Travellers posting misleading photographs

[John232]

I am an Airbnb host, but I have never travelled as an Airbnb guest.  It concerns me a great deal that I have several times received requests from guests who picture themselves with a photo of a dog, a camera lens, or a parrot, or a puff of smoke or a penguin wearing sunglasses.  In my view it is important that anyone hoping to stay in your home as a guest should have the basic courtesy to provide a recgnisable and realistic picture of themselves.   I am wondering if any other hosts have experienced the same situation, and share my concern.  In my view Airbnb should screen the photographs we all post on our profiles and ensure they are of a clear and recognisable human face.  I welcome comments.

[Keith26]

I too have experienced profile photographs showing pictures of anything but the actual guest enquiring. I always then request the hidden person to upload a full face, clear image in order for me to recognise them when they turn up. I have gone as far as asking for this in the main body of the listing write up.

[Bridget0]

I also require a clear photo of the person for the purposes of knowing that the person who makes the reservation in the person who arrives. While I do understand the concern about putting a picture of yourself on the internet (It was a BIG deal for me to do so!) and I had one person who absolutely refused to (and was declined), it is important that we can tell who enters the premises.

There was one really funny potential guest who had a picture of 2 men in his photo and could NOT tell me which one he was, over the course of like a dozen very stoned but friendly exchanges from him. He was my favorite decline -  "Why won't you host me? I'm cool!"

[Anne162]

HI all, yes I agree with ye that everyone who uses airbnb should be required to have their picture on their profile, I have had a couple of requests from people with no profile pic and I just declined them and informed them why I was doing so.  Also, I think it would be helpful if guests were required to say more than just a one liner about themselves!

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

I'm one of 'those.'  I don't post my name and picture because I prefer to keep my home life and my professional life as separated as possible.  If my name or picture were on the site  then clients from my professional life could readily link me  to our AirBnb and blur this line. My partner and I host our AirBnb in a camper/travel trailer on our horse ranch.  We have other internet presences also,  as we have a face book page and web page with the name of the ranch on them.  Googling City Limits Ranch in Watsonville CA gets you our information and since we run a non-profit it's not hard to also get my name, address and phone number from Google.  When I decided to travel I nicely explained to my potential hosts who I am and why I am traveling.  I also referred them to all the City Limits Ranch information readily available on line and to my full name and the business I own.  So far I have not had to put a personal photo on AirBnb in order to host or to be a guest.  If it were to be a problem I would figure out then what to do.   This decision has worked well for me, my guests and my future host (I just started using AirBnb for travel.)  We are not all bad, just trying to preserve a speck of privacy.

[Susan128]

As a guest and a host, I want to see a photo of the person to give me some sense of security. I've had all kinds of celebrities stay here, if you will, and I respect their privacy, but I still want a face photo on their AirBnB listing.

[Barbora0]

It is very interesting, because I was not allowed to even register as a host without providing my portrait photo, my ID card and other documentation. I do Airbnb for fourth year and never hosted anyone who would not have their portrait photo visible. The worst surprise - confusion for me was a visit from South Korea where I expected an older man (a family photo on their profile) but the visitor was a young girl. Other problem could be to host a guest with fake facebook profile. It happened to me as well. There are some unkind or even bad guests around. Usually they book on a very short notice. 

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

ps you really have no way of knowing if the picture you see on the site is of the person messaging you.  I doubt that (all else being legitimate) you could cancel a guest's reservation without penalty after they arrive because they don't look like their picture.  Could you?  Would you?

[Melanie59]

I hosted a guest that had a family picture as the Profile photo, and their Father showed up instead.  He was very nice, but that was a new one on me as a New Host.  I can understand why they did that, because how many people have older parents that can navigate AIRBNB.  Luckily, it turned out well for all of us!

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

I agree - but we just ask if it's not clear. It's no different to the number of hosts who post blurred or weird pics for the same reasons guests do. Family photos are fun as you often don;t know which member has messaged you - but if they look ok as a family then fine by me.

[Mandi-S-Just-Business-Ro0]

If the guest isn't forthright about the picture - even if they are wearing sunglasses - I treat it as a red flag. They don't want to follow Airbnb rules. Then I look at the rest of the enquiry or request for credibility,  and then request that they update the photo.

If they won't show a clear, accurate head shot, I respectfully decline (unless I know them). This is true even if they have prior positive reviews. This is clearly stated on all of my postings.

I've seen situations where a relative or buddy "borrowed" or used a crledible Airbnb guest presence to get a booking. But with no photo I have no way of knowing who is showing up. That's too much stress for this host.

AI had one situation where the fellow was very well prepared and clearly had read the rules, terms, etc. He booked 3 months in advance and was easy to track and identify. It was a 4-month reservation under strict terms, and he provided photo ID on arrival. Minimal exposure on my part.

However, in another case, the fellow turned out to be wanted by police in his home country. Nice. 

Those are my terms, and I stick to them. Hope you find it helpful.