Introducing new COVID-19 safety requirements, updated guest standards, and more in the latest Host Update

[Airbnb]

In the latest Host Update, Catherine Powell discusses quality hosting, updates to guest standards, and new COVID-19 safety requirements for members of the Airbnb community. 

Last year, in an effort to hold guests accountable for their actions during a stay, we announced new guest reliability standards. Since then, roughly 100,000 guest accounts that violated these policies and standards have been suspended or removed. In response to ongoing host feedback, we’re adding five new criteria to our guest reliability standards to address late checkouts, unauthorized pets, removal of approved security devices, and other issues. 

Between now and the end of the year, we’ll be investing in improvements to our systems and processes. These efforts will help us in making progress to ensure consistent enforcement, quicker response times, and higher overall accountability with guests.

As the heart of the Airbnb community, we know you work incredibly hard to provide the highest level of hospitality for your guests. When travelers have a bad experience with a host on Airbnb, it affects hosts’ reputations in their local communities and governments—and hurts our community as a whole. We’ve noticed recently that a group of listings didn’t live up to our expectations for quality. So just as we are removing guests to help protect the Airbnb community, we’ve decided to suspend or remove listings that have a consistent pattern of serious issues or that have regularly received low review ratings and failed to meet guest expectations.

In most cases, hosts with affected listings have already been notified and there is an appeals process in place to help address concerns. To learn more about these updates and how they may impact you as a host, watch the full Host Update. 

To help keep our community safe and trusted, starting October 12, hosts of stays will be asked to commit to a five-step enhanced cleaning process. Hosts will be required to attest to the protocol by November 20. If you’ve already attested, you’ll simply need to follow a quick prompt to agree to wear a mask and practice social distancing. New hosts will also need to commit to the safety practices. According to internal Airbnb data, listings enrolled in the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol are some of the most popular listings and have three times more bookings on average than listings that were not enrolled in the protocol.

We know health and safety has been top of mind for both hosts and guests alike, and we will continue to try and ensure standards are being met. As always, thank you for sharing the topics that matter to you. Please let us know what you’d like us to cover in future Host Updates with Catherine. 

To read a full overview of the video, visit this Resource Center article.

[Keith352]

What I read was the 36 page document was describing how to implement the "5-step process", so clearly if people think the 5-step process is more reasonable they didn't click the link for more information at the end "For more information on how to implement those steps, please refer to the entire Airbnb cleaning handbook."

[Granville3]

@Keith352  so, as hosts, do we have choice between 5step and new cleaning standards? I am leery of making absolute statements of cleanliness no matter how much one should clean. Remember- they said do not say that your place is covid free. I agree. Sounds like a can of worms to me.

[Keith352]

@Granville3 I would sure like Airbnb to clarify what the edict really means. The notice and the video seem to imply you either sign on or get kicked off the platform. They say "it's a simple 5-step program" but those steps refer to a manual that's over-the-top extreme. On top of that, many of the "checklist" items have nothing to do with COVID. You're not going to catch COVID from dust bunnies under the bed. Sure, you should periodically move the bed and furniture and clean underneath, but who's going to do all that between each guest? My wife just cleaned all the blinds in our unit, took 6 hours. So we're supposed to do that between each guest now? What does that have to do with COVID?

[Rob-And-Gen0]

Hi Kieth, 

As a point of fact, Covid-19 does live on surfaces including places like window blinds and on dust. It has been cited as the reason that the cruise ships that were cleaned and "rested" between outbreaks of Covid had a 2nd outbreak - they found traces of Covid-19 on the fabrics and walls of the cabins.

Rather than clean them with a cloth you might consider finding some sort of spray that would disinfect them, as the important thing is killing the virus, not the dust bunnies. 

Luckily we do not have complex window blinds, but if we did, I would consider changing them out temporarily for washable curtains.

We did remove any extra cups, glasses, dishes, cutlery etc. and put in only a bare minimum of these settings so that we do not need to spend hours rewashing everything when guests leave.

We removed all DVDs, books and games and decoration items from our flat's shelves as well so as not to become a vector of spreading the virus. It looks very bare but it is safer and way easier to clean. 

