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Investing.com -- Airbnb announced Tuesday that it has introduced new social features for its Experiences platform.
The feature is said to allow guests to connect with each other before, during and after their trips.
The company said the update aims to make travel “as much about the people as the activity.”
The new tools include “Who’s going,” which shows users the other guests booked on an experience and their countries of origin, and a “Direct messaging” option that lets participants stay in touch after the trip without exchanging contact information.
Guests will also see a “Connections” section in their Airbnb profile showing people they’ve met through Experiences.
“You can enjoy these new social features while staying in control of what you share with new people,” Airbnb said, adding that users can choose when to share their profiles and how they appear in others’ Connections.
Alongside the social updates, Airbnb announced several new features ahead of the winter travel season.
The company said it is introducing “smarter search and improved maps,” which will help users find nearby landmarks, attractions and restaurants, and display homes outside their initial search criteria.
A new “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option will allow guests to book eligible stays with no upfront payment, expanding globally next year after launching earlier in the U.S.
Airbnb also said its AI-powered assistant is being rolled out in English, Spanish and French for users in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, offering smarter responses and built-in actions for managing bookings.
Furthermore, hosts are said to gain dynamic cancellation policies, one-tap pricing tips and an upgraded earnings dashboard.