Airbnb has officially unveiled the newest features in its summer release. Its group booking feature, artificial intelligence-powered messages, and a new category, "Icons," are taking center stage.
Travel invitations for the group with property details are included, and group booking features are possibly the only upgrade that will affect all users who make shared wishlists.
Now, users may use links or contacts on their phones to invite friends and family to a wishlist. Group members can vote on properties to choose which should be booked, add properties to a list, or write remarks on properties.
Thanks to a revamp of the Messages tab, everyone traveling can now talk with the host in a group thread.
The streamlined layout centralizes all communications between the host, guests, and customer service. According to the business, the new functionality is expected to make searching across messages easier.
Reactions make Emoji responses possible, and hosts can quickly address frequently asked issues with AI-suggested short replies.
Airbnb's Icons and Host Upgrades
Airbnb's "Icons" are now also available. These spots are extraordinary experiences hosted by several personalities in music, film, television, and more. "Icons" include Carl Fredricksen's House from Pixar's "Up," X-Men '97's X-Mansion, a Living Room session with Doja Cat, and even hanging out with Kevin Hart inside his Coramino Live Lounge.
Depending on their input, hosts may also receive upgrades in the 2024 Summer Release. Additionally, automated earnings reporting and interactive performance charts in the earnings dashboard have been added.
Hosts have more freedom when creating and modifying a picture tour to highlight their space due to a redesigned Listings tab. Airbnb has also included an easier way to navigate between the app's guest and host sections.
Airbnb's New Privacy Policies
The latest features from Airbnb follow the company's updated privacy policies, which were unveiled just a few months ago. Airbnb published new guidelines in early March that forbid using indoor cameras.
Before this, hosts could install cameras in public areas but could not do so in private areas like bathrooms or bedrooms.
While hosts were previously expected to mention the existence of cameras in the rental description, this most recent policy modification removes any doubt for visitors.
In addition to forbidding the use of cameras indoors, Airbnb has established rules concerning surveillance outside. Now, any outdoor cameras installed on a host's home must be disclosed to guests.
Furthermore, it is forbidden for these cameras to record inside areas or to be placed in places where people have strong privacy expectations, like saunas or outdoor showers.
Although doorbell cameras and noise decibel sensors are permitted, hosts are required to announce their presence.
Additionally, these monitors are limited to sound level monitoring only. They cannot record or broadcast audio and are only permitted to be installed in the rental property's common spaces.
The majority of Airbnb listings do not disclose the existence of security cameras, therefore a smaller percentage of listings on the marketplace are probably going to be most affected by this modification.
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(Photo: Tech Times)
