Kamala Harris art, 'Daily Show' lead Anthem Awards finalists
An art installation inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris, The New York Times’ “The 1619 Project” and “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” as well as charitable programs from Airbnb, Google, PayPal and the National Football League, are among the finalists for the inaugural Anthem Awards announced Tuesday.
I stayed at a ‘haunted’ Airbnb for two nights and this is what happened
To some, staying in a haunted hotel or Airbnb is a bucket list experience, but when I found out my friends booked an Airbnb in a building that used to be a psychiatric hospital, all I could think was that some ghosts were going to visit me at night.
Volusia County weighing short-term rental ban
DeLAND, Fla. – The Volusia County Council debated for almost six hours on Tuesday whether to amend its short-term rental ordinance and lift the ban before ultimately voting to wait to make any changes locally until state lawmakers meet in April to discuss a short-term rental bill. The argument had become passionate for many beachside communities in Volusia County. “You’re putting these children at risk if you turn our neighborhoods into transient communities by allowing short-term rentals,” they said. Since 2007, county officials say they’ve received 860 complaints about short-term rental properties. Those against it don’t want the traffic and change of neighbors, saying short-term renters don’t care about the neighborhoods.
Airbnb reports huge loss in first time out as public company
Home-sharing site Airbnb posted a $3.9 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2020 as it suffered from the pandemic downturn in travel and recorded one-time costs for becoming a public company. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)Home-sharing site Airbnb posted a $3.9 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2020 as it suffered from the pandemic downturn in travel and recorded one-time costs for becoming a public company. In results released Thursday — Airbnb's first as a publicly traded entity — the company took a charge of $2.8 billion for stock compensation related to the IPO. The company did say revenue will not decline as much in the current quarter as it did in the fourth quarter of last year. Since the start of the pandemic, Airbnb has shifted its focus to beach towns and mountain destinations — outdoorsy places where the risk of contracting the coronavirus is perceived to be lower.
Airbnb to block, cancel DC bookings ahead of inauguration
Airbnb says it will be blocking and cancelling reservations in the Washington, D.C. area during the week of the presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)NEW YORK – Airbnb said Wednesday it will be blocking and canceling all reservations in the Washington, D.C., area during the week of the presidential inauguration. But over Presidents' Day weekend, the site lists more than 300 rentals in the Washington area. Meanwhile, a hotel labor union representing 7,200 hotel workers in the Washington area, called for hotel closures in the area to protect staff and the public. Marriott International said Wednesday that its hotels in the Washington area will remain open leading up to and through the inauguration.
Airbnb banning rioters, hate groups ahead of inauguration
Airbnb said Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, that its reviewing reservations in the Washington, D.C., area ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration and will bar any guests associated with hate groups or violent activity. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)Airbnb said Monday that it’s reviewing reservations in the Washington, D.C., area ahead of next week’s presidential inauguration and will bar any guests associated with hate groups or violent activity. Airbnb said it will warn all guests in the Washington region that it may bring legal action against them if they are members of hate groups or if they plan violent activities. Airbnb said it’s also banning from its platform anyone who engaged in criminal activity in last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol. Democratic President-elect Joe Biden was the biggest recipient of Airbnb donations.
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St falls on virus pressure
A woman wearing a face mask walks past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Asian stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank following signs damage to the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is worsening while Congress is deadlocked over possible new aid. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Asian stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank following signs damage to the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is worsening while Congress is deadlocked over possible new aid. Shanghai and Tokyo retreated while Hong Kong and Seoul gained. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 0.4% to 26.524.01.
Airbnb prices shares at $68 ahead of Thursday IPO
Thirteen years after its founders first rented air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment, Airbnb is making its long-awaited stock market debut. Airbnb had initially set a price range of $44 to $50 for it shares, but raised that to a range of $56 to $60 earlier this week, indicating rising investor demand. Airbnb’s listing comes a day after another San Francisco-based company, DoorDash, soared through its initial public offering. Its stock jumped 85.8% to close at $189.51 after the company priced shares at $102 each, raising $3.4 billion with its offering. Airbnb initially planned its IPO for the spring but shelved it when the pandemic ground global travel to a halt.
Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approach
The home sharing company raised $3.7 billion in the offering, making it the largest IPO of the year, according to Renaissance Capital. “This year had a lot of large IPOs,” said Matthew Kennedy, senior IPO market strategist at Renaissance Capital. Some 19 company IPOs have brought in over a billion dollars, including DoorDash and Airbnb. Still, individual investors may want to consider waiting a few days after a company has its IPO, if not longer. Uber, which raised $8.1 billion in its market debut last year, has yet to get out of the red.
Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approach
DoorDash shares surged nearly 86% above their offering price of $102 in their market debut Wednesday. Airbnb’s own market debut on Thursday could end up blowing past that. “This year had a lot of large IPOs,” said Matthew Kennedy, senior IPO market strategist at Renaissance Capital. Airbnb put off a market debut in the spring when the pandemic crippled global travel. Uber, which raised $8.1 billion in its market debut last year, has yet to get out of the red.
DoorDash delivers 86% gain in stock market debut
DoorDash shares soared in its initial public offering Wednesday, capping a year of explosive growth for the food delivery company. Powering that service are 1 million delivery drivers, who are independent and not considered DoorDash employees. But lockdown orders and the closure of indoor dining have made DoorDash indispensable for many restaurants and diners this year. DoorDash now controls 50% of the U.S. food delivery market. Skeptics thought the economics of food delivery would fall apart in less dense areas, because there was lower demand.
Airbnb hikes share price ahead of expected IPO this week
Airbnb has raised the price of its shares ahead of its initial public offering this week, betting investors will pay more given its resiliency during the pandemic. In a government filing Monday, Airbnb said it expects to price its shares between $56 and $60 each, up from a range of $44 to $50 earlier this month. Airbnb is expected to issue a final share price late Wednesday ahead of its Thursday IPO on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The new price would let the San Francisco-based home sharing company raise up to $3.4 billion in the offering. Airbnb has more than 7 million listings on its platform, run by 4 million hosts worldwide.
Airbnb hopes to raise up to $2.6B in mid-December IPO
Airbnb hopes to raise as much as $2.6 billion in its initial public stock offering this month, betting investors will see its home-sharing model as the future of travel. It’s a remarkable comeback for the company that delayed its IPO when the coronavirus pandemic crippled global travel in the spring. Airbnb has more than 7 million listings on its platform, run by 4 million hosts worldwide. But Airbnb has recovered more quickly than traditional hotels as travelers seek whole homes in rural areas far from crowds. Airbnb said it also expects more business people will book vacation rentals, since many can now work from home.
Airbnb details years of losses ahead of planned IPO
The San Francisco-based company has yet to set a date for the IPO but it is laying the groundwork by filing financial records with U.S. securities regulators. Its revenue jumped 32% to $4.8 billion in 2019, but it reported a net loss of $674 million that year. Airbnb said it currently has 7.4 million listings run by 4 million hosts worldwide. Earlier this year, hosts were infuriated when Airbnb allowed guests to cancel and get full refunds amid the pandemic. Airbnb later promised $250 million to hosts to make up the shortfall.
How hotels, Airbnbs work to keep travelers safe during coronavirus pandemic
The pandemic lockdowns began about eight months ago and if you haven’t taken a getaway, you may be eager at this point. She’s an infectious disease doctor at the Mayo Clinic, which advised Hilton on its coronavirus cleaning and disinfection protocols. “Personal safety is essential as we’re reopening our society and reopening our businesses and industry,” Dr. Rizza says. Dr. Rizza says you should check a hotel’s website to make sure its cleaning procedures are clearly spelled out. She says you don’t need to bring anything into a hotel room.
Airbnb requires hosts to commit to enhanced cleaning
Airbnb said Thursday it will require hosts to comply with enhanced cleaning procedures as part of its effort to reassure guests and local officials during the coronavirus pandemic. Hosts in China are exempt because have their own local cleaning program, the company said. Airbnb is no longer requiring hosts to leave their rentals vacant for at least 24 hours between guests, as it did in April. San Francisco-based Airbnb said nearly 1.5 million listings have signed on to the enhanced cleaning standards since they were introduced in June. The company has also been removing party houses from its platform after a shooting last year at an unauthorized Halloween party in California.
