New Anonynimity Regulations is unfair on hosts

[Magalie2]

While I do understand why Airbnb had to put new regulations in place to combat discrimination against guests. I am affraid to say that I am, like many others, very uncomfortable in accepting a reservation without a face on it, no matter what this face looks like.  I am a single woman, my safety comes first and I want to decide who I want to open my house to.

I have also realised that while I cannot see the face of the guests they can see mine. So I could raise a case of being discriminated against and decide that fotos should only be displayed after the booking is confirmed for both parties. Being politically correct and adding trillions of new rules everytimes someboby complaints about somethings that hurts their feelings is not the way to go! Let's be honest, this will not ends racism or idiocy.  

Now because of this new regulations I am thinking about becoming sexist and discriminate agaisnt male by only accepting female guest in my property. Or I will simply have to leave Airbnb, which I am a big fan of.

I am just sorry to see that we are leaving in a more and more sanitased world. 

[Helen3]

hello @Magalie2 

This issue has already been discussed extensively on these forums.

I too am a single woman host in Bristol and quite honestly have  no problem with the change.

If you use Instant Book, there will be absolutely no difference, you will see the photo of the guest once they book.

If you don't, then you will see the photo of the guest once they book. If you are then uncomfortable because say they are pictured with a gun or right wing logos, you ask Airbnb to cancel.

To make sure you see a photo - make sure you tick the box on your listing to say you only accept guests with photos.

As additional protection I also make it a rule for IB that I only take guests with clear photos of themselves as some guests have pictures of animals, flowers etc.

As a single woman if you are sharing your home, you are able to only share your home with other women, if that is what you prefer.

[Magalie2]

Hi Helen, Thank you for your message. I have always refused the Instant Booking because of my concerns but i will look into your option.

Mag

[Rachel177]

@Magalie2 like @Helen3 I'm a female host who uses instant book so the changes haven't really impacted me. Instant book guests must have been ID verified, and have a profile photo and positive reviews from other hosts before they can book with me. I've also updated my house rules to state that guests must have a complete profile, clear photo and that I don't accept third party bookings. Feel free to have a look at my house rules, you're more than welcome to borrow from them. And instant book saves me a lot of time messaging back & forth with guests pre-booking (and has cut down on the tyre kickers looking for a discount).

[Robin4]

@Magalie2  @Rachel177  @Helen3 

Magalie, it is unfair that Airbnb have blindfolded us as hosts when it comes to assessing potential guests who send a reservation request, but, we can work around this 'discrimination' on Airbnb's  part by asking the guest in a polite way to reveal something about themselves in the request process.

This is my suggestion (which I feel)  to a certain extent gets around this blindfolding!

For those requests that don't come to me via IB I would in the other things you should know part of the listing description make a statement something like this.....

"It may surprise you to know Airbnb hides your picture and any personal details until I have accepted your booking! Yes a bit tough isn't it, but we do have to work together. Please take a minute to send me a few details about yourself with your booking request so I can get an idea of how best to welcome you!"

Now I don't feel that is onorous and if I was a guest I would be quite happy to comply with that in my booking request. The only issue I could see on the horizon, Airbnb would sanitize it from the description as they do with so many other contact elements of the platform!

Cheers.....Rob

[Helen3]

This is definitely an issue that hosts have strong feelings about @Robin0

For hosts like myself, the change has made absolutely no difference as I continue to see a photo when a guest book.

 I only have a few guests who inquire before they book.

Quite honestly I don't care what a guest looks like before they book.  And if once they book,  I feel uncomfortable -  purely based on a photo I would ask Airbnb to cancel.

However after three a bit years of hosting and hundreds of guests, this has never happened 🙂 

To me the questions I ask guests to answer are much more important to me and I have set these up as a condition for them booking with me;

1. Who is travelling with you

2. What are your plans for your stay

3. Why did you chose my place

4. What time are you planning to arrive (within my check in time)

5. Please provide a clear photo of yourself on your profile

Not all guests provide this information on booking, so sometimes I need to chase and in a few cases have had to ask Airbnb to chase for the information.

I certain vet more than most hosts, from what I see on the forums, but this is my home and I need to feel comfortable with those who are sharing with me, and make sure the guest is a good fit to stay in my inner-city, multi-cultural area.

So far this approach seems to have worked. Apart from my first truly horrible guest, all my guests have been lovely, I haven't had noisy guests, guests who have broken anything, guests who have been rude, I have never had to leave a bad review, or make a claim for damages/extra cleaning etc.

I think we all need to host in a way that works best for us, but I do think this issue around the guest photo not being available before a guest books is rather a storm in a teacup.

[Robin4]

@Helen3 

Hey, I agree with you totally! More than 85% of my bookings on Airbnb are IB's, and I do prefer that. Funnily enough all the bookings I have had since I listed on Homeaway/Stayz have been booking requests! It struck me as being at odds with my Airbnb business so I went into my Stayz setting to make sure I had IB turned on...and I did! Maybe the emphasis on that platform is a little different!

So from my point of view I agree Helen, it is a storm in a teacup, but just because you and I are cool with it doesn't mean everyone else should be and I do feel for those hosts who do feel greatly impacted by it.

For me it's the principal of the matter.....why are Airbnb pushing for guest anonimity. The reality is, it has nothing to do with discrimination because by doing this, that is exactly what Airbnb are doing! They are granting the guest a level of privacy they are not allowing the host, they are discriminating.

The backroom boys have analysed the decline rate and linked it with certain classes of guests and have taken steps to ensure the host does not get to base a hosting decision on pre-conceived ideologies or experiences......

It's to stop potential hosting declines, nothing more....and that is what I am against!

Cheers.....Rob

[Rebecca181]

I do wonder how Airbnb will respond to a host who requests to cancel a booking based on a photo of the guest after they have IB'd: Particularly if the host is Caucasian and the guest is not. Will they simply accept the host's request to cancel? How would this *not* be viewed as 'discrimination'? 

[Mark1412]

While I totally believe you and your child should be careful, when allowing anyone into your home. I don't believe it is safe to allow any stranger access to your home or your child. I don't think seeing what someone looks like changes the risk. You can't tell the type of person someone is by a standard photo. You don't know what is in their mind or in their heart.

We do more to research the backgrounds of the people we hire than reseach on those we give access to our children by allowing strangers into our homes.

If you choose to only allow females in your home, I think that would be justified, but I don't think looking at a photo, changes the risk. It only gives us a false sense of security.