Cancellation of bookings on Airbnb: how the rules are changing for tourists and hosts

Airbnb has recently made changes to its cancellation policy that are of great importance to travelers. Travelers can now cancel their reservations due to "foreseeable weather events" such as hurricanes or large-scale utility outages.

This means that even in the case of closures resulting from natural disasters, travelers can rest assured about their booking. According to TravelAndLeisure, the new policy aligns with the host's own cancellation policy.

Additionally, travelers can cancel their reservations due to other "unexpected major events," including government travel restrictions and the declaration of public health emergencies and epidemics (such as COVID-19). The new cancellation rules will take effect on June 6.

Airbnb's community manager, Juniper Downs, noted that the updates are necessary to align the policy with industry standards.

The mid-trip cancellation policy will also reportedly change. Now, tourists will be reimbursed for the nights they do not stay.

However, Airbnb does not cover all incidents, including injuries or illnesses, or government obligations such as jury duty or court appearances.

As previously reported by TravelWise, the well-known online booking service has banned all internal security cameras in rental homes worldwide, citing privacy concerns.

In addition, the company has previously introduced verification of the host's accurate data and whether he or she has access to the home. Airbnb also encouraged owners to add smart statement requests and introduced updates aimed at price transparency. Tourists will now be able to view the total rental price with all fees when searching for a reservation.