When things don’t go as planned, having travel insurance may help. When guests purchase travel insurance before a trip, it may protect them from unexpected expenses like trip cancellation, emergency assistance services, and lost or damaged baggage.

To support hosts and guests, we’re starting to educate guests about the value of travel insurance—and where they can buy it. It’s just the first of many steps we’re taking to address hosts’ concerns about cancellations of their accommodation bookings.

Here’s what we’re doing:

Educating guests about travel insurance. For guests who are considering purchasing travel insurance, we’ve launched a travel insurance page with information about its many benefits.

• This info will be presented to every guest who books a stay
• We’ve also published several Help Center articles addressing frequently asked questions, like whether travel insurance covers claims related to COVID-19

Partnering with the travel industry. We’re partnering with travel insurance providers to find ways for guests to compare quotes and purchase a travel insurance plan that fits their needs.

• Though individual needs may vary, there’s a wide array of benefits for travelers to consider
• These may include coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, medical expenses, emergency assistance services, and lost or damaged baggage, as well as “cancel for any reason” coverage

Finding other options for hosts in the event of cancellations. Over the next few months, we’ll come back to you with more answers.

• We want to make sure hosts won’t lose revenue when there are cancellations associated with reasons that are deemed to be the guest’s responsibility
• We’re working with the insurance industry to create pathways for guests to purchase travel insurance—first in the U.S. and Canada, and then in other jurisdictions around the world
• Our extenuating circumstances policy allows hosts and guests to cancel eligible reservations with no charge or penalty—we'll be evaluating the policy to better align with host expectations

As always, thank you for hosting and for being an important part of our Airbnb community. To support hosts and guests, we’ll continue to educate guests about the value of travel insurance and other steps they can take to protect their trip. Please bookmark Airbnb.com/COVID, and check back soon for more updates.

Any information is provided for general educational purposes, and Airbnb does not currently offer travel insurance or endorse the products or services of any travel insurance companies, agents, or brokers. 

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.