Airbnb today formalized its ban on parties and events, officially codifying it as company policy.
Following a Halloween 2019 shooting that killed five people at a California rental property, the lodging site prohibited "open-invite" and "chronic house" parties.
Nearly a year later, as COVID-19 closed bars and clubs and forced people indoors, Airbnb announced a global ban on functions in hopes of curbing unauthorized gatherings and reducing the spread of the virus.
"Over time, the party ban became much more than a public health measure," a company news release said. "It developed into a bedrock community policy to support our hosts and their neighbors."
Moving forward, Airbnb will remove its 16-person occupancy cap, prompted by COVID concerns around large gatherings prior to the introduction of vaccines. That means larger homes like castles, vineyards, and beachfront villas can reopen to visitors while still complying with the regulations about disruptive parties.
"The policy will continue to include serious consequences for guests who attempt to violate these rules, varying from account suspension to full removal from the platform," Airbnb warned. In 2021, more than 6,600 people were barred from the site for defying company rules.
The company relies on a series of anti-party measures to police unauthorized events, including an initiative that restricts certain guests based on risk factors; additional measures during holidays like July 4, Memorial Day, Halloween, and New Year's Eve; a 24-hour safety line; the Neighborhood Support Line, and a partnership with vacation rental online marketplace Vrbo.
Plans to scope a potential exception process for specialty and traditional hospitality venues, first noted in 2020, are still under consideration.