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Airbnb to set up $250 million host support fund
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: After fielding criticism that its refund policy leaves hosts to burden too much of the cost, Airbnb is providing $250 million to support hosts. The company hopes to offset losses caused by coronavirus cancellations to their host community across the globe. The payment applies to those suffering from cancellations made between 14-31 March, the […]
Airbnb plans to pause hirings and marketing to save $800m a year
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb is preparing to pause its entire marketing expenditure for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a move that would reportedly share the home-sharing platform a sum of $800 million a year. As the company’s losses continue to soar, Airbnb is having to find alternative ways to plug the financial gaps at a […]
Airbnb fields “significant” investor interest
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Sources close to Airbnb have revealed that the company is receiving “significant” interest in terms of pitches from investors, despite the outbreak of the coronavirus hitting the hospitality and travel industries hard. According to American broadcaster CNBC, two sources privy to the matter said that Airbnb was in “listen mode” as it weighs up […]
Airbnb extends full refund policy for bookings worldwide
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: In the face of mounting criticism, Airbnb has extended its full refund policy for bookings around the world that are being cancelled due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. The updated cancellation policy will apply to every country in the world in which Airbnbs operate, meaning hosts and guests who have stopped reservations will now not […]
Airbnb COO Johnson steps down to join board
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Airbnb COO Belinda Johnson has announced she is stepping down from her role in March 2020, when she will then join the company’s board. The news comes in the middle of a turbulent period for Airbnb as it prepares to go public at some point early next year. In her departure statement, she cited […]
Airbnb pledges to verify all listings for the first time
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: In response to a number of scandals and incidents in recent years, Airbnb has announced it will verify each listing on its platform for the first time since it launched in 2008. Last week, the rental platform pledged to ban so-called ‘party houses’ after a shooting incident at a property in Orinda, San Francisco, […]
Airbnb gearing up for reported direct listing over IPO
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb is reportedly gearing up for a direct listing rather than an initial public offering [IPO], sources revealed to Bloomberg. According to those same sources, it is believed that the short-term rental firm is set to hire Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as joint lead advisers to its potential stock market flotation. While an […]
Airbnb builds on luxury travel offering with “Luxe” tier
Reading Time: 3 minutesWorldwide: Airbnb is rebranding its top accommodation tier of properties as Airbnb Luxe, which will cater to the luxury rental market and target more affluent guests. The latest category of the business will feature around 2,000 high-end properties located around the world, which are supplemented by additional dedicated concierge services. Airbnb Luxe’s launch follows on […]
Airbnb hires head of diversity and belonging
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: Airbnb has appointed Melissa Thomas-Hunt in the role of head of global diversity and belonging. Thomas-Hunt, who is leaving her position as Vanderbilt University’s vice provost for inclusive excellence, will relocate from Nashville, Tennessee, to San Francisco to join Airbnb in its push for greater workforce diversity. She will be tasked with the mandate […]
Airbnb partners with RXR Realty to operate Rockefeller Center suites
Reading Time: 2 minutesNew York: Guests on Airbnb will soon be offered the opportunity to book luxury apartment-style suites within New York’s iconic Rockefeller Center. The firm has acquired ten floors at the location of 75 Rockefeller Plaza, with plans in place to convert them into 200 overnight suites in a newly-formed partnership with real estate developers RXR […]