Airbnb activates free stays program for Hurricane Florence evacuees
Airbnb has triggered its Open Homes program for Hurricane Florence which assists residents and tourists fleeing severe weather or major emergencies.
The Open Homes program has kicked in ahead of the ‘monster’ Category 4 storm making landfall in the Carolinas and is calling on hosts to offer free shelter to displaced residents.
The program is also aimed at accommodating emergency relief workers and volunteers who are coming to assist.
It is open to Airbnb hosts in safe areas of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Hosts keen to assist can click the ‘I can offer my space for free’ tab on Airbnb’s airbnb.com/disaster webpage.
The zero cost listings will be available for use until October 1, Airbnb said, and it may expand the Open Homes listings area if needed.
Airbnb first launched the program in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy and has since activated the program on about 250 occasions worldwide since then during natural disasters and emergencies.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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