In our rental, we were already doing these steps before we were forced to sign to say we did them. We had pulled out all the tchockies, books, DVDs and extra dishes etc. when a set of clients fled in the middle of the night to go back to the USA when Trump said he was closing borders with almost no notice back in March ... 

These are not normal times we are living in, so do not imagine that your old cleaning regime is going to cut it. 

[Helen427]

@Rob-And-Gen0 

Our homes / private rooms are also not Cruise ships jammed pack of people either.

Everyone is asymptomatic to all  manner of infections, the same hypothesis & stance that has been taken could also be applied to things like Veneral Disease or standard influenza, fever, pneumonia etc but we don't treat people inhumanely, nor with such over the top reactions.

With all respect whatever this Coronavirus is, it's been a very very quiet year for the recording of Influenza & deaths from it by those who are older or vulnerable.

@LaNetta0 @Charlotte40 @Kareen22 @Tracie8 @Rachel367 @Savannah5 @Cyndi31 @Keith352 @Josephine31 

 It's also a known fact local Mayors & Councils/ Gvt have been paid per head of population for keeping people in lockdowns.

[Rob-And-Gen0]

Wow Helen, just wow.   @Helen427 

What does this sentence actually mean "Everyone is asymptomatic to all manner of infections" ? That is nonsensical. What are you attempting to say ?

Flu season has not even started in Europe, and frankly, if you are just another Covid 19 denier, you can go soak your head.

I have dead friends of friends, sick relations and sick neighbours from this illness. I was just told that our holiday planned for this week is to be cancelled because in a small town of 15 people in the middle of "nowhere" in France, the only restaurant in town has just been closed due to a Covid outbreak in that small town and the owner of the restaurant and staff have it. 

Frankly if you are in New Zealand, you live in a bubble because your prime minister actually protected your country from this illness ! So be grateful, and do not for a minute imagine that this is "nothing" !

You are quite sadly mistaken to compare Covid 19 to the flu (it has huge numbers of people suffering PERMANENT DEBILITATING AND DEADLY SIDE EFFECTS) IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. It has many effects based on destroying veins/arteries, heart muscles, brain (strokes) and all manner of other effects that you can take the time to read about in the medical journals. ALSO,  the numbers of excess deaths recorded this year compared to average death rates around the world speaks volumes.

Flu season has not even STARTED this year in the Western hemisphere, so don't worry, it's coming too. 

Are you trying to convince us this is "nothing" with your rubbish unscientific opinions ? 

You are spreading disinformation and I hope that the moderators do not tolerate this kind of misinformation, and will take your post down. 
@LaNetta0 @Charlotte40 @Kareen22 @Tracie8 @Rachel367 @Savannah5 @Cyndi31 @Keith352 @Josephine31 

[Katie]

@Helen427 @Rob-And-Gen0 thanks for your contributions to the original topic. However, your recent comments here are going slightly off-topic, so please try to keep your contributions in line with the Host Update.

[Marcie-and-Peter0]

Hey Helen,

Over the past week, we have sent Airbnb, via the messaging centre in the Support area, a number of messages questioning (mostly) the new masking protocol.  To date, none of their responses address the questions.  This is one of their responses, for example:  "...we apologize as we are limited to the content of the policies that we have followed for this issue.." 

This is what we wrote Airbnb yesterday:

"Airbnb has informed us that we are required to wear masks at all times and to social distance in the vicinity of guests. Further requirements involve the use of chemical cleaning agents.
My understanding of our Agreement, is that the duty to provide for the safety of our guests, as well how and to what extent, is exclusively our/the host's duty and obligation, as is the determination of how we are to maintain cleanliness of the venues we are renting. Certainly there are minimal generalized standards, but we have complied with those.

If you are going to request that we wear masks in the presence of guests and other requirements you have recently set forth, we respectfully insist that you provide us with the exact specific terms and conditions of our contract (and/or any legislation applicable in British Columbia, Canada, that:

a) gives you the power to make these said demands upon us; and,

b) obligates us to comply with your said demands; and,

c) especially where compliance with your requests places our health in danger by so doing.

