Online short-term rental marketplace Vrbo is trying to root out football fans who want to rent homes over the Super Bowl weekend to throw unauthorized parties.
Vrbo is attempting to help property managers detect bookers who may be looking to host an event by tracking factors like length of stay and number of guests, the division of Seattle-based Expedia Group Inc. said in a statement Monday. If a Vrbo booking is deemed high risk, the host receives an email alert and can cancel the guests’ booking penalty-free. Guests are also sent an alert reminding them of the company’s no-parties policy. Vrbo won’t cancel or block any bookings, leaving that for hosts or guests to do.
Vacation rental companies gearing up for an influx of visitors to Phoenix for the football game on Feb. 12 have already taken steps to prevent parties. Airbnb Inc. has reached out to local law enforcement agencies ahead of the Super Bowl and ran a forum for hosts, according to a statement. The company formally banned parties last summer and took steps last month to prevent New Year’s Eve bashes.
