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Monday 24 August, 2020
TOP STORY
Airbnb bars Domio host accounts over standard violation allegations
Airbnb has suspended Domio's host accounts and listings for the foreseeable future over allegations that the New York-based startup violated the former's trust and safety standards.
If you missed our last newsletter....
1. ShortTermRentalz launches RockSTRz webinar series from September
2. Airbnb begins process of filing for IPO
3. HomeToGo files antitrust complaint against Google
4. Join our LinkedIn group here
5. STAA: Summer opening will not save hospitality sector on its own 6. John Lewis introduces furniture rental scheme
7. Breezeway report highlights manager concern for guest safety
Editor's comment
24•08•20 Welcome to the latest ShortTermRentalz newsletter!
• Airbnb's decision to suspend Domio host accounts and listings through its platform indefinitely is the company's latest effort to build a positive brand image as it prepares to go public via its long-awaited IPO, aiming to stabilise its valuation which has already dropped 40 per cent on last year.
A report in The Information uncovered findings relating to the business practices at Domio, such as alleged fake host names and misleading Airbnb accounts, after interviewing 20 current or former employees. Airbnb took immediate action, saying it "would not hesitate to take aggressive action to remove suspicious content from our platform"; content which appeared to breach its trust and safety standards.
The news is far from ideal for either Airbnb or Domio, with the latter suspended from taking on new reservations while investigations are ongoing, and other OTAs may follow if they suspect similar violations on their platforms. Airbnb, meanwhile, is still faced with the uncertainty of when travel may return to anything like pre-pandemic levels and is doing its utmost to promote a squeaky clean image to reassure investors.
Moves to ban house parties globally and cap guests at 16 per house, as well as address discrimination and improve its relationship with city authorities, suggest Airbnb is taking its public health and community responsibilities seriously. Then again, it also banned party houses in 2019 and the same issues remain today.
At such a precarious time for a travel / leisure company to file to go public, Airbnb will need to take the hard line to root out problems. However, it still retains a largely loyal customer base, even if restrictions risk alienating guests under 25 years old, as well as roughly 40 per cent of the market share, so it should be at the front of the queue when travel inevitably picks up in time.
• Last week, we launched our curated RockSTRz webinar series to address the key themes and burning issues in the short-term rental industry, running concurrently alongside our Urban Living webinar series.
Keep up to date with updates about speakers and registration details for RockSTRz here.
• And don't forget to register for the next webinar in our Urban Living series, which takes place on Wednesday 26 August at 2pm BST, when the panel will be discussing: Placemaking - overvalued buzzword or under-utilised pursuit?
Joining host George Sell, editor-in-chief at IHM, will be:
• Michael Goldin, director, NoiseAware
• Peter Heule, CEO, Short Stay Group and Yays
• Eliza Liepina, head of product and business development, alternative accommodations, Roundhill Capital
• Francesca Howland, co-founder, Bimble
Click here to register for the no cost webinar.
If you have a story you want us to tell the industry, please click here and get involved with the community by joining our ShortTermRentalz LinkedIn group here.
Paul Stevens, editor
paul@internationalhospitality.media
For more information and sponsorship / advertising opportunities, please get in touch with us.
OUR EVENTS
Fortnightly from 15 September 2020
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International Hospitality Media is the premier specialist in online publishing; conference, exhibition and events, and advisory services for niche growth sectors of the hospitality industry. The company publishes three industry-leading b2b websites - BoutiqueHotelNews.com and ServicedApartmentNews.com and ShortTermRentalz.com which keep their respective sectors up to speed with news, comment and opinion.
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