The company Airbnb announced on Monday that it would release nearly 230 million euros to mitigate the financial losses of the "hosts" who rented their accommodation via its platform and who were faced with a wave of cancellations, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Know that this decision was not a commercial decision but based on the protection of public health," said on Monday the boss and co-founder of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. "Even if I believe that we made the right choice by putting health and safety first, I am sorry that we communicated this decision without consulting you, as partners should do," he added in a video broadcast from his home.
A support fund set up
Airbnb will pay hosts 25% of the amount they should have received for any reservation cancellation between March 14 and May 31 due to the new coronavirus. Travelers who cancel their reservation during this period can request a full refund or credit.
"We know it's only a little bit, but it can mean a lot right now," said Brian Chesky. Airbnb has also set up a ten million dollar support fund for "superhosts", diligent and highly rated rental companies, who would have difficulty paying their loan installments or their rent because of the impact of the health crisis on tourism.
Airbnb to go public
A functionality will also be added on the platform to allow users to send donations to hosts with which they have linked. According to Brian Chesky, around 50,000 Airbnb hosts have already expressed their wish to receive free caregivers or members of the emergency services fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic in their accommodation.
Airbnb will be badly affected by the containment measures decreed around the world. The San Francisco-based company had planned before the pandemic to go public in 2020 at an estimated value of up to $ 35 billion.
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- Containment
- Coronavirus
- Economy
- Cancellation
- Airbnb