Airbnb blocks some 1-night reservations for NYE in Arizona

PHOENIX — Online vacation rentals marketer Airbnb is enacting restrictions for New Year’s Eve in an effort to prevent large house parties and combat the spread of the coronavirus in Arizona and across the nation.

For entire home reservations that include New Year’s Eve, a two-night minimum will be required for guests without a history of positive reviews, according to a release on the company’s website.

The Centers for Disease Control says the highest risk for spreading the coronavirus occurs during large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for people to remain 6 feet apart.

Airbnb’s New Year’s policy marks a slightly different approach from Halloween, when the company banned all one-night home listings regardless of reviews.

Airbnb says it enacted the change after listening to feedback from the host community.

Already booked one-night reservations will go through as company data has shown one-night bookings made in advance very rarely lead to unauthorized parties, according to the website.

Each guest must attest they will not throw an unauthorized party, and the company says it may take legal action against those who disregard the policy.

The policy for New Year’s Eve is in addition to the company previously instituting a global party ban, limiting a 16-person occupancy cap in listings.

Along with the United States, the New Year’s Eve policy also applies for listings in the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia, France and Spain.

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