Airbnb, one of many greatest gamers within the short-term rental market, will cancel all reservations made within the Washington space subsequent week and block new leases, the corporate introduced in an announcement on Wednesday.
The choice got here after the police and elected officers warned Individuals to not journey to Washington for the inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr., citing the danger of the unfold of the coronavirus and the specter of one other assault much like final week’s violent siege on the Capitol.
Legislation enforcement authorities have warned of threats of violence forward of the inauguration on Jan. 20, and Nationwide Guard troops have flooded Washington in response. On Monday, the leaders of the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland issued a joint statement telling potential guests to not journey to the world, citing each the coronavirus pandemic and the riot.
Already, 16 teams — a few of them armed and most of them supporters of President Trump — have registered to stage protests in Washington, although Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested federal officers to cancel any public gathering permits issued.
This week, Airbnb mentioned it might evaluate reservations within the Washington space and cancel these it decided have been made by members related to extremist or hate teams. On Wednesday, it mentioned it might take the broader step of canceling all reservations in response to pleas for individuals to not attend.
Ms. Bowser and the governors of Virginia and Maryland “have been clear that guests shouldn’t journey to the D.C. metro space for the Inauguration,” the corporate said in a statement. “Moreover, we’re conscious of stories rising yesterday afternoon relating to armed militias and identified hate teams which can be making an attempt to journey and disrupt the inauguration.”
Airbnb mentioned it might refund company for his or her reservations and reimburse hosts at its personal expense.
The corporate declined to say what number of reservations can be canceled, the dates the cancellation coverage can be in impact or how removed from Washington its coverage would apply.
However two Airbnb hosts who contacted the corporate concerning the standing of current reservations have been advised by customer support representatives that Airbnb was canceling reservations that began on or after Jan. 15 and ended by Jan. 21, based on screenshots offered to The New York Instances.
Airbnb additionally mentioned it had banned “quite a few people” related to identified hate teams or in any other case concerned with the mob on the Capitol. It declined to offer extra particulars.
