Airbnb Addresses Charges Of Discrimination With New Inclusion Policy

Photo: Open Grid Scheduler

Airbnb may have grown into a $30 billion company since it launched in 2008, but it hasn’t been without challenges. The home-sharing site has come under fire after a Harvard University study, released earlier this year, found discrimination by hosts. The report said hosts are roughly 16% less likely to accept requests from guests with “distinctively African-American names” compared to identical guests with “distinctively White names.” Over the summer, #Airbnbwhileblack was trending on Twitter, as black renters called out the bias they experienced on the company’s platform.

In response to the controversy, Airbnb announced last week it will roll out a stronger, more detailed nondiscrimination policy. Starting Nov. 1, users must agree to the “Airbnb Community Commitment,” which forbids hosts from rejecting renters because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or marital status.

In addition, beginning Oct. 1, the company will introduce an “Open Doors” policy. “If a guest anywhere in the world feels like they have been discriminated against in violation of our policy – in trying to book a listing, having a booking canceled, or in any other interaction with a host – we will find that guest a similar place to stay if one is available on Airbnb, or if not, we will find them an alternative accommodation elsewhere,” co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in an email to Airbnb users.

Chesky also said the company is looking to make “anti-bias training available to our community,” and will increase the availability of “Instant Book,” which allows hosts to offer their homes to be booked immediately without prior approval of any specific guest. The company aims to have 1 million listings bookable via Instant Book by January 1st, 2017.

Airbnb also said it will do more to boost economic opportunities for minority-owned business in its supplier chain.