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Airbnb bans ‘open-invite’ parties

Published:Friday | December 6, 2019 | 12:19 AM

Airbnb is taking more steps to crack down on parties and nuisance guests in the wake of a Halloween shooting at an Airbnb rental in a San Francisco suburb.

The company said on Thursday that it would be banning “open-invite” parties at all of its accommodations. Those are parties open to anyone and advertised on social media, for example.

Airbnb says boutique hotels and professional event venues will be exempt from the new rule.

The San Francisco-based company is also banning large parties at apartment buildings and condos.

“This policy does not impact parties that are authorised by hosts and convened respectfully by guests,” the company said in a news release. “Instead, our goal with this new policy is to address the small number of guests who act irresponsibly and those rare hosts whose homes become persistent neighbourhood nuisances.”

LISTING UPDATES

Airbnb says that it is in the process of identifying listings globally that may be violating the party house ban, including accommodations in Los Angeles, Miami Beach, London, and Montreal. The company says it’s asking hosts to update their listings to comply with the open-invite ban.

Airbnb is also issuing new guest behaviour rules. In early 2020, guests will get a warning for one instance of excessive noise, unauthorised guests, parking and smoking, or excessive messiness reported by a host or neighbour. Further violations will result in account suspension or removal.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced last month that changes would be coming after five people were killed at a Halloween party shooting in Orinda. The owner of the Airbnb rental didn’t authorise the party, which had more than 100 guests.

The company is under pressure to gain the trust of travellers, neighbours, and lawmakers as it prepares for its planned initial public offering next year.

AP