Hi there,
I would like to offer guests a 50% refund on this years stay and in addition a choice of new dates for next year and if they book these, a 50% discount on their future stay. That way we both end up receiving and paying what we expected but my cashflow is helped.
I just cannot continue for the next four months giving 100% of my income away.
Historically when any community has come to terms with a unprecedented situation it's the sense of universal loss that has pulled it together. Creating an artificial situation where hosts lose out at the expense of Airbnb and the guests is not a community, it feels more like a knee jerk reaction that hasn't been thought out. And what if this situation continues, are we expected to refund another wave of 100%'s ? So we lose another month's income. 50% I get, but anymore and Airbnb are flouting every business model being suggested for companies across the world. No company is being expected to refund 100% of its income.
I have people asking me to refund 100% May and June and they are telling me they are nurses and military - when I've been on Facebook - sorry, I wouldn't usually do this but it just seemed weird that I received 2 messages in quick succession asking for cancellations saying they were nurses and military - and I found one was a beauty technician! I haven't looked up the other because I just think ... this is getting crazy. If people just knew that we were all going to lose out, 50% each, then there would be no confusion. And this is what the initial contract we agreed to is all about, isn't it - clarity.
If hosts and guests see the initial contract in place after April 14th there will be no more confusion.
Best wishes to you all and I hope you all stay safe.