Dear Brian,
I wonder if you remember the times we met in the very early
days in London, probably 2008 after I signed up to be one of the first Airbnbhosts in the UK. I remember it well. Mostly for being struck by your honesty,
integrity and enthusiasm for this strange new project of which I had
immediately grasped the potential. You gave me the confidence to keep faith
with Airbnb as it has evolved into the global brand it is today.
That faith is now sorely shaken and looking to you as CEO to
rebuild trust and confidence is proving very difficult. Your actions (and ommissions) are making
things worse and give the impression that neither you nor the company are going
to be able to restore the bond of trust you have broken.
That trust is the vital
component in the extraordinary
way I have bden able to lead my life over
the last twelve years.In the trade union movement, and in The Green
Party as an activist, national officer and parliamentary candidate). Most recently, that life has been lived
within Extinction Rebellion as we have changed the global discourse, and sought
to disrupt national and international 'business as usual' as we continue to
hurtle towards the peak of the climate catastrophe and ecological disaster that
frankly, unless averted, will make Covid -19 appear to have been a walk in the
park.
I had begun writing to you at the time you spoke to us on April
3rd. Despite the incalculable harm you have overseen perpetrated on
us, Airbnb’s, hosts I was much encouraged by your promises. It is desperately
sad and of very great consequence that you have not kept your word.
At a time of desperate financial hardship, the early April has now passed and there is still no word on
when the 12.5% of cancelled online booking value will be paid. While I an
unaware of any effort by Airbnb to contact my previous guests my own attempts
to contact cancelled guests has been prevented by Airbnb. Even guests who have offered
me support have had their attempts to get in touch thwarted by the company. The
company continue to believe that the value to them of keeping guests and hosts separate
and unable to communicate is two high to relinquish.
Unable to pay rent in March, it looks as though April and May
will be the same. No sooner do I pass on to my landlord promises and information
given to me by you and Airbnb then deadlines pass and trust is further eroded.
I was unable to join your second call on Thursday and have
now spent five days looking at a screen promising a video “shortly”.
And so, if you are
unable to meet the commitments you have made voluntarily, and without urgent
and immediate financial support then it looks as though my twelve year journey
with AirBnb will be over. With will go my home and my income and at 57 with
three years to go before any provision for my retirement becomes available,
that is not a prospect I welcome.
I hope you are staying well.
Best,
Sebastian
