Home rental company Airbnb has pledged to support its hosts affected by cancellations due to the global COVID-19 crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has spelt fiasco for, among others, the travel and holiday industry. To remedy this, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky has pledged to support hosts during this tough time for business.
Image: Unsplash
‘We couldn’t have guests and hosts feel pressured to put themselves into unsafe situations and create an additional public health hazard,’ the CEO wrote to hosts on Monday 30 March. ‘We determined that we had to allow your guests to cancel and receive a full refund—including all our fees. Please know this decision was not a business decision, but based on protecting public health.’
‘When your business suffers, our business suffer,’ Chesky continued. ‘We know that right now many of you are struggling, and what you need are actions from us to help, not just words.’ Thereafter he outlined how Airbnb would be contributing $250 million (nearly R4.6 billion) to hosts to help cover the costs of COVID-19 cancellations.
Chesky elaborated: ‘When a guest cancels an accommodation reservation due to a COVID-19 related circumstance, with a check-in between March 14 and May 31, we will pay you 25% of what you would normally receive through your cancellation policy.’ Hosts will be able to apply for grants up to $5,000 (about R89,000) which don’t need to be paid back. These funds will become available from April 2020.
The CEO also stated that the Airbnb would be setting up a Superhost Relief Fund to the tune of $10 million (about R178 million) to assist hosts who rent out their own homes and need help paying their rent and mortgages. Experienced hosts with excellent reviews and track records will also be able to benefit from this fund.
In addition, guests will also be able to contribute to past hosts who’ve left a good impression, and will be able send a donation accompanied by a note to help support the hosts. This will also take effect from April.
Airbnb has also offered to host about 100,000 healthcare and relief workers as well as emergency personnel at a free or reduced rate. So far in the UK, fees have been waived for about 1,500 national heath workers and frontline medical staff.
