Design a Feature for Collaborative Budgeting (Airbnb)

To design a Collaborative Budgeting feature for Airbnb, I would first clarify that our primary goal is reducing friction during the planning phase to increase overall trip completion rates. The biggest pain point in group travel is the awkwardness of collecting money and tracking expenses across different currencies and spending habits. I would propose a 'Trip Wallet' feature integrated directly into the reservation flow. First, the host creates a budget cap for accommodation and activities. Guests can then contribute funds upfront using Apple Pay or credit cards, which are held in escrow until the trip begins. This builds immediate trust. Second, the app automatically splits costs based on pre-agreed rules, such as equal splits or custom percentages for private rooms versus shared spaces. Third, we introduce a real-time dashboard where users can see remaining balances and log activity expenses against the budget, receiving alerts when limits are approached. Success would be measured by a 15% reduction in post-booking cancellations and a 10% increase in average daily spend per user. We must also ensure strict security compliance and seamless handling of partial refunds to maintain Airbnb's reputation for safety and reliability.