Technologies

Ahead of Super Bowl 2023, Vrbo Fights Back Against Party House Bookings

Aribnb has a similar anti-party house policy in place.

With Super Bowl LVII set to take place on Feb. 12, vacation rental company Vrbo is implementing new technology that prevents renters from turning homes into party houses, the company said on Monday.

Vrbo said it’s been pilot testing technology in Phoenix that identifies and prevents bookings that would be used for house parties. So far, the Expedia-owned company said it prevented 500 «unauthorized event bookings» from taking place, saving hosts $2.5 million in party-related damages.

«Even though disruptive party houses are rare on Vrbo, addressing them is still a priority,» said Philip Minardi, director of public affairs at Expedia Group, in a press release. «By deploying this new solution and working closely with local hosts, Vrbo is preventing problematic behavior before it starts.»

Vrbo didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional comment.

The technology works by generating a «risk score» for each booking based on length of stay, lead time before a stay begins and the number of guests. It also looks at hosts and the number of beds and other amenities they may be providing. If Vrbo sees the booking to be high-risk, it informs the host and suggests they cancel the booking, free of charge. Potential guests are then emailed Vrbo’s policies around disruptive gatherings.

Vrbo said that guest demographics aren’t considered and that it doesn’t share personally identifiable information.

As online homestay rental companies, such as Airbnb, have increased in popularity, so too have stories of people booking houses to throw large parties. Vrbo, like Airbnb, lets home owners rent out their properties for short periods of time. Following a 2019 Halloween party shooting in California that left five people dead, Airbnb said it was taking actions to prevent house parties. By late 2022, it had launched its own anti-party technology in the US, Canada and Australia and said it plans on expanding the tech worldwide by this spring.

Short-term homestay rentals are big business. When Airbnb went public, it reached a valuation of $100 billion, although that figure has since fallen.

Vrbo partnered with Airbnb in 2021 to develop a community integrity program that shares important information about problematic listings and prevents repeat party house offenders. The company also said it has a zero-tolerance policy for party houses and will ban both hosts and guests who knowingly turn a home into a party house.

Super Bowl LVII will see the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im