Airbnb Is Increasing Efforts to Prevent Discrimination During Booking Process — What to Know

Airbnb expanded access to its "instant book" feature and introduced other measures in an effort to prevent discrimination.

The company is increasing the number of people eligible to use "instant book," a feature which allows guests to book a listing without requiring approval from the host, according to the company. Now, hosts can choose to allow identity-verified guests without a history of reviews to use the feature, an Airbnb spokeswoman confirmed to Travel + Leisure.

Airbnb first made the feature more accessible in November, however an increased effort was announced this week.

The move is one aspect of the company’s effort to improve the booking success rate for people of color, and specifically Black people. Currently, guests perceived as white have a 94.1% booking success rate, while guests perceived as Black have a 91.4% booking success rate.

“Airbnb is built on trust, and we will continue to innovate and design new products and initiatives that increase acceptance and combat bias,” Airbnb Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement. “Important insights… will drive our work to make Airbnb a place where everyone feels welcome. We can’t do this work alone, and our partners have given us incredibly valuable feedback. I’m deeply grateful for their insight.”

In 2020, the company launched "Project Lighthouse," a research effort aimed at informing the best ways to "help combat racial discrimination and bias that Black users and other people of color have faced when using Airbnb." Earlier this year, Airbnb tested a program in Oregon in which guests names were hidden, replacing them with their initials.

Airbnb is also working to make it more likely guests receive a review after a stay since guests who have more reviews are more likely to be accepted by a host. Currently, Airbnb said guests who are perceived to be Black or Latino/Hispanic have fewer reviews than guests who are perceived to be white or Asian.

Additionally, the company will audit rejections to ensure they aren’t discriminatory.