Types of Verifications and Checks
      Back to home
      1. Autohost Help Center
      2. Verifications and Risk
      3. Types of Verifications and Checks

      Autohost's Adverse Media: Proactively Safeguarding Your Business from High-Risk Guests

      In this article we'll cover an introduction to the Adverse Media feature, how it works, how to configure, and how to make use of the results.

      In the fast-paced world of hospitality and real estate, staying informed about potential risks associated with guests is crucial. Autohost's Adverse Media feature provides a proactive approach to identifying individuals who may pose a threat to your business by scanning news sources and search engines for mentions of criminal activity and other high-risk behaviors.

      How It Works:

      Adverse Media leverages advanced technology to monitor a wide range of media sources, ensuring that you have the latest information on individuals associated with your business. By identifying mentions of criminal activities, harassment, squatting, police altercations, and financial crimes, Autohost helps you make informed decisions to protect your operations.

      Key Features:

      • Comprehensive Media Scanning:
        • News Sources: Scans various reputable news outlets for any mentions of criminal activity and other high-risk behaviors linked to individuals.
        • Search Engines: Uses powerful search engine algorithms to uncover online content related to adverse activities.
      • Diverse Risk Categories:
        • Criminal Activity: Identifies individuals mentioned in connection with crimes such as theft, assault, and other illegal activities.
        • Harassment and Squatting: Detects reports of harassment, squatting, and other disruptive behaviors.
        • Police Altercations: Flags individuals involved in police incidents, indicating potential risks.
        • Financial Crimes: Monitors for mentions of financial fraud, embezzlement, and other economic offenses.

      Why Choose Autohost's Adverse Media?

      • Proactive Risk Management: Stay ahead of potential threats by identifying high-risk individuals before they impact your business.
      • Enhanced Security: Protect your operations, staff, and other guests by being informed about individuals with a history of adverse behaviors.
      • Informed Decision-Making: Make data-driven decisions with detailed insights from extensive media monitoring.
      • Seamless Integration: Easily integrate the Adverse Media feature into your existing systems using our API, enhancing your security protocols without disrupting operations.

      Autohost's Adverse Media is more than just a monitoring tool—it's part of your proactive defense against high-risk individuals. Safeguard your business, protect your reputation, and ensure a secure environment for your guests and staff. Partner with Autohost and lead the way in secure, scalable, and responsible hospitality and real estate management.

      Getting Set Up with Adverse Media

      In order to turn on the Adverse Media feature, you will follow these steps:

      • Navigate and login to Autohost
      • Navigate to “Guest Portal” → Add Ons
      • Turn on the “Adverse Media” feature

      Now that the feature is on, we’ll need to configure some tailored Business Rules to help ensure you’re getting the results you desire. To do this:

      • Navigate and login to Autohost

      • Navigate to “Screening Assistant” → Business Rules

      • Add a New Rule →

        • Rule Name → Your discretion
        • Action → Flag for Review*
        • We strongly advise not using “Mark as Decline”, given that this may introduce pushback from the guest and / or OTA on the basis of bias.
        • Logical Operator → Or
        • Add Condition:
          • You may choose the “Field Type” of Adverse Media Risk Category (type or number)
          • The additional fields may be set with your discretion as to what you’re hoping to get additional insight to

      Without setting the Business Rules to ensure a guest with your desired results are set for review, the presence of Adverse Media results may increase a guest’s risk score and will show within the guest’s reservation details, but may not result in a guest being flagged for review. Please ensure that you follow the noted steps to set up any Business Rule flags to ensure this result occurs if it is so desired.

      Using Adverse Media as part of your Screening Practices

      Now that you’re set up with Adverse Media and have the flags appropriately tuned in to your specific concerns, it’s important to keep in mind some best practices.

      To reiterate on the above, we highly recommend using the flags to mark reservations for Review, and not to set as an automatic decline. The ability to mark these specific concerns for Review allows your team an opportunity to thoroughly assess the Adverse Media results to ensure that:

      • The guest’s information is an accurate match to the flagged individuals’ information
      • The information provided is assessed for accuracy and consistency
      • You are best analyzing the whole picture to help avoid being accused by the guest of discrimination

      Please be aware that results provided in an Adverse Media search may not be limited to confirmed convictions in legal cases, thus it is important to ensure that guests are only declined on grounds that are acceptable to your OTA rules and regulations, as well as your own internal business practices.

      The Adverse Media results will show up within the guest’s reservation details under a section titled “Adverse Media”. If results are present, the section itself will be marked as “Review”, and details on the found information will be provided:

      Again, the presence of Adverse Media results may increase a guest’s risk score and will show within the guest’s reservation details, but may not result in a guest being flagged for review automatically. Please ensure that you follow the noted steps to set up any Business Rule flags to ensure this result occurs if it is so desired.