Travel & Hospitality Tech Outlook | Monday, June 01, 2020
Any Airbnb listing with empty spaces that are not housing any other guests is eligible for hosting healthcare staff and first responders. To participate in the initiative, the property must be extensively cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of COVID -19
FREMONT, CA: Professional grade reservation software company ResNexus is well known for its property management system. The company's booking engine is the first of its kind to have reservation options for guests with special needs. ResNexus is also a direct connection partner with Airbnb. “In the golden age of online travel agencies (OTA), it is difficult to have an individual property seen, with the big four in the business (Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor) purchasing the top position on Google and other search engines,” says Nathan Mayfield, Vice President of ResNexus.
Here are a few tools that can help owners adapt their Airbnb listings to minimize the impact of COVID-19.
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Frontline Stays: Open Your Spaces to COVID-19 Responders
Airbnb is aiming to launch a program that will provide accommodation to 100,000 COVID-19 responders around the world. Any Airbnb listing with empty spaces that are not housing any other guests is eligible for hosting healthcare staff and first responders. To participate in the initiative, the property must be extensively cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of COVID -19. Property owners will need to opt-in with individual listings via Manage Your Space or select multiple properties via the Listings Page. During the opt-in process, owners will be able to set the prices at full rates, discounted rates, or for free. For the purpose of deep cleaning, a 72-hour gap will be required between any two consecutive reservations for all listings. Airbnb will also waive off its fee for the first 100,000 stays.
Offer Flexibility to Encourage Guests to Book Now
Give guests the confidence to book rooms by offering a flexible cancellation policy on your Airbnb listings. Owners who have a strict cancellation policy in place need to consider switching to a more moderate and flexible one. Airbnb will highlight listings with flexible and reasonable cancellation policies so guests can more easily find them. The company will also be launching a new feature that will let you apply a temporary, flexible cancellation policy to new reservations that take place within a specific timeframe.
Think about Hosting Guests for Longer Stays
Many guests often consider booking more extended stays that are closer to home. Owners can easily add weekly or monthly discounts to some or all of their listings, which may encourage guests to book a more extended stay at one of their properties. Airbnb has noticed more guest searches for nearby stays for seven or more nights. If the space offers things like fast WIFI, a comfortable workspace, and is suitable for children, it's a good idea to update the amenities accordingly.
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