Our new feature to educate guests on water safety

This summer, we saw more travelers than ever search for Airbnb listings close to the water. As Labor Day approaches, guests are continuing to search for a place to get away that has access to a pool, lake or beach.¹

As interest in waterfront listings continues to grow, we want to offer our guests information and resources to help them have enjoyable and responsible stays. To support this, we’ve introduced a new water safety feature specifically designed to educate guests about water safety.

After a guest books a listing with a pool or near the water, our new in-app experience will surface expert-developed water safety tips and prompt suggested questions they can ask their host about the listing’s water safety protections and considerations.

These expert tips were developed alongside Safe Kids Worldwide—a member of Airbnb’s Trust and Safety Advisory Coalition—and focus on how to educate guests about how to help prevent incidents. These tips range from general water safety guidance to what to do before entering the water, and offer guidance including: 

• Never swim alone, especially in unfamiliar waters.
• Take a moment to get familiar with key safety considerations, like water depth and layout, access points, safety signs, and any nearby rescue equipment.
• Know emergency procedures and contacts, and be ready to call for help if needed.
• Avoid using alcohol or drugs in or around water, like when boating, swimming, and when supervising others.

This feature is shown to the booking guest once the reservation is confirmed. The guest will see automated prompts by Airbnb suggesting questions to ask their host about the listing and its water safety features. Prompts include questions about safety equipment at the listing, access points to the pool or waterfront areas, and water-related rules, conditions, or hazards at or around the listing.

“While water safety incidents during stays in Airbnb listings are incredibly rare, we want guests to feel confident and prepared. This new product is designed to help them stay informed and feel better equipped to keep themselves and their loved ones safe around water.”

Airbnb Global Head of Operations Tara Bunch

“Drowning can happen quickly and silently, without the dramatic signs of thrashing or calling for help—yet it’s entirely preventable. One of the most important things a family can do when vacationing near water is to discuss and make a water safety plan before they leave. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Airbnb to help families get the information and resources they need to support that planning, and ensure when they get to their destination, kids are staying safe while having fun.”

Safe Kids Worldwide President Torine Creppy

This new feature is the latest in our longstanding efforts to help promote more education for guests around water. To help guests make informed decisions about a property before booking, we’ve long asked hosts to provide details of important safety considerations about their property and its surroundings that guests may want to be aware of, such as if there’s a pool or hot tub onsite and whether it’s protected by a gate or lock, or if there’s a body of water on or near to the property.

For years, we’ve run dedicated pool safety campaigns with experts like Safe Kids Worldwide to provide hosts with tailored pool safety education and guidance. And in the US, we partner with companies to help hosts obtain pool fences—which have been shown by the CDC to reduce a child’s risk of drowning by 83 percent—at a discounted price.