How Airbnb helps those struggling with the coronavirus pandemic
Those who have host status on the Airbnb platform are, during this period, equally affected by the hoteliers. But the company wants to get involved and shoulder with those who are battling the coronavirus pandemic, especially since the homes are empty.
Airbnb comes with a global initiative that aims to help those who care for infected patients during this period. The leasing platform has appealed to those with host status to help in the crisis situation.
Thus, the company aims to convince them to agree to rent (free) the homes of doctors, volunteers and those from non-governmental organizations that are practically on the field during this period.
There are several thousand hosts who have welcomed the initiative and agreed, as Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced on Twitter.
The new Airbnb program is aimed at those seeking to control the coronavirus pandemic. It is an initiative that is taking place worldwide and the goal would be for 100,000 hosts to agree to make their homes available to doctors and volunteers. Some for free, others at their own rates, but much lower.
Basically, this decision comes in support of those who are either looking for a home closer to work, or need to be quarantined or self-insulated.
For example, they may not want to stay with their family because they have returned from a risk zone and have nowhere to stay. Airbnb has already started pilot programs in France and Italy, where 6,000 hosts have agreed to rent their homes to doctors and nurses.
It should be noted that homes must comply with all hygiene protocols and only those that are fully leased, not those that can be divided, are eligible.
The program that Airbnb now comes with is somewhat derived from the Open Homes initiative, launched in 2012. It allows hosts to offer free accommodation in emergencies. It should be noted that Airbnb waives the service fees for these transactions, and the hosts who do not want to offer the properties for free are exempted from the commission fees anyway.
