Compensation for hosts who hurt by the recent cancellations

[MarandDe0]

Looking at our completely vacant calendars of March and April because of the cancelations from the COVID-19, and the soon-to-arrive mortgage and utility bills, I am angry that Airbnb has not roll-out any compensation plans to their valuable hosts, who have made them millions of dollars. Most of our canceled-bookings were made more than 6 months ago, and Airbnb withheld guests' booking payments and generate a large amount of interest from their investments. We pledged to offer full refund to our valuable guests, however, we won't get a penny from Airbnb in the crisis time like now. I am angry and in pain, and I know many hosts feel the same. Collectively let's make sure our voices are heard and demand reasonable compensation from the recent events.

[Pat271]

We are not employees of Airbnb.  We are similar to private business owners.  When businesses don’t get revenue, they close. Nobody compensates them. We are all in the same sinking boat.  Sorry, those are the cold, hard facts. 

[Denise13]

Well that would be true Pat if Airbnb did not take over our businesses that they gave us the keys to. They lost that when they threw the hosts under the bus and only supported the guests. 

This is what I wrote to the president:

Dear Greg, 

How insulting for you to write to me, a super host with over 1200 reviews about your decision to CHANGE my cancellation policy to 100% instant refund to guests, no questions asked. You essentially spit on your TRUST in me. Trust that I have faithfully GIVEN TO YOU the past 5 YEARS. Further insulting, your letter has no ability to reply to you. 

I have 3 employees that are head of households. My cleaning lady has 6 kids and has worked for me for 3 years. You have buried us financially. Put all of us at high financial risk of loosing any financial security and homes. 

in the least YOU should have made and still should make one of the following decisions:

1. Allowed Superhosts to manage their guests. Remember you gave that portion of our partnership to us. Was not your to take away. 

2. Only refunded 1/2 to split financial burden. We could have probably accepted that under the circumstances. 

3. Allowed Superhosts to give vouchers for a later stay to our guests. You should have created the platform to do so. 

4. Pay Superhosts their payouts and you refund guests. Take the loss for us since you took away your trust in us. 

Obviously the only option left to you is #4. You should do something for us, those of us who built your company and trusted you with our livelihoods. 

Your decision to not trust us, to refund against our policies, to have a horrible response to our anger at your decision, took away all community trust in your platform. We now cannot trust you to keep your word or have faith in our humanity and host community. 

I am considering leaving this Airbnb family I had grown to adore, no more. You hurt us. I and my staff will suffer because of you. 

I do think a reply from you, Mr. Greeley is necessary at this time. 

Warmly, Denise 

[Marie82]

@Pat271  if we were private owner we will manage the cash the guests had already paid when they booked, we will be responsible for our cancellation etc...

So Airbnb has responsibility, when he suits them we are self-employed and when he suits them we are their employee when we need Airbnb CS  permission to cancel a booking/to remove a bad guest,

if were owner why would u need someone else permission to cancel?

The only think Airbnb had to do with CODIV-19 is to retain some of the refund money so the host can also survive during this hard time for everyone.  The airlines are going to have support from Governments, the tourism industry and others will have support. But Host who will support us? when Banks are not considering our business model. Airbnb has a duty as they override our policy. To be able to do that they need to be our boss, otherwise why would they do it.

[Jeanni--and-Brent0]

The terms listed in 1.2-9.7 make Airbnb's Extenuating circumstances refund unenforceable. they literally are stealing your money.... read and be ready to discuss this and request your money be returned per your original policy. Also, Airbnb considers us, third party independent contractors as Hosts, they consider Guests members of their Travel business, however by them canceling your calendar and full refunding is an illegal act and they have stolen our money. their extenuating circumstance policy has no authority behind it ... the terms of their own agreement make it unenforceable read it and demand your money. please copy and paste to other Hosts you read are going through the same.

[Pat271]

@Marie82I’ve never actually been on board with the control that Airbnb is able to exert over cancellations, refunds, removing bad guests, etc. To me they should be a booking platform, and concentrate on making sure listings are authentic, provide data security, catch online scams being perpetrated by both hosts and guests, etc.  So in that way, I agree with you, they aren’t being consistent when they have this control but then don’t protect you when the chips are down.

However, if I don’t want their control, in good conscience I have to accept not having their protection, either.  Therefore I think about and run my business as if it were a very small hotel.  Hotels are issuing 100% refunds when guests cancel right now.  I was also doing this even before Airbnb’s edict.  Both hotels and Airbnb hosts (and many airlines, and rental car companies, and restaurants, entertainment and sports venues, etc. etc.) are going to be tremendously hurt by all of this as a result. And let’s not forget that many of our guests will lose their jobs with everything shutting down.

This is a good lesson for all of us to have a cushion in reserve to get through times like this.  

We are living in unprecedented times, the likes of which I have never seen.  

Good luck to us all! 

[Jeanni--and-Brent0]

The terms listed in 1.2-9.7 make Airbnb's Extenuating circumstances refund unenforceable. they literally are stealing your money.... read and be ready to discuss this and request your money be returned per your original policy. Also, Airbnb considers us, third party independent contractors as Hosts, they consider Guests members of their Travel business, however by them canceling your calendar and full refunding is an illegal act and they have stolen our money. their extenuating circumstance policy has no authority behind it ... the terms of their own agreement make it unenforceable read it and demand your money. please copy and paste to other Hosts you read are going through the same...

[Pat271]

@Jeanni--and-Brent0  As good as that sounds, I guarantee you that Airbnb have a large team of 100 or more attorneys that disagree with you.  They have worked out all of these details and have considered all the possible loopholes and caveats. You can give this a shot, though, you never know.