late cancellation

[Anya695]

Hi everyone,

I'm new host and only started just over a month ago. My studio has been almost daily booked out but short staying guests and then a request came up for a 16 day stay. I gave a discount of 12% and the person, **, was to arrive tomorrow. Today I received a message that he cancelled. Quite a big blow to my newly started Airbnb since 16 days of available bookings have been booked for his stay weeks ago and I wouldn't be able to get new guests at such short notice. I only now, being so new at this, realized that my cancellation policy allowed him a full refund if he cancelled a day before which he did. Quite a blow. And I can't even leave a review of his callous behavior! Does this sort of thing happen frequently? 

Cheers. Anya

**Sensitive information removed

[Emiel1]

@Anya695 

This is part of the hosting business. Guest are allowed to cancel at any time and are entitled to the refund (if any) calculated by the attached cancellation policy. But you can change the cancellation policy to a more strict level.

You can also activate the non-refundable policy, which gives guests 10% discount on the renting price, but then there is no refund when trip is cancelled.

In these pandemic times guests can be affected by sudden change of rules, travel issues, etc... and need to cancel, so be prepared it can happen.

[Anya695]

Thanks for your reply Emiel1. Here in Australia, we have almost no new cases of COVID so it had less of an effect then overseas although travel is restricted. Unfortunately, I chose the cancellation policy with full refund, thinking that those people who would book for over long stays, as in this case of 16 days, wouldn't cancel so suddenly, especially since we'd been in communication about the forthcoming trip every day. It's a lesson of course.

[Lawrene0]

Cancellations happen, @Anya695 . They happened before the pandemic. Life gets in the way of vacations.

Like you, I have a flexible cancellation policy. What I like about it is its zero-drama aspect. Guests get their money back and they go away. No nagging, no threats, no tears. All is well. My dates usually get booked, even if last minute, because we have a retreat-style listing that is more in demand now than ever.

And you do, too! I bet most of your 16 days get booked. Hope so!

[Anya695]

Thanks for your reply @Lawrene0. So far unfortunately, only 1 day of 16 booked but hopefully, more later in the weeks. I thought as you at first, preferring less pressure on guests, but as a result of the guest who cancelled with only 24hrs notice all of those 16 days, now amended to moderate level cancellation policy. Lesson learned.