COVID-19 Update: Airbnb Sets Cleaning Mandates

As the travel industry starts to think about preparing for summer vacationers released from shelter-at-home orders, many hotels and rental property owners are instituting stricter cleaning and guest capacity guidelines.

Home-sharing service Airbnb Inc. announced this week it is establishing a new cleaning protocol complete with a manual specifying products and personal protective equipment to wear while cleaning, such as gloves and masks, USA Today reports. The guidelines will outline cleaning practices for each room, such as bathrooms and kitchens. The protocol also will require a minimum of 24 hours between rentals to reduce the chance of guests encountering germs left over from previous renters. Airbnb hosts will have the option of an online feature that automatically prevents bookings less than 72 hours apart for an extra measure of safety. 

Airbnb is not the only hospitality business to update its cleaning standards in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Last week Marriott International announced it is adopting enhanced cleaning standards that include spraying all rooms using electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces throughout its hotels. The company also is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing guest keys and devices shared by associates.

Oxford Hotels & Resorts, which manages a string of upscale hotels across the country, is not fully booking its properties, instead leaving rooms empty several days after guests leave as an infection control precaution.

The hospitality industry is hopeful these enhanced cleaning standards and new capacity protocols will inspire guest confidence. Only 23.4% of U.S. hotel rooms were occupied between April 14 and April 20, a decline of 64.4% compared to the same week a year ago.