Problem Statement:
- Many hosts operate in jurisdictions where they are legally required to collect government-issued ID from every guest staying at the property
- Current Hospitable verification only covers the primary guest, leaving hosts non-compliant with local regulations
- No workflow exists to collect ID from accompanying guests individually
Current Workaround:
- Hosts must manually collect IDs from all guests through external means (email, messaging apps, third-party tools)
- Some hosts use third-party guest registration software (like CheKin) to handle this separately
- This creates operational inefficiency and fragmented guest data
Impact:
- Legal compliance risk in countries requiring full guest identification
- Additional operational burden on hosts managing multiple properties
- Need to maintain and pay for separate third-party registration tools
- Inconsistent guest experience and data collection
Proposed Solution:
- Primary guest enters names and contact details (email/phone) of all accompanying guests during booking
- Each guest receives their own secure link to upload their government-issued ID and complete verification
- Adults complete full ID verification; minors are listed by name and date of birth with parent/guardian confirmation (unless local law requires ID)
- Reservation is only considered fully verified once all required adult guests have completed verification
- Automated check-in instructions and smart lock codes are only released after all verifications are complete
- This feature should work across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Agoda, and direct bookings so hosts have one consistent verification workflow regardless of the booking source
- Hosts can configure verification requirements based on local regulations (country/region settings)
Unlock:
- Full legal compliance with guest identification requirements across all markets
- Streamlined, automated check-in process without third-party tools
- Flexible configuration for different regulatory environments
- Improved guest experience with clear, individual verification links
- Centralized guest data management within Hospitable