Airbnb has codified a global policy that prohibits travelers from hosting parties or events at any of its listed properties.
The policy comes after an initial ban, announced in August 2020, that was intended to deter guests from hosting unauthorized gatherings that exceeded 16 people at the height of COVID-19.
“Historically, we’ve allowed hosts to use their best judgment and allow small parties — such as baby showers or birthday parties — if they’re appropriate for their home and neighborhood,” the company said. vacation rental in a release. press release 2020, when the ban was first announced.
“Some have chosen to bring bar and club behavior to their homes, sometimes through our platform. We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible – we don’t want this type of business.
With the initial ban implemented to help adhere to COVID-19 public health measures, it eventually morphed into so much more, Airbnb explained in a Press release tuesday. “It turned into a fundamental community policy to support our hosts and their neighbors.”
The company says its data shows a direct correlation between the implementation of the party ban in 2020 and a 44% year-over-year drop in the party reporting rate.
“We had even more success in Canada, where there was a 47% year-over-year decline,” an Airbnb spokesperson wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca.
In Quebec, there has been a 61% drop in party reporting year-over-year since the ban was implemented in 2020. Ontario and Alberta have both seen a drop of 40%, and BC party reporting dropped 36%.
But the new codified policy will come with a few tweaks to the original ban — like expanding the guest cap for properties that can comfortably sleep more than 16 people, “from castles in Europe to vineyards in the United States to by large beachfront villas in the Caribbean,” the statement explained.
Properties that are unable to accommodate more than sixteen guests will be subject to the same rules of the 2020 policy.
So what does the codified ban mean for patrons looking to gather a crowd?
“The policy will continue to include serious consequences for guests who attempt to violate the rules, ranging from account suspension to complete removal from the platform,” Airbnb explained in the press release, pledging also to support platform hosts with property damage protection.
The company added that it would continue to restrict customers under the age of 25 with no history of positive reviews from booking whole-home listings.
“Guests are still allowed to book private rooms, where typically the host lives on-site,” Airbnb explained in Tuesday’s press release.
Comments are closed.