May 5th: A company update from Airbnb

[Airbnb]

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the travel industry, and today we shared the difficult news that we’re reducing the size of the Airbnb workforce. This week we’re focused on taking care of our employees, and we’d like to ask for your understanding and patience as we spend time supporting them. Here’s what you can expect in the next week:

• We’ll continue to respond on our social channels, in the Community Center, and through our community support team
• We will reach out to partner with a small group of community leaders from around the world to gather feedback and common questions 
• Brian Chesky, our CEO, will hold a live Host Update on May 13 to answer top questions and address what matters to you most

Brian shared this note with the team today, which is a summary of what’s happening. 

We remain committed to supporting you and your guests and to rebuilding our businesses together. We’ll be in touch again soon.

[José70]

I get it. and i understand your point. But to me, it is. What exactly is not their ( workers) fault? That Airbnb handle all this poorly? That Airbnb made rush decisions? That Airbnb was unable to treat all parts involved as adults? This company made poor decisions one after another, and now, 1900 people( 25% of the work force) are fired. And in the end,what do they have to say  about it? Right, sorry guys, but hey, remember, this is not your fault... Yeah... But hey, this is just my opinion. I respect yours,do your best to respect mine. Take care.

[Paul60]

@Jose70 Have to agree - Airbnb management made some big blunders.  

[Yadira22]

@Gordon0 your wording here sounds more human and kinder.

Appreciation goes a long way- at the end of the day employees are risking their livelihoods (not all, by depending on that steady pay check) as to support that business. This is why they are a company’s greatest asset, and honestly a simple “I see you, I appreciate you and your work. I am so sorry” means a lot more than “it’s not your fault” (it’s a global pandemic, of course it’s not their fault). Just my two cents. 

[José70]

Thank you for understanding my point. Take care.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@José70 

I read that and thought exactly the same thing!

Compared to the rest of the statement, I think Brian added that himself.

[Melodie-And-John0]

This is a noteworthy press release on a number of levels.  Its real humans that are losing their jobs and thats sad, I pray they will find work again before their severance pay runs out.  Brian actually took aim at most of the targets that folks here have been telling him to shoot.   His contraction of support for non traditional Airbnb entities is a sign he realizes Airbnb's survival is "all about the base", Hunrdreds of thousands of us made and will save his company not costly ventures into others markets chasing shiny objects.  

The hospitality market is shifting yet again due to a disruption of biblical proportions thanks to this pandemic.  Competing with mogul hoteliers like Marriott, Hilton and Best Western for whats left of the 'tel market as the new kid on the  block would be unwise in this market at this time or any time soon.  The market that Airbnb has and holds as its niche may not have the potential profiting from holding companies listing 300 beds a night instead of homeowners with 3, its a proven profitable wheel that they don't have to re-invent.  

I am kind of new as a host (3.5 years) and here on the CC, I haven't actually experienced most of the negative host experiences some of you that have been here a long time have.   Because of that, I'm ready to take Mr Chesky at his word that he and his teams will Refocus the remaining energies on the roots of Airbnb's success.  Mind you, if his predictions about the shift away from expansive and expensive bucket list type vacations to local tripping, bomber stays and small host lodging come true, everyone here won't be happy and many will leave the world of STR's and be forced to either liquidate their properties or move to LTR's because of this Market shift.   

Bearpath Lodging is most certainly one of the small types of hosting providers that launched Brian's Company to multi billionaire status, I hope to be around when Airbnb re-emerges as the premier service of its kind, not the ABC of Lodging which it was quickly becoming.  Stay well, JR

[Helen350]

Making part of the workforce redundant is GOOD! It's a sensible business decision. It's what all businesses do to survive.... If Airbnb is doing considerably less business now that people can't travel, of COURSE it needs to streamline its workforce! NO employer employs staff as a charity... I never understand why people think they have a 'right' to a job when they are surplus to requirements, & the company is not generating enough revenue to pay them. I'm glad Airbnb is cutting staff if it helps the platform survive. 

I can't wait to host again.... I only hope that as soon as the UK government lifts restrictions on travel that Airbnb lifts its restrictions on when we can host. And lets us host in shared homes, if we and guests are willing. A recent poll showed 60% of Britons want to prolong the lockdown... Which means 40% are up for travelling!

[José70]

Wow.... i can only say one thing to this: you should be ashamed of yourself. Shame on you. To think that people losing jobs is a good thing... wow.... i guess you are one of those that never learns. 

