April 10, 2020
Honolulu-based Turno recently announced a COVID-19 Education, Documentation, Verification, and Demonstration program to reduce the potential for spreading infection and improve guests’ comfort in booking vacation rentals in the future.
Many experts believe when travel resumes following the current COVID-19 crisis, guests will make accommodation choices based primarily on safety. “To combat the perception that hotels have stricter cleaning and sanitation protocols, Airbnb and its competitors will have to demonstrate to potential guests that hosts are following extensive cleaning procedures,” said Turno CEO and founder, Assaf Karmon.
The program consists of 4 parts:
Education
The new program requires cleaners using the Turno platform to complete a COVID-19 Education and Safety Course, based on CDC recommendations.
Cleaners who complete the course receive a badge that is visible to existing clients, as well as hosts looking for new cleaners on the Turno Marketplace. As the CDC recommendations continue to evolve, the course will be continually updated, and the cleaners will retest monthly.
Documentation
As part of the company’s cleaner management system, hosts received cleaning and disinfection checklists based on current CDC recommendations. These checklists can be used as-is or mandatory COVID-19 checklist items can be added into existing property- specific checklists.
Verification
To verify their work, cleaners are required to complete cleaning and disinfection checklists and upload photo documentation of their work before each guest check-in.
Demonstration
Months after the current pandemic, guests will still be conscious of safety when choosing accommodations. Currently, none of the largest reservation platforms (Airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor) have a cleaning solution in place.
Given the current climate, a reservation system that can let potential guests know that enhanced cleaning procedures are in place will have a distinct competitive advantage.
While the primary purpose of the Turno COVID-19 Education, Documentation, Verification, and Demonstration program is to reduce the potential to spread infection, it also positively changes the perception of safety for potential guests.
