Airbnb Expected To Roll Out Big Changes

Airbnb released 50 new features this summer. Among the features were Airbnb Rooms, redesigned wish lists, and total price display, Timeout reported.

CEO Brian Chesky went a step further by asking Airbnb users what else the company could do to improve its platform. Airbnb then shared an update on tackling the most requested improvements.

One request made by users was the overwhelming request for improvements involving transparency. For one, fake listings and misleading information have been an issue. The company also announced it would roll out verified listings later this year in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., and France, meaning the listing is a confirmed existence, the correct address, and that the host actually has access to the listing.

The verification process will begin in 30 more countries starting next fall.

Another concern was listing fees, which the company tackled by now showing total prices, including fees. The company set up new initiatives including pricing tools for hosts to reduce fees; more than 250,000 listings reduced or removed cleaning fees in the past year.

Airbnb users will now have more search options too, such as pet-friendly options and a filter to find listings with king-size beds. The app will also suggest more options nearby if search results are limited, Timeout reported.

Airbnb also improved its customer service by extending the response time to nine more languages. Starting in November, customer service improvements will aim to match callers to the best agents based on their specific needs to solve an issue faster.