Airbnb reminds users of the campaign launched with ALAI and Despegar in order to prevent scams during the Holidays.
Airbnb believes in building a community based on trust. This is why guests should always book and pay for their stays on-platform in order to be protected with the Safety tools that Airbnb has available. With this in mind, Airbnb also shares how new users have been using the platform to travel since last year.
New data shows that more people are using Airbnb Platform and the community has been growing since 2022.
To protect these new guests, as well as all-time guests, Airbnb recommends for guests to stay on Airbnb – don’t go off platform to communicate with another user or to pay for a booking. Here are five benefits of staying on-platform while booking stays especially around Holidays since people who are planning to book vacations might be targeted by scammers:
- Aircover: Once you book through Airbnb platform, your booking comes with AirCover. AirCover includes access to a 24-hour Safety Line with specially-trained safety agents who will assist you with your safety issues day or night.
- Protection of your information and account: Keeping your personal information secure is important. Our Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use personal information, how personal information is shared, and privacy rights. Also, we highly recommend that guests always pay within the platform in order to keep their account and reservations secure.
- Direct Customer Service with Airbnb: If you only communicate, book, and pay on the Airbnb Platform, this will help ensure you’re protected by Airbnb’s secure processes, this will also give you direct access to contact our customer service in case of an emergency or issue that might arise during an active reservation. Our specialized agents will be able to support you 24/7.
- Direct Active Numbers for local Emergency Services: In the Safety Center when a user indicates they’re having a safety issue, Airbnb provides local emergency contact numbers.
- ID Verification: Identity verification is an important part of building that trust within our community. All booking guests and primary Hosts getting booked globally on Airbnb Platform are required to have undergone the verification process. Any primary Hosts who did not complete the verification process by the end of June 2023 had their calendars blocked, preventing them from accepting any more bookings. Similarly, guests who have not completed the verification process will not be able to book on Airbnb.
“As a platform that works to build trust within the community, Airbnb works constantly to improve their safety tools which are always available and included in each reservation”. Said Flavia Matos, Director of Public Policy in Airbnb for Latin America.
With the safety of users in mind, in alliance with ALAI and Despegar, Airbnb recently launched a campaign to try and help consumers stay protected from third-party travel scams. The campaign in LATAM aims to help people to understand how to book safely within the platform and prevent scams during vacations or Holidays.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
