Airbnb entered into a partnership with technology company Minut to offer Airbnb hosts in Puerto Rico a free noise sensor and three months of free access to Minut's noise and occupancy monitoring service, and to integrate Minut's noise alerts and alert tool.
"Airbnb knows that the vast majority of guests are respectful neighbors and travelers, and that the great majority of hosts share their homes responsibly," the short-term rental company said in a statement.
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Hosts who sign up for the service will receive a free noise sensor and three months of free access to Minut's noise and occupancy monitoring service. With this new tool, Airbnb said it aims to promote responsible travel in its neighborhoods and deter unwanted behavior.
"Although problems on Airbnb are infrequent, measures such as noise sensors can help guests be aware of noise levels and help hosts detect and prevent problems before they start, all while respecting guest privacy, since the devices only alert if decibels exceed a certain level," the company said.
Airbnb also stated that the sensors neither record nor transmit sounds or conversations. "Although this technology is privacy-safe, Airbnb still requires hosts to disclose the presence of these devices on their listing page before bookings, and strictly prohibits devices in spaces such as bedrooms and other rest areas," the company said.
How does the Minut sensor work?
If the Minut device detects that noise at a listing exceeds the decibel level set by the host, Minut can send an automatic notification through Airbnb's messaging tool to inform both the host and the guest.
Airbnb ran a pilot program in Prague that allowed hosts to test Minut noise sensors, and found that a reminder may be all it takes to quickly resolve a potential noise issue, with hosts and guests able to resolve 100% of noise alerts between themselves within 20 minutes of detection.
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"Every night, reservations are made around the world through Airbnb, and the vast majority are respectful of hosts' homes and neighborhoods and share the benefits of tourism with local communities. This partnership with Minut continues our commitment to fostering safe and responsible travel on Airbnb, and further empowers our Host community to stop unauthorized parties," said Catherine Powell, Airbnb's Global Head of Host Services.
For his part, Nils Mattisson, CEO and co-founder of Minut, said: "our mission is to support Hosts in caring for their homes, guests and communities, and our partnership with Airbnb plays an important role in that mission. We are delighted to expand it with our new offering and integration, which make noise monitoring more accessible and efficient for Hosts around the world."
This tool will be available to Airbnb hosts in more than 60 countries and regions.
Airbnb noted that this partnership is the latest in a series of measures and resources to promote responsible travel. For example, Airbnb recently launched a new campaign against parties in rentals in the United States, Canada and Australia.
According to the company, since it launched the campaign against parties in rentals, there has been a 44% drop in parties globally, a little more than a year after the campaign's launch. "The expansion of the 24-hour safety line and the Neighborhood Support Line, and tips for hosts on how to prevent parties at their property," Airbnb said.
Interested hosts should visit the Minut page to verify eligibility requirements and obtain the noise sensor, as well as the subscription offer.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