[Melodie-And-John0]

@José70 , I cant speak for Helen but I really dont think @Helen350 was cheering the dissolution of the 1900 jobs.  More like noting with some excitement that the Platform that many of us depend on to host people from all walks of life near and far is willing to make changes in its plans and visions to survive this unplanned war against bugs that kill. 

Its awful those folks are now unemployed but because of their Leadership teams recognition that things have changed, they are changing also and hundreds of thousands of hosts may not have to start all over again at the bottom with another provider if we survive this.  Thats a good thing, if Cheskey and friends were just "Staying the course", I would be far more concerned.    Hope that makes some kind of sense, stay well, JR

[Gordon0]

You're putting words in @Helen350's mouth that she clearly didn't say, José70, but I suspect you know this anyway. Good job. 

[José70]

I really couldn’t care less of what you think. But yeah, thank you. Next time, do tag me or reply directly to me. 

*personal attacks removed - personal or offensive comments will not be tolerated on this community - please review the community guidelines before posting*

[Paul60]

@Helen350 Yes you're right.  The funny thing is (at a guess) I imagine international  travel will be back up to speed in 12 months time.  Brian seems to think all  has changed utterly in  the long term.  I doubt.  Travellers will also travel en masse and seek out the sun, adventure, and cheap travel.

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Paul60 , Im not sure covid will directly be the cause of travel changing forever but it is likely the impetus for it.  When choices were few, everyone had the same choices for their bucket lists, The Grand Canyon, Big Ben, The Louvre, Pyramids, the Great Wall,,,, They may not be the safest places to hang around in crowds now and or ever again according to our level of sustained paranoia. 

We're finding out that we can do and experience amazing things like these and a thousand more on a 4K image with a great sound system, the only thing missing is the smells (which might be a blessing in many cases, like running of the bulls...).   Younger folks seem to be less impressed with those old standby's and are looking for genuine personal experiences, not travel agency creations that looked great in the brochure but rarely turns out as we imagined in real life unscripted.  

Home offices  really are working, not as good as being there but give them some time, companies will be able to cut real estate and travel because teleconferencing and other data systems are viable and far cheaper.   The door has been opened to this type of commerce, nobody is going to be able to put that genie back into the bottle, that trip to Bangladesh to meet a potential client may be 10 zoom calls instead.  

Neither of these is the end of travel, just as we know it.  4 extended Weekend trips in your car to points of interests you can drive to seem far less hazardous, costly and bothersome than that flying across the pond for a Guiness and meat pie that might get cancelled due to a flareup .   Those that are more adventurous might decide to skip that viral petri dish cruise thing to go to Bird Island and stay at @Fred13 's place where the only thing your gonna catch is a sun burn if your not careful.  

Bell telephones had the tagline, "Long Distance, Its the next best thing to being there" for decades. its more true today than ever before, technology will change the way we do many things, Covid only highlighted that these things were possible.  Stay well, JR

[Paul60]

@Melodie-And-John0 Hi John you might be right - however I suppose we won't just know quiet yet.  Albeit I just can't see multi media as being a substitute for the real thing.  Will business travel reduce?  I imagine so - I think most of it is a waste anyways and is not needed.  Will local travel come into greater focus?  I think it definitely will - although I think only temporary and mainly because of the massive recession coming our way.

Having said all above Im going to totally contradict myself and say everything will eventually return to normal as it was as people have short memories and will forgot all very easily. People want adventure and to have fun.  

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Paul60 Im not sure Multi media will be a perfect substitute for the real thing but it is a safe one at the moment for lots of mass tourist localities.  Most of these monumental places have been documented and archived in film, in video and available in High Definition online in ways that dont make you feel like you just had a 2 minute Persian tour from a View Master cartridge.   Professors I  work with and most Scientists explore the heavens, sun other planets and even the core of our planet from labs in schools and block houses on high peaks around the globe because there are very few seats if any actually going to any of these places,  The level of sophistication that now comes from editors and animators efforts in studios is guaranteed to be the next  best thing to being there with no rain dates required.

Its funny about memories, some fade faster than others, My mom and Uncle, their friends and others they grew up with never lived like the depression had ended in the 30's.  The rest of their lives savings and spending patterns were predicated on things they learned, felt and feared for 70 years after the stock market came back to life. 

All that blather aside, even those places that see a decline in typical tourism can find other creative ways to fill those beds cause people that are local can be tourists also but both you and they feel a little more confident that surprises wont pop up at least until a inoculation becomes available that lets us breath again.  Stay well, JR