In recent years, Airbnb has been rolling out features aimed at improving user privacy and controlling communication within its platform. One of the most important changes for hosts is the introduction — and gradual expansion — of temporary phone numbers between guests and hosts.
But what exactly does this mean for your daily operations? Who is affected? And how can you make sure your guest experience doesn’t suffer? Let’s break it down.
What Are Temporary Phone Numbers?
Instead of showing real phone numbers, Airbnb will assign a temporary proxy number to a reservation.
Guests and hosts can still:
• Call
• Send SMS
• Communicate by phone
But:
• Neither party sees the real phone number.
• The number expires shortly after checkout.
• Direct contact afterwards becomes difficult or impossible outside Airbnb messaging.
This system is designed to protect personal data and keep communication inside the platform — but for many hosts, it also creates new challenges.
Who Is Affected by This Change?
Temporary phone numbers are not yet active for all countries or all bookings, but Airbnb is expanding the feature gradually.
Hosts may experience:
✅ Masked numbers in some reservations
✅ Normal phone numbers in others
✅ Mixed behavior based on region or guest location
In some cases, hosts only realize it after trying to call a guest and seeing a “proxy” number instead of the real one.
How Does This Affect Hosts?
While privacy is important, the practical impact on property management can be significant:
1. Loss of Direct Communication
Once the reservation expires, so does the phone number.
This means:
• No way to contact guests for forgotten items
• Harder follow-up communication
• No direct relationship beyond Airbnb messaging
2. Issues With Self Check-in & Smart Locks
Many hosts rely on:
• Sending codes via SMS
• Calling guests for last-minute instructions
• WhatsApp messages for access details
Temporary numbers break this workflow completely.
3. No Guest Data for CRM or Retention
With fake numbers:
• You can’t build a contact list
• You can’t send future offers
• You can’t reconnect with repeat guests
Your guests remain Airbnb’s relationship — not yours.
4. Less Control Over the Guest Journey
When communication remains platform-bound:
• You can’t personalize the experience
• You can’t automate based on real guest data
• You can’t optimize check-in and in-stay services easily
Platforms Are Moving Toward Full Control
This change is part of a wider industry shift:
• Prevent off-platform communication
• Stop direct payments
• Reduce host independence
• Increase platform control
It’s not just about privacy — it’s about ownership of the guest relationship.
How Tourmie Helps Hosts Stay Independent
If platforms control your communication, the solution is owning your guest experience through your own system.
Tourmie allows you to regain control — legally and professionally.
✅ Online Check-in with Real Guest Data
With Tourmie:
• Guests complete online check-in before arrival
• They enter their own contact info directly
• You receive verified guest details
• You stay compliant with privacy rules
No need for Airbnb phone numbers. No chasing messages. No lost contacts.
✅ Automated Communication Without platform Dependence
Send everything through your own guest flow:
• Access instructions
• Welcome messages
• House rules
• Wi-Fi
• Local recommendations
Even if Airbnb hides the phone number — you stay connected.
✅ A Professional Guest Experience That Builds Trust
Instead of messaging chaos:
• Guests receive a personalized, branded digital guide
• Everything is organized
• Instructions are always accessible
• Communication feels premium and professional
✅ Your Guests, Your Relationship
With your own Guest Guide:
• You build your own contact base
• You create repeat guests
• You become independent from platform restrictions
Platforms change policies. Tourmie gives you stability.
