Airbnb is becoming more social by allowing users to connect with fellow travelers

Airbnb today announced new features that will help users connect with fellow travelers while engaging in the same activity. The company is also improving search by suggesting properties you may have missed due to filters, and has redesigned its Maps view to let you search for points of interest like nearby landmarks, attractions, and restaurants.

Earlier this year, Airbnb launched experiences and activities like cooking classes and guided tours that travelers can book and enjoy with other travelers. At the time, the company hinted that Airbnb would move toward strengthening relationships with other travelers. The company is now launching some features in this direction.

First, when you book an experience, you’ll be able to see the names of other people who have had the same experience, as well as where they’re from. Once the event is over, you can connect with others you met during the experience to exchange photos or make other plans through the app’s chat feature after sending them a message request. Users will also see people they’ve met in a new Connections tab on their profile.

Airbnb said it carefully thought about privacy, and that the app gives you full control over sharing information with others. When you book an experience, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you want to share your profile photo, name, and where you’re from. If you decline, the app will default to “Do Not Share,” and others will only see the photo and initials you chose to share.

The company added that you can always block and report other users if you feel uncomfortable, and the community team will review your report. In addition, you can always remove the connection even after accepting the request.

During the company’s summer release in May, it teased these features with the goal of increasing engagement among users which could lead to more bookings for both properties and experiences. However, it will have to deal with the moderation issues that any chat-based social platform faces.

Improvements to search and AI Assistant expansion

As part of its winter release, the company is introducing a new search experience to show properties that fall just outside of users’ search criteria. To do this, the company will display three types of new scrollable menus (called a carousel) in search results. The first will show properties that may be just outside your chosen price range; The second will display properties that may not have some amenities, such as the pool you selected; The third will display properties in nearby locations that fit your criteria.

The company said it has noticed that people often change their search criteria to look at different properties and even book properties that fall outside their initial restrictions. Through this new research experience, some of these characteristics are being proactively demonstrated.

Airbnb is also improving its Maps view, which will now show points of interest around you, including landmarks, attractions, and restaurants. You can click on these places to see a description of them and how far they are from the rental property or location you are considering. This may be another step to encourage people to use Airbnb more, even when they travel.

The travel technology company said earlier this year that it was rolling out an AI-powered assistant to serve customers in the United States. With this release, the bot expands to Mexico and Canada with support for English, Spanish, and French.

The assistant will now provide more detailed answers based on your profile, history, and booking, the company said. Additionally, the app will now provide users with quick action cards within the chat for tasks like canceling or changing the date.