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New Year’s Eve Plans Foiled: Airbnb Cracks Down on Parties

As vaccination rates rise and travel slowly returns to normal, many of us are itching to celebrate the start of a new year in style. However, if you were counting on Airbnb to host your New Year’s Eve bash, think again. The popular accommodation platform has introduced new restrictions to prevent unauthorized parties, and they’re not messing around.

A Brief History of Airbnb’s Party Ban

In 2020, Airbnb rolled out a global party ban to prevent unsafe and destructive gatherings. This move was a response to concerns about the potential risks associated with large, unregulated parties. Now, as we approach the end of 2021, Airbnb is taking it up a notch to ensure a safe and respectful New Year’s Eve for all.

New Criteria for Booking on December 31st

So, what does this mean for your NYE plans? To book a property on December 31st, you’ll need to meet certain criteria:

• One-Night Reservations: Sorry, newbies! If you don’t have a history of positive reviews on Airbnb, you won’t be able to make a reservation for an entire home listing.
• Two-Night Reservations: This is where things get a bit more complicated. Airbnb will use their tech to restrict bookings that might pose a higher party risk. This includes last-minute reservations, local bookings, or bookings made by people without positive reviews.

The Tech Behind the Ban

Airbnb claims that their technology will play a crucial role in identifying and preventing potentially problematic bookings. They estimate that last year’s restrictions prevented up to 243,000 people worldwide from making bookings that could have led to unauthorized parties. This year, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and New Zealand will join the list of countries subject to these restrictions.

The Future of Party Prevention

While Airbnb’s party prevention measures might put a damper on your NYE plans, they’re an important step towards ensuring a safe and respectful environment for hosts and guests alike. As the platform continues to evolve, it’ll be interesting to see how they expand on these measures to prevent unauthorized parties.

The Bottom Line

Airbnb is serious about preventing NYE parties, and their restrictions might just keep you from booking that dream rental. So, if you were counting on Airbnb to host your New Year’s Eve bash, it’s time to rethink your plans.