It is our position, that, irrespective of our above demand for said information in our contract, that your request is a requirement that places our health in danger and that of our guests. If a guest wishes to waive his/her/their health choices and wear a mask of their own choosing, of course that is their privilege to so do. Your request, especially insofar as it places our health in danger, goes far beyond that which is reasonable in this situation and in our position and belief, runs afoul of both Provincial and Federal Human Rights legislation, as the case may be.

Finally, all of this is independent of the fact that no less than 20 RCT (randomized control trial) studies on mask use confirm that they do not stop nor prevent viral transmission. Consequently, your request is arbitrary and unreasonable as it does not provide any form of health protection, is unrelated to your purposes and intentions for your request, and actually results in health endangerment."

In conclusion, I will wait for you to provide the correct factual responses to my aforesaid questions a)-c).
Thank-you,

[Helen427]

Hello @Marcie-and-Peter0 @Rachel367 @Tiziana258 

Do you know if there's any Civil Liberty groups, members of the Judiciary taking to task in Courts of Laws The Coronavirus Act and related issues in your location?

Have a search online & bring it to their attention and ask if they will raise these issues as part of Court proceedings.

 If you don't ask, you don't receive.

Meanwhile some of the information & JR for NZ that Andrew Borrowdale  did is here in ABB CC - use related keywords in searchbox to find it -  ask legals to use it as a Template... It was found to be in Breach of The New Zealand Bill of Rights at Level 4 & it's back in Court for the rest of it.

As @Fred13 mentioned elsewhere these things will go  on for years & books written abt it.

Lol, us Airbnb Community have already written books abt it here!!!

* tip, when replying  to others posts use the @ key before their name so it comes up in their profile Notification & other feed.

[Marcie-and-Peter0]

@Helen427   Thanks for all of the information, Helen!  First time weighing in on this community platform, and my ignorance shows!  I have checked out Borrowdale's case (and will be following it) and will provide the wording and summary to our law team.  There is a big (191 page) lawsuit that has been filed in Canada (against the Canadian government).  Here is the link, and I know Rocco Galati, the lawyer in the lawsuit, is happy for other lawyers to use his wording as needed:  https://vaccinechoicecanada.com/wp-content/uploads/vcc-statement-of-claim-2020-redacted.pdf

If you come across anything else of note, please fee free to share.

Cheers,

Marcie

[Helen427]

Whoa, that's another HUGE file to read @Marcie-and-Peter0  thanks, have shared 🙂

Just found this list in USA and it's only up to September with Class Action cases of all manner of kind.

You will need to scan through it to find the good bits, none involving Airbnb that I can see but lots for Disabilities, Covid in general terms, something for everyone.

Often in legal cases there will be a Domino effect...

@Marcie-and-Peter0 @Airbnb @Belinda55 @Jason763 @Jennie131 
@Rachel367 @Caraline1 @Savannah5 @Marg11 

[Rachel367]

Here in Europe we are not permitted to enter the listing for 3 hours after the guests have left and have to disinfect the place after this. It we as hosts are able to go in after 3 hours this means that it is safe. If it is safe for us, why is it not safe for the client????

Thus, this new cleaning routine is more than exaggerated.

[Helen427]

@Rachel367what type of dog is that in your profile?

Name?

 There's a few topics in ABB CC about pets...

Take note others in here. ..

Do we have to mask up to clean up our beloved animals natural behaviours @Airbnb 

@Catherine-Powell?

[Rachel367]

There are 2 dogs

An English cocker spaniel and a Westhighland terrier. Why are you asking?

[Helen427]

They are gorgeous @Rachel367 

Off to see my friends Jack Russell, Zara,  this afternoon 🙂

There's some great Pet Pictires throughout ABB CC..

She's the mischievous one in here...

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Festival-Using-Nature-to-Nurture-and-de-stress-your-mind...

Downton Abbey

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Downton-Abbey-Highclere-Castle-lists-on-Airbnb-amp-Compe...

Dog Friendly Hosting

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Dog-Friendly-Hosting-What-do-you-do/m-p/1180723#M285877

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/COVID-19-Discussions/Community-Center-Online-Meetup-Thursday-May...

May these brighten your day wherever you are in the world.

Sorry @Katie for veering off topic but Dogs Rule, ok!?