Some familiar filters look different, and a couple is gone entirely. Here's the story behind what changed, and why the new search is actually working harder for you than the old one did.
Quick heads up: host filters aren't what they used to be. If you're used to the old list, the sections below walk through exactly what changed and why.
Why We Changed How Search Works
The old platform handed you every registered host in a city and said "good luck." That sounds helpful until you realize most of those profiles hadn't seen any activity in years. Wading through thousands of people who'll never respond isn't a great start to a trip.
The new search is smarter. Instead of showing everyone registered in a city, results are ranked around you specifically: your network, your interests, your languages, the places you've lived. The people you're most likely to actually connect with float to the top. The ones who went quiet in 2013 do not.
Results are weighted by things like:
- Friends of yours, and friends of your friends
- People who have hosted or stayed with people you know
- Shared languages and interests
- Recent activity on the platform
- Places you've both lived
The goal is a shorter, better list. Less scrolling, more connecting.
What Happened to "Last Login"?
Good news: it's still doing its job, just under a new name! Search now automatically ranks Recently Active hosts and travelers higher, and you'll see a little tag on their profile to show it. Want to double-check? You can also add a "Recently Active" filter yourself.
What Happened to "Accepting Guests" Status?
The new version keeps things simple. You just toggle your Hosting Visibility on or off, no calendar updates to remember. Toggle on, and you'll show up in host search for one month. Toggle off anytime you need a break, and if you want to keep hosting, just come back and reset it each month. Off means you're simply hidden from host search, that's it.
It's quieter, but way more reliable, and a lot less upkeep than trying to keep a calendar current.
You can manage this directly from your Home edit page on both the website and the app.
Is the "Has References" filter available?
Yes! Among the range of filters you can toggle on and off while searching, "Has References" is one of them. Turn it on and your results will only show members who have at least one reference on their profile, making it quick to spot travelers or hosts who've already built some trust within the community. It's a simple way to narrow things down when references matter most to you.
What Happened to the Response Rate?
Response rate isn't currently displayed. How active and engaged someone is does factor into where they show up in results, but the specific percentage isn't shown right now.
One Thing to Know: Search results are personalized, so two people searching the same city may see results in a different order. The more complete your profile, the better your results will be.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.