Airbnb Hosts Scrutinize Social Media Before Approving Bookings

In contrast to the instantaneous confirmation process of traditional hotels, Airbnb hosts often take additional steps before approving bookings. A significant number of these hosts are now delving into potential guests' social media profiles as part of their vetting process, effectively creating a social credit score to determine if the booking should be accepted.

This practice arises from the lack of reviews for new Airbnb users. Without any prior reviews, potential guests might be rejected by hosts, trapping them in a cycle where they can't gain reviews because they aren't being accepted for stays. Hosts are also using social media to gauge the behavior and authenticity of the person making the booking.

For instance, an advertisement on a potential guest's Facebook profile for a party in St Neots led one host, Borman, to reject the booking, suspecting the event was intended to be held at her property. This vigilance was further demonstrated when Borman declined a second booking request after discovering the requester was associated with the initial would-be party host.

The motivations behind such scrutiny are clear: managing problem guests. Reports indicate that 43% of property managers have faced noise complaints, with 25% having had the police called to their properties due to disturbances. Consequently, 8% of Airbnb hosts now routinely check social media profiles before accepting bookings.

Sebastien Long, CEO of the Texas-based company Lodgeur, emphasizes that social media checks are integral to their vetting process. This includes verifying if a potential guest's story aligns with the information provided during booking and conducting online searches for any negative headlines or arrests.

It's estimated that around 2% of bookings are rejected based on these social media evaluations. Additionally, guests might be turned down for reasons like not having perfect five-star reviews from previous stays, a standard requirement for some hosts.

While hotels rarely engage in such detailed background checks, Airbnb's unique peer-to-peer model necessitates this level of caution for some hosts. The additional effort involved in booking through Airbnb, compared to hotels, underscores the importance of understanding these vetting practices for future travelers.