How are your overall bookings?

[Ken Latchers]

Without stating the Virus that must not be Named, how are your total bookings (still scheduled) at this moment, as compared with the last several years? Down 10%? Down 30%?

at the moment, I have zero bookings for the year, of course means no cancellations, I converted most to long-term rentals.

[Collin Hays]

We are trending down for April.  Way too early to tell about later months.

[John Underwood]

I had a cancelation for the Clemson Spring football game weekend and one other cancellation. Everything else still looks good.

Someone from Jersey checked in today for a week.

[Paul Cox]

@Ken Latchers...This is my first year in the STR game, so nothing to base it on, but I had March and April fully booked and I've had two 7 day cancellations in the last 2 days...One was a military member that was returning from deployment and the DoD has restricted all travel outside of a 50 mile radius from their bases. I believe we'll see them again when that lifts. I expect more cancellations, but after our first reservation canceled, we almost immediately picked up another booking to take that place at a higher per night rate. We'll see how things play out, especially since AirBnB has made the US an extenuating circumstances area now.

[Paul Cox]

Just received this in my email from AirBnB:

We’ve worked hard to find a balance between supporting your hosting business and protecting the well-being of our collective community. This is a difficult time, and millions aren’t able to make their trips or welcome their guests. For the rest, it’s clear that no one should feel obligated to host or travel if they don’t feel comfortable right now.

For that reason, our will now apply globally* to eligible reservations booked on or before March 14th, and with at least one night between March 14th and April 14th.

In simple terms, this means that for eligible reservations:

You can cancel reservations without worrying about cancellation charges or impact to your Superhost status Guests have the option to cancel reservations for a full refund Our service fees will be refunded in full for every cancellation

[Collin Hays]

I read that several times and didn’t see anything from Airbnb about why they are continuing to deny trip insurance claims for refunds for cancellations due to CV-19 purposes - the very insurance that THEY marketed and sold to guests.

I guess Airbnb exempts themselves from “extenuating circumstances.”  What a bunch of hypocritical crooks.

[Chai Xiong]

From the Disney World area.. out of my 5 rentals just 1 yesterday for Aug for the week.  I think its goign to be slow from here on past summer.  Sad life

[Jeffery Wilen]

We have had a couple cancellations in the last few days, one was for baseball opening weekend.  But we still remain 60-70% booked with several extended stay renters. Don’t anticipate it being a concern. We still cash flow at 25% occupancy. 

[Michael Baum]

No cancellations and bookings are going as per usual for last year. Better in some aspects. Getting those early June bookings now and late September as well. The bumper season is usually last to book.

[Carter F.]

Disney neighbor, totally laid out. Three properties lost 100% of booking (at full refund) until mid-April. Went from 99% booked to 0% in two days :)

[Carolyn Fuller]

@Ken Latchers Mine were doing great, not only fully booked, but at significantly higher rates than last year. Then that which shall not be named hit and 6 weeks of bookings were cancelled.

I might have been able to turn mine into an extended stay rental but decided instead to help out with a local crisis. Most of the many, many universities in the Boston area have closed, mandating that all undergraduates vacate the dorms by today. Some of those students have nowhere to go! So we've given our Airbnb to a MIT student through April with the understanding he moves to our couch during the last remaining 2 April bookings (in the very unlikely event they, too, don't cancel).

It is the tonic that has soothed my frayed nerves.

If there are other Boston area hosts in the same fully cancelled state, check with your local government to see if there is a need for temporary housing for displaced students. I KNOW Cambridge has a huge need.