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Solo travel is skyrocketing among all ages and large companies are looking to adapt to the growing trend. A few weeks ago the cruise line Oceania Cruises announced new cabins for solo travelers, and now Airbnb has developed a new feature for this type of traveler.
On Monday, the American company Airbnb announced a new safety product for solo travelers in a press release, an in-app feature that will help solo travelers have safe and secure experiences.
According to the information shared on the official website, the company noticed that in 2021 about 26% of nights booked were for solo travelers, and during the first quarter of 2022 that number has increased: over 50% of the nights registered for long-term stays were booked by solo travelers.
Airbnb stated: “As the ‘live anywhere’ phenomenon has taken off among people who are able to work remotely, our platform has become increasingly integral to solo travelers.”
One of the main concerns for solo travelers is safety, and that is why Airbnb’s Trust team has been working since 2021 on a new product to guarantee safe and secure experiences. This new feature is now available for English-speaking guests.
How The New Feature For Solo Travelers Works
The new feature for solo travelers will activate when a guest books a private or shared room. The specialized in-app experience, as Airbnb calls this new feature, will show the solo traveler “expert tips” to help them stay safe.
Solo travelers will now be able to share where they are staying and their reservation itinerary with family and friends. Trusted people will be able to see the address, check-in and check-out dates, and reservation codes.
After a guest has booked a room, the new feature will also provide automated prompts and help solo travelers ask relevant questions based on research and other travelers’ experiences in that location. “Is there anything I should know about the neighborhood?” and “will you be available if I need help during my stay” are two examples of the questions the app will tell travelers to ask their hosts.
With this strategy, they hope to build a safety net and encourage solo travelers to book comfortably: “Our hope is this new product will better equip solo travelers on Airbnb to be more informed travelers by getting their pre-trip questions answered, giving them a better understanding of their surroundings, and informing the important people in their lives about where they will be and for how long.”
The new in-app experience is only available in English, but Airbnb hopes to expand to other countries and languages soon. Another specialized experience for women is part of the company’s main concern, but for now, the new feature will be available for all solo travelers regardless of their gender identity.
Airbnb’s New Updates And Features
Airbnb has been very active recently including new features to their app, sharing relevant travel data, and even making major updates to their platform. The company has recently included new buttons and categories for its over 6 million listings to provide more exciting and interesting options for travelers, such as the OMG homes.
Now that the pandemic is more under control and more travelers want to explore the world and work remotely, the company has been adapting to satisfy current travel needs. Airbnb has already heard and acted to satisfy remote workers’ needs and constantly updates COVID-related measures depending on local restrictions and worldwide health developments.
The current concern seems to be safety, so besides the new solo traveler feature, the company has also recently added a 24/7 safety line for travelers, a Local Emergency Services in-app experience to reach emergency services locally—recently extended to 70 countries— and now users can also add an emergency contact to their profile to help the company reach out to a friend or family member in case of emergency.
Read More:
Airbnb Makes Major Updates To Platform And Adds New Features For Travelers
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19
Oceania Cruises Adds Cabins For Solo Travelers, Expands Eco-Friendly Tours
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
philip pharm
Thursday 4th of August 2022
Airbnb is glitz and glamor.. no substance. They claim that they will resolve issues between the traveller and the host. My host was charging me ,on several times, more than her hidden revised lower rate, I called airbnb who said that was an issue between me and the host and would not get involved. I have also checked out some locations b4 booking, and in several cases the published picture is not representative of the actual space accommodation. I notified Airbnb. I don’t know if they took any action…doubt it.
covidvaxinfo
Thursday 16th of June 2022
this reads like PR. You should disclose which articles a payment was received for and by whom. A simple statement at the bottom of each article. This one is super obvious. LIke in newspapers -- they say "paid advertisement"
covidvaxinfo
Friday 17th of June 2022
@Kashlee Kucheran, Well..my bad then. 2 demerits for me and a dunce cap - do they still give those out? Ever? Just in cartoons? I'm going back to 1st grade. Your clarification is welcome! :)
Kashlee Kucheran
Thursday 16th of June 2022
We did not receive any payment for this whatsoever. We were not even asked by Airbnb, nor a PR company to run the story. Simply sharing the news we think will benefit travelers, but thanks!
We actually don't do paid articles and we hope to always keep it that way
Maga patriots vs lefty traitors
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Confusing stat about airbnb: 2021 talks (seems so) about total nights - 26% solo. 2022 talks only about "long term stays" and 50% solo. What if 2021 also had 50% long term stays being solo? You should compare same stats - either all stays, or long term stays. Not all stays from 2021 vs long term stays from 2022.
Vinny the Adventurer
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Hopefully this will alleviate those times I make bookings only for the host to reject it because they discriminate against solo males.
MR LESTER
Friday 24th of June 2022
@Maga patriots vs lefty traitors, what the hell are you talking about?
MR LESTER
Friday 24th of June 2022
@Kayak, me neither!
Vinny the Adventurer
Thursday 16th of June 2022
@James II, It happened to me last week for a stay in Virginia.
Kayak
Thursday 16th of June 2022
@Vinny the Adventurer, I've never had that happen to me. I do have great reviews as a guest.
James II
Thursday 16th of June 2022
@Vinny the Adventurer, Has that happened often? Any particular country or other idiosyncrasy?