Thursday, January 30, 2025
19.0°F

In a first, Airbnb takes action against guest for party

AP Business Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 5 months AGO
by AP Business Writer
| August 13, 2020 12:03 AM

For the first time, Airbnb is taking legal action against a guest for violating its ban on unauthorized parties.

The San Francisco-based home sharing company said Wednesday it is initiating legal proceedings against a guest who held an unauthorized party at a home in Sacramento County, California, last weekend. Three people were shot and wounded at the party.

Airbnb wouldn’t release the guest’s name but said it has removed the guest from its platform.

The company has been trying to clean up its image — promising to verify all of its listings, for example, and taking a harder line on parties — as it prepares for an initial public offering of its stock. The IPO, which was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, could still take place later this year.

Airbnb banned “open invite” parties at its rentals late last year after five people were shot and killed at an unauthorized party in Orinda, California. The company set up a rapid response team to deal with complaints from neighbors and started screening “high risk” bookings, such as reservations at a large home for one night.

Airbnb went further last month, banning guests under 25 from booking entire homes close to where they live.

In the most recent case, Airbnb said it will seek monetary damages and donate them to non-profit that fights gun violence in the Sacramento area. Under Airbnb’s terms of service, the dispute will go into arbitration if Airbnb and the guest are unable to settle the terms.

A Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman said Wednesday that the shootings remain under investigation.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

In a first, Airbnb takes action against guest for party
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 5 months ago
In a first, Airbnb takes action against guest for party
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 5 months ago
Airbnb blocking some rentals over Halloween to halt parties
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 3 months ago

ARTICLES BY AP BUSINESS WRITER

October 10, 2020 12:03 a.m.

Drive-thru dominates even as dine-in restrictions ease

Even with cities like New York relaxing rules for dining in, sales figures from chains like McDonalds and Domino’s Pizza on Thursday suggest that most people continue to favor keeping their distance.

October 9, 2020 5:03 a.m.

Global stocks mostly higher on US stimulus hopes

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures mostly rose Friday after President Donald Trump said talks had resumed on an aid package for the struggling U.S. economy.

October 9, 2020 2:06 a.m.

Global stocks follow Wall Street higher on stimulus hopes

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures rose Friday after President Donald Trump said talks had resumed on an aid package for the struggling U.S. economy.