Depending which side of the rental agreement you’re on, your Memorial Day party just got harder to throw or you’re sleeping more soundly going into the holiday weekend.
Vacation firm Airbnb revealed Tuesday that it’s using “anti-party technology” across its platform in the lead-up to Memorial Day weekend. The technology is aimed at reducing house parties and potential damage to rental properties, according to company officials.
The technology flags risky transactions by considering factors such as the listing type, the trip length and whether it’s a last-minute booking, according to an Airbnb representative.
Airbnb didn’t provide a full list of criteria, so unfortunately for you party animals, we’re unable to tell you what to watch out for — or steer clear of.
The bottom line, however, is that the system will blocking guests from making what it perceives as high-risk bookings or redirect them to alternative accommodations.
This isn’t Airbnb’s first party-pooper policy either. In 2020, the company rolled out a global party ban, prohibiting open-invite parties and “party-friendly” listings to reduce community disturbances.
Only 0.09% of the company’s 2025 reservations in Texas resulted in allegations that someone had thrown a shindig, according to officials, who added that the introduction of the global party ban in 2020 has resulted in a continued decline of party reports.
Over Memorial Day weekend last year, the company’s anti-party tech killed the hopes of approximately 11,000 revelers nationwide. In Texas, the technology deterred 1,650 people from booking over the same time period.
It’s easy to see why the company — and the property owners who use its service — are eager to put the brakes on the good times.
In 2018, a party at a San Antonio Airbnb caused nearly $19,000 in damages for the owner, TV station KSAT reports. Meanwhile, an Airbnb party earlier this year in the North Texas town of Celina ended in gunshots and arrests, according to the magazine People.
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