Airbnb's Extension Of Party Ban Until The End Of Summer 2021

Party and events policy

As travel restrictions were implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb updated its policies to include health and safety protocols to be a “good community player all over the world.”

Airbnb imposed its party ban policy to promote safe and responsible traveling during the pandemic. They also ramped up their verification process and identity verification program and institutionalized the Enhanced Clean program, which is a five-step process of “prepare, clean, sanitize, check, and reset.”

Before the pandemic, parties and events were allowed in a handful of Airbnb rentals at the host’s discretion. However, about 73% of listings on Airbnb had house rules that did not allow for parties and events. The company has been fully supportive in taking measures against disruptive partying and other activities that promote irresponsible behavior.

In August 2020, Airbnb imposed a global party ban in response to the increase in cases of COVID-19 globally. Vaccines were not approved yet at that time, so the ban was imposed to raise awareness for public health. Parties were prohibited in every listing in all countries, and occupancy for larger vacation homes was limited to a maximum of 16 people. The company provided information on the ban through its platform and made it clear that violation of the implemented rules would have legal repercussions. For instance, Airbnb took legal action against booking guests who violated the party ban in Sacramento and Cincinnati.

Airbnb also mandated hosts of vacation homes and guests to comply with health protocols and policies on gatherings in their locality.

Extension of ban

The new rules have been in effect for almost a year. While mandates on social gatherings continue to change in response to the rise and fall of the number of cases, Airbnb stands its ground by extending the party ban as a reminder for travelers of the health risks associated with gathering in large numbers at this time.

When the party ban came into effect, Airbnb removed the search filters “parties and events allowed” and “event-friendly” to facilitate compliance. In the United States, Airbnb imposed a new policy for the fourth of July weekend, prohibiting guests without a history of positive reviews on the site from booking a one-night reservation. For the extension, as an additional measure in North America and some European countries, such as France, Spain, and the UK, persons under the age of 25 are restricted from booking Airbnb listings in their locality.

24/7 neighborhood support line

Airbnb has even elicited the support of concerned citizens in the community to flag disruptive incidents. In 2020, the company launched a 24/7 neighborhood support hotline in the United States and Canada to strengthen the enforcement of the party ban. Concerned citizens may contact agents, and a rapid response team will address the complaint. This was activated after the suspension and removal of hundreds of listings in both countries due to party ban violations.

Eventually, the Neighborhood Support Line was launched in New Zealand and Australia in February 2021 to allow more community members to raise issues for listings in their immediate neighborhood. The company plans to mobilize all communities in countries with listings as a long-term solution to addressing irresponsible behavior among guests.

Moving forward, patrons and partners of Airbnb must wait on bated breath for updates on the party ban at the end of summer 2021.