Airbnb understands that you may be hesitant to book a stay while the COVID-19 pandemic makes travel risky, so it is planning to provide some protection of its own. The home rental company has announced that it will begin offering customized travel insurance to guests this spring. While the terms are not yet available, Airbnb will offer coverage in collaboration with a “reputable” insurer.
In addition, the company has launched a Guest COVID Support Program, which partially compensates travelers if border closures, quarantine periods, or other government policies render existing reservations impractical. If a host refuses to provide a full refund, Airbnb will provide a travel coupon worth half of what hasn’t been refunded thus far. The program applies to all stays with a check-in date of December 1st, 2021 or later, so if your holiday plans fell through, you should contact Airbnb.
There is no mystery to the strategy. Airbnb’s business has been severely impacted by the pandemic as a whole, and COVID-19’s Omicron variant is only adding to the concern for hosts and guests who were hoping the worst was over. Coupons and first-party insurance may persuade some would-be adventurers to book stays when they would otherwise stay at home.