Learn how Airbnb’s Photo Tour feature affects listing photos, room-based photo organization, and what to review before updating images from Hostaway.
What is the Airbnb Photo Tour?
- Airbnb uses AI to automatically create a "photo tour" feature that reorganizes listing photos into different sections.
- This feature is managed entirely by Airbnb and cannot be controlled through Hostaway.
- Airbnb Photo Tour Guide
Key Points to Understand:
We Don't Control This Feature
- Hostaway does not manage or control the Airbnb photo tour
- The photo tour is an Airbnb-native feature that operates independently of our platform
How It Works
- The photo tour uses photos exported from Hostaway, but automatically reorganizes them
- Airbnb's AI determines the layout and grouping of photos in the tour
- Only photos with assigned room categories will appear in the photo tour
Important Limitations
- Photos without room categories will NOT appear in the photo tour, even if they're exported from Hostaway
- If you want all your photos to be visible to guests, ensure every photo has a room category assigned
- Photos assigned only to amenities (without room categories) will not be included
Managing the Photo Tour
- To Activate: The photo tour automatically activates when you have photos with room categories assigned
- To Deactivate: The only way to disable the photo tour is to remove room category assignments from all photos. This must be done directly in your Airbnb listing, not through Hostaway
Best Practices
- Assign room categories to all photos you want visible in the photo tour
- Review your listing directly on Airbnb to see how the photo tour appears to guests
- Remember that photo organization in the tour is controlled by Airbnb's AI, not your original photo order
This feature is part of Airbnb's ongoing efforts to enhance listing presentation, but it's important to understand that it operates outside of Hostaway's control.