For the first time in its history, Airbnb is planning to sue a guest who threw an unauthorised party in Sacramento, California, at which three people were wounded in a shooting. It argues the guest was negligent, violated of local health orders, didn’t follow the platform’s guidelines, and “booked the listing under false pretenses”. Any …

Airbnb took a record drop in revenues in the second quarter of 2020 as global travel was restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, dropping 67% to $335 million in the period ending June 30. Thanks to the pandemic, since mid-February this year hotels have lost more than $46 billion, occupancy is at less than …

Airbnb has said today that it supports the development of a digital services tax regime being discussed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to bridge a divide between the United States and Europe. The OECD is working with over 100 countries on a major rewrite of global tax rules, but negotiations have been …

A new study conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association shows the extent of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on hospitality, with almost nine in 10 hotels forced to lay off or furlough employees. Only 37% of hotels have been able to bring back at least half of their full-time employees, and around the same …

Accor has reported a drop in revenue of 52.4% to £828m in the first half of 2020, and has now launched a £180m cost-saving initiative including “immediate drastic measures” to mitigate the impact on earnings. This involves a “simplification and realignment” of its operating structures across regions, and the automation of tasks for repetitive processes. …

One part of Expedia Group’s lodging business, the Vrbo vacation rental brand, is thriving in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, as travellers bypass Google and go directly to its websites to research and book. Marketing through Google has been Expedia’s achilles heel in recent years, forcing bookings to be more expensive. Market intelligence company …

For some airlines globally, some recovery in the industry has come too late, with 23 airlines collapsing during international travel restrictions introduced to curb Covid-19. IATA last month predicted global losses could reach billions of dollars, with global air traffic still only reaching around one third of pre-pandemic levels. The biggest losses have included UK …

According to a new analysis from CBRE Hotels Advisory, many of the expenses that traditionally have been fixed for US hotels will become more flexible in the future as operators adjust to the post-COVID-19 “new normal” and have to operate more efficiently. It might force hotel operators to think differently about zero-based forecasts for annual …

As the hospitality sector slowly reopens after weeks of shut doors and takeaway orders, there is a need to enforce social distancing measures and keep their customers and staff safe when trading. This article examines things that hospitality venues can do to ensure a safe and secure customer experience, beyond simply marking floors at 2m …

Hotel restaurants have not been immune to coronavirus closures so when shutdowns started, several hoteliers emphasised or improvised grab-and-go capabilities to make up for lost business. Hybrid market concepts combining dine-in, packaged food sales and prepared take-out meals in one space have become increasingly popular and attract locals. This article discusses some properties with a …