Airbnb China Launches New Initiatives to Help Community Recover from COVID-19
Airbnb China launched a series of new initiatives, such as Early Payout Program for Hosts, Rest Assured Stays for Guests and Spring Recovery Campaign, to help the local community recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.
SEE ALSO: Airbnb China Sets Up 70-Million-Yuan Special Fund to Restore Confidence During Coronavirus Outbreak
These initiatives are parts of the $10 million fund (about RMB 70 million) set up by Airbnb China in early February.
“Travel is one of the most resilient industries in the world,” Peng Tao, president of Airbnb China, said in an online media briefing. “We must continue demonstrating the strength of the community during the crisis and take the lead to help boost the tourism sector.”
Airbnb China rolled out several initiatives that are designed to help local hosts deal with financial losses due to cancellations, as well as to launch a service fee cap promotion for eligible weekly and monthly rentals.
In a bid to ease the immediate pressure on the cash flow of pro-hosts, Airbnb China introduced an early payout program for hosts. In it, the company will advance 50% of the actual amount payable to eligible hosts, helping them generate cash up to two months ahead compared to the original payout schedule.
As China’s economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 outbreak, people’s willingness to travel is also increasing. According to Airbnb’s internal data, the number of searches for domestic listings for the upcoming Labor Day holiday has increased more than 2.5 times year on year. To inspire travelers, Airbnb China launched a “Spring Recovery” campaign that features listing recommendations and short-haul suggestions.
Under the current situation, safety and cleanliness are the main drivers of a high comfort level in homestays. Airbnb has implemented a “Rest Assured Stays” program to promote listings with high cleanliness levels and sanitization standards, and is promoting guidelines for home cleaning and sanitization to the host community.
