| Greenville News
As the coronavirus continues to have a devastating impact in some parts of the travel industry, rental companies Airbnb and VRBO declined to release data on vacation rentals in South Carolina.
With continued requests for stricter travel restrictions, neither company said whether out-of-state tenants were still making reservations in the area around Clemson.
The Greenville News asked Airbnb and VRBO if there were increases in rentals in the Clemson area – where three lakes are a short drive away – and how many of these renters were out of state after reports of overcrowded water courses at Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee last week.
The requests were made in the light of Governor Henry McMaster’s order for out-of-state travelers to be quarantined for two weeks immediately after arriving in the state, but companies refused to share that data.
What to know: Coronavirus in South Carolina
VRBO’s Nola Lu said the company does not “disclose prospective data like this”.
The news asked for clarification on those policies, but had not yet received a response from either company on Thursday afternoon.
The answer represents a departure from last fall, when both companies shared data on demand and rental prices.
The area is a hotspot for out-of-state residents looking to vacation or buy a second home. According to 2019 data from Lake Homes Realty, 75% of people who search for property in Lake Keowee “originate outside the state’s borders”.
They come mainly from Atlanta, New York and Charlotte, the data revealed.
The area in which the data was requested includes the Hartwell, Jocassee and Keowee lakes, which are popular with tourists looking to spend time on the water.
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Dozens of rental homes are available on the websites of both companies in Oconee, Anderson and Pickens counties, near Blue Ridge lakes and mountains.
Mary Brock, who owns and operates one of the most popular Airbnb listings for Clemson’s football game rentals, said she had several reservations canceled due to the virus. She and her husband are “crouched” in their rented lakeside home in Townville to wait for the coronavirus pandemic in South Carolina to end.
“I made an inquiry, but I declined the reservation because of the extensive disinfection that would have to be done after their stay,” she said.
Another popular rental in Clemson, the Clemson Farmhouse, posted a photo of cleaning supplies on its public Instagram page and captioned that two reservations had been made at his farmhouse “since the coronavirus spread”.
Last week, McMaster closed all public access to beaches and canals, blocking the tourist appeal of Pickens, Anderson and Oconee counties in South Carolina. However, 20 ramps for Army Corps of Engine boats remain open at Lake Hartwell .
Airbnb cancellation policies, VRBO COVID-19
For those who have booked a stay at a VRBO property until April 30, the website is offering a number of options:
- The company asked property managers to credit stays already paid to guests’ bills for a future visit, if the reservation is outside the cancellation window. The credits would be available for use only at the canceled location, according to the COVID-19 response page on the website.
- However, VRBO is “strongly encouraging” property managers to issue full or partial refunds to guests.
- All VRBO service fees for cancellations have been waived.
Here’s what Airbnb is doing:
- All trips planned between March 14th and May 31st can be canceled by the hosts or guests prior to check-in for full refund or travel credits.
- COVID-19’s cancellation policies apply only to trips made “on or before March 14”.
- The company created a $ 250 million fund to help cover lost revenue for the hosts.
- The company also launched a worldwide initiative to provide free or reduced housing for 100,000 humanitarian workers at COVID-19.
Zoe covers Clemson for The Greenville News and Independent Mail. Contact her at [email protected] or Twitter @zoenicholson_