Design a 'Travel Buddy' Feature for Airbnb

To design a Travel Buddy feature for Airbnb, I would first validate the problem: many solo travelers hesitate to book due to safety concerns or high costs. My approach prioritizes trust above all else. First, I would segment users into 'Travel Companions' (seeking shared experiences) and 'Cost Shoppers' (seeking split payments), as these require different matching logic. For safety, the system must enforce mandatory ID verification and allow users to set strict boundaries on who can view their profile. The matching algorithm should rely on compatibility signals like travel dates, interests, and past review sentiment rather than just proximity. A key workflow would be a 'Trial Chat' phase where potential buddies discuss plans without revealing personal contact info until both parties explicitly agree to share details. We would implement a 'Safe Check-in' protocol where the host is notified of the new arrangement but not given direct access to the buddy's private data unless necessary. To measure success, we would track the ratio of successful matches to bookings and monitor safety incident reports. This ensures we solve the loneliness and cost barriers without compromising the platform's reputation for security.