Airbnb COVID-19 related media coverage

[Huma0]

Hello, I thought I would start this thread for people who are interested in reading any media coverage specifically related to Airbnb and the COVID-19 pandemic. It might be useful to have these in one place for people to browse.

I'll start this off with an article a Canadian host sent to me today, which might be of interest especially to Toronto based hosts: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/03/31/covid-19-could-mark-the-end-of-torontos-airb...

Please feel free to post links to other relevant articles you have found (but try not to post duplicates if possible) and to comment away!

[Huma0]

And here is one a friend sent me a few days ago in relation to London:

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbnb-coronavirus-london?fbclid=IwAR1LsNR6Rkusip31z8L9pa-I0P-dCZt93...

[Huma0]

Here is a report from CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/03/19/airbnb-considering-raising-money.html?fbclid=IwAR1YgsSVSzLmbL5...

Please note that is says Airbnb is sitting on $3 billion and has a further credit line of $1 billion.

[Jennifer1421]

@Huma0 

Thanks for starting this thread. Interesting, indeed!

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

For those who are interested, here are a few article links about the covid-19 situation in S. Korea that I personally think are a good reflection of what most typical citizens are experiencing. Thanks for this thread @Huma0  

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200331002253320

https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/south-korea-reveals-how-to-win-covid-19-war/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a31820433/coronavirus-south-korea-essay-quarantine/

[Huma0]

Of course there is plenty of coverage of Brian Chesky's recent announcement. Here a just a few examples:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/03/31/airbnb-pay-250m-hosts-losing-covid-19-cancellation...

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/vacation-rentals-coronavirus/index.html

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/03/30/airbnb-promises-250-million-hosts-hurt-cancellation-...

[Huma0]

And here is an article on Airbnb's losses and how they plan to curb their marketing spend:

https://www.prweek.com/article/1678649/airbnb-pause-marketing-amid-covid-19

[Huma0]

Here's a couple of the few articles that I have found that also looks at the COVID-19 refund policy from the host's side:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/03/15/airbnb-coronavirus-cancellations-guests-cancel-...

and https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airbnb-coronavirus-global-policy-change/index.html

[Helen427]

Thanks @Huma0 @Jessica-and-Henry0 

@Jennifer1421 

Excellent topic

 One can usually source information from other countries using that particular countries Google etc search engine name. 

I used to use that avenue on another website to create an awareness about matters of interest.

Journalism is a vital role to share news.

lol, great to see someone else who has a variety of old newspapers dating back in time @Huma0  , were they from your OE??

I think it's great to grab a paper to take home as a momento and to learn about others communities when travelling.

[Huma0]

@Helen427 

For some time now I have been picking up magazines in different languages whenever I travel (and I did travel a lot for work up until this crisis), so that I could put both English language magazines and those in the language of the guest in their rooms. I thought some guests might appreciate some reading material in their own language and many did!

[Helen427]

@Huma0 @Michelle53  and others

Bauer Media NZ have within the last 30 minutes announced closure.

The NZ Listener is no longer published after 80 years, first started in 1939 - Depression era.

Ditto Women's Weekly which has changed considerably from when it was first created. 

 Our NZ situation and lock down has come about because of lack of common sense and bothering to factor into account economic harm by Siouxsie Wiles,  her husband Steven Galbraith who meet in the UK and Shaun Hendy who a couple of years ago decided not to travel by planes for a year.

They are the academics behind our lock down and that of other countries including the UK.

Everyone knows viruses in general take 14 days to take effect, we all know to Stay at Home IF we have symptoms of unwellness in general terms.

Some of the child like impositions been bandied into our lives is silliness.

 In the UK & Europe it's coming up to summer so good health will naturally improve.

Those who have caused the ripple effect and economic crises must all be held to account.

[Michelle53]

Here's another related to the announcement yesterday.

"Airbnb announces $250M coronavirus relief for hosts: Is that enough?

Hosts aren’t totally convinced big policy shift will make up for income lost in the pandemic-related travel slump"

https://www.curbed.com/2020/3/31/21198302/airbnb-coronavirus-hosts-refund-travel-covid-19

[Huma0]

@Michelle53 

Thanks for posting. This is the most detailed article I've seen so far that also covers the story from the hosts' perspective. Good that it looks at both large and small-time hosts.

[Helen427]

Seeing and hearing of job losses sadly in our communities where we & journalists have a voice is unacceptable and a very sad day for all.

Others in the industry world wide must speak up and look up the history and contributions of those academics who have spun their spin - she went to Edinburgh Uni and been an active Skeptics activist.

[Huma0]

Journalism, like many industries, has been hit very hard by this. Although people are devouring the news more than ever before, most publications survive on advertising, and so having readership alone is simply not enough. I was working for an inflight magazine which closed almost immediately after the crisis started to happen. Of course, no one is travelling right now, so one would expect it to be put on hold but, without advertising, most publications are not financially viable and so it was axed and everyone lost their jobs.