Business View Magazine | May 2020

14 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2020 Today we are announcing our advanced clean initiative to provide hosts with educational resources and two options to offer accommodation according to enhanced cleaning and prevention measures our advanced clean initiative to provide hosts with educational resources and two options to offer accommodation according to enhanced cleaning and prevention measures. Guests will be able to identify and book accommodation included in this program, which will be launched globally in May. Our work is informed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published standards; leading experts such as Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States; and companies in the hospitality and medical hygiene industry. 1. First, we are developing advanced cleaning standards, with enhanced procedures and guidance on how to clean every room in a home. These guidelines will become the leading standards in the home sharing industry and will include a learning and certification program to empower our host community. They build off of Airbnb’s strong historical track record of cleanliness: To date 94 percent of all Airbnb reviews show that guests are satisfied with cleaning, scoring it at 4 or 5 stars after their stays. 1 The advanced cleaning standards will also include specific information on COVID-19 prevention, like a wait period before entering, use of personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves, as well as disinfectants and sanitizers that are approved by regulatory authorities. These standards will be available to all hosts and we encourage them to commit and adopt these enhanced cleaning practices. 2. Alternatively, hosts can opt into a new feature to create a vacancy period between stays. Through an easy tool on the platform, hosts can commit to keeping their home empty for a set period in between stays, with no activity other than cleaning. Reservations will be automatically blocked during that time frame, currently set at 72 hours. This option takes into account that some hosts may not be able to commit to certification or source necessary products —but should still observe CDC recommendations and other applicable local guidance (such as wearing a mask). This concept is expert-backed and was first conceived for Airbnb’s Frontline Stays project, through which hosts have offered over 200,000 places for medical workers and first responders around the world. “As a society, we need to observe the physical distancing recommendations made by public health officials while finding ways to preserve and strengthen human connection. I’m looking forward to helping the Airbnb community as it develops a health and science based approach GLOBAL