In recent years, Airbnb has transformed not only the travel industry, but the market for short-term rentals as well. Tourism-heavy cities like Tokyo, San Francisco, and Toronto have seen a surge of property owners tap into the idea of homes as assets for generating passive income. Airbnb quickly grew to become a global company worth tens of billions.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a matter of weeks, "a community of hosts bringing the world together" rapidly fell out of style as people began standing two metres apart. Instead, a new trend was born as people searching for a place to stay started gravitating toward furnished suites.
Whether you're on the hunt for a second home office, a mini-getaway without straying too far from home, or you're a frontline healthcare worker moving closer to Toronto's largest hospitals, here are the key reasons why Airbnb is no longer your best bet.
Why Sharing a Stranger's Home in a Pandemic Is Not the Greatest Idea
Home-sharing. The concept that drove Airbnb to success by allowing tourists to travel like locals and locals to cash in on their properties. But as COVID-19 cases spread like wildfire across the globe, travel bans were among the first emergency orders to be implemented. Today, as we begin the process of slowly reopening businesses across Canada, we need to be extra careful.
Without a vaccine, the threat of an even larger outbreak constantly looms above our heads. It goes without saying that sharing someone's home puts everyone involved-as well as innocent bystanders like the long-term tenants next door-at increased risk.
Given the current crisis, using Airbnb doesn't just endanger yourself-it's socially irresponsible, whether you're a host or a guest. Airbnb has no way of guaranteeing cleanliness across its listings, of which there are millions worldwide. The flexibility of the platform-its lack of regulations and restrictions on hosts-has ultimately led to its downfall.
The most that Airbnb can offer is a set of cleaning guidelines and a 24-hour vacancy period between guests-which, it should be noted, is optional for hosts to implement. With new guests coming and going, these measures simply aren't enough to ease the most basic concerns about health and safety.
While we haven't found a vaccine just yet, we're learning more about the COVID-19 virus with each passing day. We know, for instance, that it can survive on plastic or stainless steel for up to three days, and the "dose" of the virus you need to be exposed to before becoming infected is not comfortingly high but rather alarmingly low.
Safety, Comfort, and Convenience: The Rise of Furnished Suites
So, why are people turning to furnished suites? Perhaps the most influential factor in their decision-making is safety. While Airbnb lacks the ability to enforce rigid standards for cleanliness, furnished suites operate much like hotels when it comes to disinfection.
Staff is properly trained and well-equipped to thoroughly sanitize rooms ahead of a guest's arrival. Some companies, including Toronto Luxury Suites, are even using hospital-grade procedures for disinfection.
The right training and equipment for cleaning staff are often underestimated. In the same way washing raw chicken before cooking it increases your risk of food poisoning, misguided sanitization techniques and ineffective cleaning products may leave guests more compromised than they were before.
Aside from guaranteed cleanliness, it's no surprise that luxury suites offer a luxurious experience for guests. What may be a surprise is the affordability of this experience. For a fraction of the price of a comparable hotel, furnished suites provide guests with access to amenities, high-speed internet, and stunning views of downtown Toronto.
Make the Right Choice
When deciding which executive rentals in Toronto to use, always put your safety first. While Airbnb has been a rising star in recent years, COVID-19 has fundamentally altered travellers' concerns. Until a vaccine is available, furnished suites can offer guests safety, comfort, and peace of mind.