Airbnb halts Beijing accommodation due to virus

Business | 10 Feb 2020 2:50 pm

Airbnb Inc is suspending check-ins at all of its Beijing listings until March to comply with local regulations intended to curb the coronavirus outbreak that is spreading across China and the world, Bloomberg reports.

The San Francisco-based company said in a statement that it will offer refunds to all those affected or that cancel their bookings. It’s unclear whether Airbnb’s local rivals, including Tujia and Trip.com Group, are similarly suspending all bookings in the capital.

In its mobile app, Ctrip said “some” apartment bookings in Beijing have been suspended and recommended users turn to hotels instead. “In light of the novel coronavirus outbreak and guidance from local authorities for the short-term rental industry during this public health emergency, bookings of all listings in Beijing with check-in from February 7, 2020 to 29 February 2020 have been suspended,” Airbnb said in its statement. The company “appreciates that disease control efforts are causing overall travel disruptions that also affect our community of guests and hosts.”