Yes, I will be opposing this decision and writing to Airbnb with:
Decision for Airbnb to refund Travellers regarding CO VID 19 Corona Virus from hosts:
Dear Airbnb
This news is truly disappointing and very worrying. This is not the tactic or advice I feel Airbnb should be giving.
The reason Travellers take out travel insurance or holiday insurance is to protect themselves and their money in the event that they should need it.
What policies are out there for the everyday host of a small gite, B&B or holiday home, spare bedroom, hotel room!?! None.
As hosts, we have absolutely no insurance due to loss of earnings if Travellers cancel their holidays in their masses. Such a policy doesn’t exist, whereas travel insurance DOES exist.
The loss of a holiday financially is a horrible inconvenience and that’s why Travellers insure their holiday. Yet, Airbnb makes absolutely no reference to this which is disgraceful. It’s an inconvenience, not whether or not there is a loss of income to pay a mortgage; pay bills or put food on the table and your stance is completely unfair.
I personally will be seeking legal advice on this matter and I will be encouraging others to do so.
We use your service as an intermediary.
Travellers book through you, pay through you and that is all. We have our are own strict cancellation policies and rules and these have to be respected and upheld. A booker knows these cancellation rules on booking, so if there is a flight cancelled, if they are ill, there is something preventing them from travelling and the holiday has to be cancelled, it is not the fault of the host.
The property is still available for rent.
The building is still accessible.
It is the same if the booker found the property via google search. Google do not get involved and advising bookers that their holiday will be refunded should they need to cancel?
Some of my reservations are from travellers who live in the same country as the property. They can still travel to the property.
Yes, their holiday will be affected if restaurants and bars are closed as well as large events, but again, if their holiday is affected isn’t this where travel insurance comes into play?
My property is a self catering apartment, not a restaurant or hotel that provides food. If restaurants are closed, is that a basis that I should lose out financially? My apartment is my main income and like others, I can not manage financially without this money.
I can confirm that I will be taking legal advice from the stance that Airbnb are taking and I will be advising other hosts to do so too.
I’m in total disbelief that you have not mentioned anything about travel insurance claims in your email, which puts to question what Airbnb stand to lose if they put Travellers in the direction of insurers rather than the direction of their hosts.
