Hit by Covid, Airbnb tweaks travel rules; opts for 24-hr vacancy between bookings, pre-approved cleaning products

Short-term property rental app Airbnb is adapting to the coronavirus outbreak by introducing a new “enhanced cleaning initiative” effective May 1. A key change to its terms of use is a 24-hour vacancy period between bookings, the company said in a blog post. The new protocol for maintaining hygiene does not apply to property hosts, but guests will be empowered to ensure that its policy is adhered to at all properties listed on the platform.

Airbnb claimed that they were first in the hospitality-tech industry to come up with an “overarching standardised protocol” informed by the guidelines issued by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which cites experts and former Surgeon Generals of the United States.

“The science behind COVID-19 continues to evolve, and we will continue to work to ensure that our guidance reflects the most recent information made available by leading medical experts and authorities,” a spokesperson for Airbnb told the news website Verge.


The CDC recommends that a building that has been visited by a person infected with COVID-19 be sealed off, the windows be kept open for circulation, and that people wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. Airbnb said hosts should continue to practice social distance and abide by local laws that might prevent them from booking guests using their platform.

“Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative is a program to support hosts and guests in a future of travel, when movement and travel restrictions are eased. This guidance does not substitute or override local rules and guidelines issued by health and governmental authorities, and we urge our community to adhere to official guidance and do everything they can to take necessary precautions,” the company said in a statement.

The cleaning protocol adopted by the company requires hosts to stick to a list of approved cleaning products. If they cannot commit to the protocol, Airbnb will let them avail a booking buffer, whereby the hosts will have to keep their properties vacant for 72 hours before letting it out to a new guest.

The company did not mention whether hosts will be compensated for stocking up on cleaning products that are a part of its list. The guidelines also recommend protective gear that hosts should wear while sanitising their properties after a guest has checked out. “We are working with leading experts in health and hygiene,” Greg Greeley, Airbnb’s president of homes, said in a blog post. The goal is to get “hosts and guests uniting to offer, manage, and enjoy cleaner accommodations,” she added.

Airbnb, which had planned to go public this year, has seen its business take a hit on account of the pandemic. The company said it has set aside $250 million to compensate hosts for lost bookings.