Airbnb will offer travel insurance this spring

Last year, Airbnb announced the launch of a protection program dubbed AirCover that groups together the company’s Host damage protection, Host liability insurance, and Experiences liability insurance. Now, the company is announcing that the same team that built AirCover, will launch a “custom-built” guest travel insurance product offering exclusive to Airbnb guests.

The product, which is set to launch in the spring, will be underwritten by a “reputable insurance carrier.”

In the meantime, Airbnb is introducing a COVID Support Program to provide relief to guests no longer able to proceed with their previously booked reservations due to unexpected travel disruptions caused by government mandates.

For guests in these situations who are unable to obtain full refunds under their Hosts’ cancellation policies, Airbnb will provide relief in the form of a travel coupon for 50% of the cost of the unrefunded portion of the reservation. Airbnb is supporting this program with an initial commitment of $20 million.