Guest verification helps you assess the risk of Direct booking requests before they are accepted.
Depending on your setup, it can be required before a booking is confirmed and may impact whether a reservation is automatically accepted or requires manual review.
How Guest Verification Works
When a guest submits a Direct booking request, they may be required to complete a verification step before the booking is confirmed.
This process typically includes:
Identity verification (such as ID upload and selfie)
Automated risk assessment based on guest data
Once completed, Hospitable assigns a risk level to the booking.
Risk Levels and What They Mean
After verification, each booking is assigned a risk level:
Low risk → Booking can be automatically accepted (if Instant Book is enabled)
Medium or high risk → Requires manual review and approval
This allows you to filter out potentially risky bookings while keeping a smooth experience for qualified guests.
Guest verification does not guarantee that a guest will be accepted. Medium- and high-risk bookings always require manual approval.
How Guest Verification Affects Booking Acceptance
Guest verification directly impacts how and when bookings are confirmed.
With Instant Book enabled (Direct Premium)
Guests must complete verification before the booking can be accepted
If the risk level is low, the booking is automatically accepted
If the risk level is medium or high, the booking remains pending for manual review
With Instant Book disabled
Guests still complete verification (if enabled)
All bookings require manual approval, regardless of risk level
Direct Basic vs Direct Premium
Direct Premium → Verification and risk scoring are handled automatically within Hospitable
Direct Basic → Verification is not enforced by Hospitable and must be handled manually by the host if needed
A booking will not be automatically accepted until guest verification is completed when verification is enabled.
Where Guests Complete Verification
Guests complete verification through the Guest Portal.
They can access it:
Automatically after payment completion at time of booking
From the booking confirmation email (Direct bookings)
Through messaging links using the %guest_portal% shortcode
Within the portal, verification appears as a required task alongside:
Rental agreements
Security deposits (if enabled)
Other check-in requirements
Guest Portal interface displaying tasks for guest verification, rental agreement signing, and security deposit status
How Verification Appears in Booking Requests
If a booking requires manual review due to verification:
The booking will show as pending
Hosts may see a Review button instead of Accept
Verification status (e.g., incomplete or needs review) is displayed in the reservation
Bookings flagged during verification (for example, suspected risk) require manual review before they can be accepted.
Relationship to Rental Agreements
Guest verification and rental agreements are separate steps, but they can work together.
Guest verification determines whether a booking can be accepted
Rental agreements are typically required before check-in
In some setups, ID verification can also be requested as part of the rental agreement signing process.
For Direct Premium bookings, guest verification is the step that controls booking acceptance, not the rental agreement.
Important Behaviors to Know
Verification must be completed before a booking can be automatically accepted
Risk level determines whether a booking is auto-approved or requires review
Verification happens in the Guest Portal as part of required check-in tasks
Hosts cannot override risk levels only accept or decline the booking
When to Use Guest Verification
Guest verification is especially useful if you want to:
Reduce the risk of problematic bookings
Automatically accept only qualified guests
Add a review layer before confirming reservations
It is most effective when combined with:
Instant Book (to auto-accept low-risk guests)
Rental agreements (to enforce terms before check-in)
Security deposits (to protect against damages)
Key Things to Know
Guest verification helps determine whether a booking can be accepted
Risk levels control auto-acceptance vs manual review
Verification happens in the Guest Portal
Direct Premium includes automated verification and risk scoring
Direct Basic requires hosts to manage verification manually