Airbnb blocking some rentals over Halloween to halt parties
Airbnb will prohibit one-night rentals over Halloween weekend as part of its ongoing effort to crack down on party houses. Five people were killed in the shooting, which happened during an unauthorized Halloween party. San Francisco-based Airbnb said it will ban one-night rentals of entire homes in the U.S. and Canada on Oct. 30 or Oct. 31. Previously booked one-night rentals will be canceled and Airbnb will offer refunds. And in August, Airbnb banned parties worldwide and limited occupancy at its rentals to 16 people.
Florida reports close to 4,000 new cases of COVID-19, 176 new deaths
The DOH reported 176 new deaths Friday, bringing Florida’s death toll from the pandemic to 12,658. Death data is often delayed and new deaths can take up to two weeks to report, according to the DOH. Recent deaths from COVID-19 across Central Florida made up 25 out of the 176 new fatalities reported across the state. [SEE THURSDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports more than 2,500 new COVID-19 cases, 213 deaths]Here are three things to know about the virus for Sept. 11. Across 10 counties, Central Florida reported 25 deaths on Friday.
Airbnb suspends Orlando area listings as part of ‘party house’ crackdown
ORLANDO, Fla. – Vacation rental giant Airbnb announced it has suspended 40 of its listings in Florida as part of a crackdown on party houses amid the coronavirus pandemic. Breit said the company banned house parties in late 2019, but the pandemic has pushed them to bring suspensions to the public. Competitor Vrbo told News 6 they also have strict rules in place for house parties. “It is a real responsibility to operate a vacation rental in a neighborhood with people living on both sides of it,” Breit said. Each company has its own hotline for neighbors to report house parties.
You can have sleepover in world’s last Blockbuster for $4 a night
Remember Blockbuster? For three nights only, people can book it for an overnight sleepover like none other, transporting you back to the 1990s. Last Blockbuster converted into Airbnb for 3 nightsAnd you also get free pizza, soda, popcorn and candy. All for $4 a night, just a cent more than the cost of a rental. The manager says this is a thank you to the community for keeping the world's last Blockbuster in business.
When will vacation rental properties in Florida reopen?
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Quite a few people who own vacation rental properties throughout Central Florida are hoping the governor will allow them to get back to business. Right now, hotels are welcoming guests looking to get away, while vacation rental properties remain closed. "Vacation rentals are still at zero because they’re not allowed to open," he said. Ron DeSantis asking him to allow vacation rentals to reopen. "Vacation rentals in some communities can cause some pain, but here in Central Florida they are our lifeblood."
Airbnb introduces new rules to rein in parties, nuisances
“This policy does not impact parties that are authorized by hosts and convened respectfully by guests,” the company said in a news release. In early 2020, guests will get a warning for one instance of excessive noise, unauthorized guests, unauthorized parking, unauthorized smoking or excessive messiness reported by a host or a neighbor. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced last month that changes would be coming after five people were killed at a Halloween party shooting in Orinda. He thinks the rules could also help shield Airbnb from liability if a party goes awry. “The challenge for Airbnb will be enforcing these rules, though, as its immense scale can make that difficult,” Guttentag said.
You can stay in Bella Swan's house from 'Twilight' movies thanks to Airbnb
The house Bella Swan lived in before Edward Cullen turned her into his vampire bride in the movies is now available to rent on Airbnb for just $330 a night. You can even rehash the age-old debate of Team Jacob or Team Edward by deciding if you're going to stay in the Team Edward room or Team Jacob room. Considering the room has a Jacob cardboard cutout, it's safe to assume the owners of the house are Team Jacob. The reviews of the rental are absolutely stellar, with many "Twilight" fans praising just how fun it was to stay the night at the Swan house. You can see the full Airbnb listing (including some photos of the house) by clicking here.