Airbnb unveiled new measures to clean and disinfect its listed properties in an attempt to convince travelers and revive reservations for the home-sharing platform, which is struggling from the ongoing health crisis.
The new program set to be introduced next month calls for improved practices and instructions on how to sanitize every room in a house, and a certification program to recognize properties that meet the new requirements.
Airbnb disclosed that it was setting up a new security strategy based on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other experts, in the midst of indications of anti-virus restrictions being lifted in some nations.
In a statement, Airbnb said that the optional protocol would include a manual outlining the requirements about 40 pages long, as well as describing various chemicals and other items to be used for disinfecting.
The company will start allowing rentals to remain empty between check-out for 24 hours, and when a new reservation starts. The current policy is based on a Centers for Disease Control guideline to "tackle the risk of particles that could stay airborne for a few hours."
Airbnb said this is the first systematic procedure for cleaning and sanitizing in the home sharing industry and that its research to create a cleaning procedure is guided by established guidelines from the CDC; leading experts like Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States; and companies in the medical hygiene sector, such as Ecolab.
The tourism industry as a whole is taking a heavy blow from the deadly global pandemic. Airbnb, one of the "sharing economy" foundations, has reportedly shelved plans for this year's share offering and secured $1 billion in new equity to keep itself afloat during the turmoil.
The start-up in San Francisco has also decided to reimburse hosts for virus-related cancelations of some $250 million. Airbnb said it hopes the latest guidelines will help bring about a turnaround in the battered tourism industry.
The travel industry has started to take notice of the need to deliver reassurances regarding sanitizing. Marriott International, for example, announced last week that it would implement its own improved standards, including spraying hotel rooms with disinfectant after every guest stay.
According to recent data from the hospitality analytics firm STR, hotel bookings have fallen significantly and occupancy rates have declined to 23.4 per cent in the United States for the week ending April 18. Airbnb is a privately owned company, so it's not making reservation figures public.
