Airbnb's CEO knows about scam listings: Platform adds verification icons, updates search

Travelers spoke, and Airbnb listened. The vacation rental platform announced several new features Wednesday based on customer feedback as part of its 2023 Fall Update, including updated search filters and a rigorous process for verifying listings.

The changes address a number of suggestions CEO Brian Chesky received when he posted on X, formerly Twitter, in May, asking what improvements the company could make.

“We’re a pretty big-sized company,” Chesky told USA TODAY. “A lot of CEOs of companies, they’ve gotten pretty removed.” But Chesky said he wants to keep up with what customers want and adjust accordingly.

Here’s what to know about the latest changes.

What are Airbnb’s updated search filters?

Airbnb users can now filter for listings with king-sized beds in case they want extra room while they sleep.

The platform has also brought back a pet-friendly homes filter, so travelers can more easily see which listings will accommodate four-legged guests. The company previously retired the filter in 2021. There have been more than 6 million pet stays in Airbnbs over the past year, according to the company.

“We’ve been asked about king beds and pet filters endlessly,” Chesky said.

How will Airbnb verify listings?

The platform will also begin adding verified icons to properties in an effort to crack down on fraudulent listings. “We firmly believe guests shouldn’t have to worry about whether a listing is fake or isn’t located where it says it is,” the company said in its update.

Every listing in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France and Australia will undergo a verification process beginning later this year. That process involves analyzing the property’s coordinates data to confirm it is located where the host claims, comparing previously uploaded photos with live photos and videos the host submits and more.

Verified icons will be visible to users beginning in February, and the platform will continue the process in 30 more countries in the fall of 2024 (though users will not be able to filter search results by verified listings).

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“This complements our ongoing work to implement tools to help prevent fraud, remove bad actors, and increase trust in our community,” the company added. The company removed 59,000 fake listings from the platform this year, and prevented 157,000 from joining.

What else is new at Airbnb?

Airbnb made other changes, too, like streamlining its search function when results are limited, making it easier to see listings for similar dates.

The company previously responded to another frequent customer complaint about hidden fees by allowing users to see the full price of their booking with fees – before taxes – throughout the process. That feature began rolling out last year.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airbnb adds verified listings, pet-friendly filter and more