Airbnb's New Cleaning Guidelines COVID

[Yiwei3]

Hi hosts,

Have you all seen the article that came out this morning regarding Airbnb's new cleaning guidelines??

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/business/airbnb-cleaning-coronavirus/index.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2020/04/27/coronavirus-airbnb-mandate-cleaning-24-hours...

[Shannon199]

Lizzie,

Again, the 72 hours isn't the big question. The 24 hours mandated vacancy and no cleaning is what is a huge problem. Most people can comply with the cleaning guidelines, so having the mandated 24 hour do-not enter thing is what needs to be confirmed.

Dancing around that question with talking points on the 72 hours does not actually answer the question at hand. 

[Michelle53]

@Lizzie     Hi there !    There's another component to this. Hosts are going to need to design new rules and processes for opening our spaces safely.   Guests have to step up and be prepared to comply with these new rules - it can't just be on the host to put safety procedures in place. 

Some communication from Airbnb has to go to guests, too. If guests aren't going to comply, all our protections are for nothing. 

Example: my house rules say that guests should place full bags of trash outside the space, for collection.   In practice, they never do this, but fill the bin to overflowing inside.     How do we make sure our Covid-related rules are followed ?     Of course, we want our guests to be safe, but guest non-compliance puts hosts at risk. 

[Michele511]

@Michelle53 Very good point about guests complying with some rules, as well. Have there been none that have gone out? Trash and recycle should be taken out by them for sure. 

I am looking forward to a reply on this one. @Lizzie 

[Courtney172]

Is it the 24 hours OR 72 hours and that's it? Or can we just do business as usual, essentially not opting in to EITHER that you mentioned, and let the guest make the decision if they're willing to take the risk or not?  As a guest, if I'm choosing to travel (I'm traveling next week!), I'm making that decision and taking that risk.

If you're telling me I have to pick one or the other (the wording says they're both opt-in, so technically we should get to just stay as normal with neither buffer), then we have a serious problem.

You cannot take our summer revenue from us in this way. I'm telling you, you do this, and we're all going to leave Airbnb in droves once this is over.  I'm already trying to ramp up my exposure of VRBO because they let hosts run their own businesses.

Also, how long is this for? Just May? All summer? Forever?  

Airbnb needs to stop interfering with our businesses.  

[Yiwei3]

@Courtney172  From the article and what Lizzie posted, it sounds like you have to pick or the other.  Hopefully there's more clarification today from the webcast?  It seems like telling us is an afterthought...

[Courtney172]

That's how I read it too. But my dad who's a lawyer says I read it wrong - that the wording says BOTH are opt-in.  Now, we're not convinced this isn't an error on their part, but as it reads right now, both are "opt-in," which is exactly why I want specific clarification.

"If hosts are unable to commit to our Cleaning Protocol, they can alternatively opt into a new feature.."

[Steve219]

@Courtney172  Ask yourself WHY would any host 'opt in' to a 72 hour buffer? I have been trying in vain to get clarification. have you learned anything further?

[Courtney172]

@Steve219 Nothing. Heading to reddit...

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

Yup~ saw it @Lizzie .

Thanks for the note :-)))) 

[Steve219]

Please clarify 'not mandatory.' the 24 hour thing is described as voluntary. the 72 hour thing is described as voluntary. What is the third choice? What happens to the host that wants to continue offering back-to-back bookings? are B2B bookings a third option, or not? Thanks. Steve

[Yiwei3]

@Steve219 Are you even seeing this on your listings?  I don't see this option yet.

[Steve219]

@Yiwei3 nothing

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Steve219 , I'm pretty sure Back to Back is the default, the other two are upscale options.  As always, options have weight in searches on Airbnb's site and selecting (and adhering, cough cough) to one of the two options has the potential to be a drawing point and an up-charge.   I say potential because filtering doesnt always work as intended and even when it does, people don't always agree with polls or big brothers best intentions.   

I already have back to back bookings this summer so I cant avail myself of this feature if I wanted to but I dont think I would if I could.  My listings are very clear about our cleaning, disinfecting (nothing new there) and blocking off of a 24 hour reset period between all bookings (new) made from May 1st 2020 to January 1st 2021, I will extend that if necessary or prudent.  I've highlighted it in more than one place and hopefully it will have the effect they were looking for without painting myself into a corner. 

The short answer is its still your choice, stay well, JR 

[Kristy148]

They stated my place was unsafe and to stay in one of their hotels.  "This was not due to COVID."

[Andrea1375]

Lizzie, 

This is beyond! So now a guest can assume that if a host like myself, that has an impeccable reputation for cleanliness and for the record has been disinfecting EVERY surface in the space, is a slob or lazy because they haven't opted in. Im sick of Airbnb’s overreach!