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Airbnb at the moment introduced that it’s going to quickly not provide refunds for COVID-19-related circumstances, together with circumstances the place a visitor or host turns into sick with COVID-19 — reflecting an replace to the corporate’s extenuating circumstances coverage. Starting Could 31, Airbnb hosts’ cancellation phrases will apply “as normal,” Airbnb stated, though sure reservations made earlier than Could 31 should be eligible for a refund in the event that they qualify underneath the corporate’s coverage.
Airbnb — which simply yesterday dedicated to a completely distant office — stated that the change was made in session with its medical advisers.
“Some within the journey business stopped such a coverage months in the past, whereas others didn’t present one in any respect,” the corporate wrote in a weblog put up. “[W]e really feel the time is now proper to take the identical step.”
Early within the pandemic, Airbnb prolonged its extenuating circumstances coverage to cowl dangers pertaining to the novel coronavirus, permitting company to cancel and obtain a full refund in addition to hosts to cancel upcoming reservations penalty-free. The corporate additionally dedicated $250 million to assist cowl cancellations as a consequence of COVID-19, paying hosts 25% of what they’d usually obtain via their cancellation coverage.
The corporate’s IPO submitting in November 2020 revealed the dramatic extent of the affect, together with a 72% decline in income resulting in 1,800 job cuts in Could 2020.
Value chopping and a doubling down on “experiences” and long-term stays helped Airbnb inch towards restoration. The corporate beat Wall Avenue estimates in This fall 2021, reporting $1.53 billion in income — up 78% from the $3.89 billion internet loss it posted a 12 months earlier. However nights and experiences bookings have been down practically 8% from the prior quarter, a determine which Airbnb is little doubt keen to show round.
“[A]lmost two-thirds of the world’s inhabitants have obtained at the least one dose of a vaccination in opposition to COVID-19. And lots of international locations have now carried out dwelling with COVID-19 plans, because it turns into a part of our world,” the corporate wrote within the put up printed at the moment.
Spurred by financial and political pressures, some firms and policymakers have referred to as for a “return to regular.” However well being specialists warn in opposition to prematurely lifting mitigation measures. Whereas Uber and Lyft ended masks mandates in ride-shares and a federal decide in Florida struck down the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration’s masks guidelines, caseloads in New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C. rose. Simply this week, a Princess Cruise Traces ship docked in San Francisco with 143 circumstances of COVID-19.
When contacted for clarification, an Airbnb spokesperson stated that they didn’t have something to share past the put up.
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