Some familiar filters look different, and a couple are 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.
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 behind the scenes. The search ranking automatically pushes inactive profiles down, so active hosts rise to the top without you needing to filter manually. You shouldn't have to wade through someone's 2009 profile anymore.
That said, we know it's not the same as seeing a date on the profile yourself. It's something we're actively paying attention to as the platform grows.
What Happened to "Accepting Guests" Status?
Honestly? It was broken. Most hosts forgot to update it, which meant travelers were firing off requests to people who had no intention of hosting anytime soon. Not fun for anyone.
The replacement is quieter but more reliable: if a host declines a stay request because their living situation won't allow it, they automatically step out of search results for six months. No manual update required. The list stays cleaner without anyone having to remember to do anything.
What Happened to the "Has References" Filter?
This one retired as a standalone filter, but the information is still right there. Every host listing in search results shows a reference count, so you can see at a glance how many references someone has before you even click through.
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.
How to Search for Hosts
On mobile:
- Tap Explore
in the bottom navigation bar
- Type a location into the search bar
- Select Hosts from the category tabs
- Browse results and tap any profile to learn more
On the web:
- Click Explore
- Type a location into the search bar
- Select Hosts from the category tabs
- Browse results and click any profile to learn more
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.