Airbnb lists destinations with the cleanest rentals
Like virtually every vacation rental and hotel business, Airbnb announced new enhanced cleaning protocols as the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe.
The company announced Thursday that more than 1.2 million of its listings around the world have achieved an “enhanced clean” designation – and which countries and destinations received the highest marks. Airbnb’s “enhanced clean“program, revealed in April, was developed in conjunction with health experts and includes a five-step cleaning procedure as well as social distancing guidelines. Hosts (and guests) can find more details on Airbnb’s website. Of note: The “enhanced clean” guidance is only recommended. Still, hosts need to follow local government or health authority guidance.
“In the last weeks, hosts have embraced and adopted our new rigorous guidelines, with thousands more attesting to the enhanced cleaning protocol everyday,” Catherine Powell, head of hosting at Airbnb, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “This effort shows how our hosts are dedicated to the highest standards and committed to keeping their guests and communities safe.”
Internal Airbnb data shows that 95% of all reviews indicate guests are satisfied with cleaning, giving 4 or 5 stars. The “enhanced clean” listings have a 4.8-star average cleanliness rating. These listings also have three times more bookings on average compared to other listings.
Meanwhile, on the hotel side of the hospitality industry, the American Hotel & Lodging Association surveyed travelers to find out which health and safety protocols have the greatest impact on guests’ comfort levels.
For frequent travelers, cleanliness is the most important factor in picking their next hotel, according to AHLA.
Their top priorities are face coverings for employees and guests, the suspension of daily housekeeping of rooms and using technology to limit direct contact. Their findings were in line with the trade group’s Safe Stay guest checklist.
Short-term rentals have bounced back faster than hotels since the coronavirus pandemic pummeled travel interest in March. They have also benefited from a weakened demand for business travel and a shift in travel preferences to more rural and remote areas where guests can opt for longer stays. With many offices still closed and fast internet access widely available, there has also been a shift to remote work, Airbnb has adapted this trend for its own workforce. The company is letting its employees work remotely until August 2021 if they so choose.