for our neighbors to know they have listings in their building or in their community to actually know the listing is going to be safe," Olivos said.

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The measures will be in effect leading up to and during New Year's Eve in several countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. For guests attempting to book entire home listings in these regions, the following restrictions will apply:

  • Restrictions on one- to three-night reservations: The system will block higher-risk bookings for entire home listings.
  • Mandatory anti-party attestation: Guests who can make reservations must confirm their understanding that disruptive and unauthorized parties are prohibited on Airbnb, with violations potentially leading to suspension or removal from the platform.

Since implementing these restrictions in 2020, Airbnb has observed a significant decrease in reported parties during the holiday. Last year, nearly 74,000 people globally were blocked from booking entire home listings. In Houston, more than 900 guests were blocked or redirected during New Year's Eve.

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"This is a positive cycle because when you have a risky reservation that might trigger conflicts within the host and they guest. So the host also wants reservations that might be considered safe," Olivos said. "It goes well for them, it gives them a better rating, a better review, and it's more positive for the host." 

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Disruptive and unauthorized parties on Airbnb are rare, and these efforts complement existing measures to promote responsible travel and enforce the global ban on disruptive parties. These measures include: