Indonesia is considering granting visa-free entry to nationals of 20 countries, including the United States, China, Australia, India, South Korea, Germany, Britain and France, to boost its tourism and economy, its tourism minister said on Thursday.
The government will finalise the list of countries included in the provision within one month, according to a statement.
Minister Sandiaga Uno said the president had instructed the government to consider the visa waiver as a means of boosting the economy, tourism visits and investment.
There were more than 16 million foreign arrivals in Indonesia in pre-pandemic 2019, according to official data.
From January to October this year, Indonesia received 9.49 million foreign visitors, an increase of 124.3% from the same period in 2022.
Indonesia is the latest country in Southeast Asia to consider waiving visas for China, a major travel market, following Singapore, which on Thursday said a 30-day mutual visa exemption with China will be implemented early next year.
Thailand and recently Malaysia have also waived visas for visitors from China and India.
Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Martin Petty, Reuters
With gorgeous art nouveau entrances, maze-like tunnels and trains that rattle briskly under, and occasionally over, some of the world’s most famous streets, it’s a transport network that has inspired movies, novels and poetry.
It has stations named after a South American revolutionary, a US president and a Soviet victory. Fittingly, in a city that is home to some of the world’s most famous galleries, some of the stations are considered works of art in their own right.
But the Paris Métro railway system, built in the 1900s and now carrying nearly four million passengers every day, is struggling to cope with the demands of modern commuting, its ageing facilities and infrastructure creaking under the city’s growing population.
For many in Paris, particularly those living or working around its less fashionable outer suburbs, it’s a challenge to navigate across the city without having to route each journey through the central districts, adding travel time and worsening congestion.
But change is coming – and on a huge scale. The venerable Paris Métro is about to get its most significant upgrade in decades with the arrival of the Grand Paris Express, a new 200-kilometer (120-mile) system that will add four lines and 68 brand-new stations to the network.
These will mainly be connecting suburban towns without passing through the densely populated city of Paris – adding outer rings to an underground map of Paris that has, until now, been made of 14 lines that only reach out from the center like spokes.
It’s been an epic undertaking. Construction of the lines, which began in 2016, is the biggest civilian infrastructure project in Europe, according to the French government. Inevitably, given the scale, it has been hit by delays.
Driverless trains
But that didn’t stop the city from showing some Parisian pzazz late last month as the first train for the new Métro lines was taken for a test drive, attracting crowds of invited onlookers to a railway depot in the suburb of Champigy-sur-Marne.
The 108-meter-long six-car train, the first of its kind produced by Alstom for the Grand Paris Express, made its debut amid triumphal music and a light show of lasers in the French flag colors of white, blue and red.
“To change people’s lives, we will have to change how they move,” French Transport Minister Clément Beaune said at the November 28 event, which saw the train make a successful two-kilometer test run along a section of line 15, one of the new routes.
A rendering showing how part of Gare Villejuif, one of the stations on the new Grand Paris Express network, will look.
France hopes the Grand Paris Express will significantly cut transport time for suburb-to-suburb movement on public transit and reduce car usage for residents in the Greater Paris region.
Unlike other Métro lines, it will use driverless trains to create a fully automatic rapid transport network, meaning there will be no need to hire and train new drivers, plus there will be greater resilience against disruptions from strikes.
“We are on the right track for success,” Beaune laughed. “It will serve as a good example for cities across France.”
Paris was among the world’s first cities to have a metro system. Its first line opened in 1900 as part of the city’s construction efforts to host the Olympic Games that same year. It expanded rapidly and extensively during the decades that followed.
Prior to the opening of the Grand Paris Express, it had already evolved into a sprawling 800-kilometer mega system encompassing 16 central city metro lines and five Réseau Express Régional, or RER, commuter rail lines for the surrounding suburbs.
The new project will introduce four new lines – 15, 16, 17 and 18 - plus extensions to existing lines 11 and 14.
A greener future
For many living in the city, the new routes can’t come quickly enough.
“I love living in Versailles but sometimes it’s just a lot,” said Lauren Bain, 26, a journalist working in Paris but living in the city of Versailles, roughly 20 kilometers southwest of the capital.
Bain says she attends church in the neighboring town of Saint Aubin, ostensibly a 20-minute drive away, but two hours by bus, which is how she currently makes the journey. It can take even longer; she was stuck on a bus half-submerged in water during heavy rainfall.
She commutes to work in the center of Paris via the RER C line, which she has little love for despite the convenience of a station in Versailles.
Once the new Grand Paris Express line 18 opens, connecting Versailles directly to Saint Aubin, as well as Paris Orly Airport, the city’s second-busiest, her options are set to improve.
“Line 18 cannot open sooner,” Bain said.
Mohamed Mezghani, secretary general of the International Association of Public Transport, based in Brussels, says the new lines puts Paris at the forefront of city public transport networks – alongside Tokyo, Moscow and Washington D.C., looking to reduce environmental impact through suburban interconnectivity.
“The Grand Paris Express, with its circular lines, encourages movement from suburb to suburb,” Mezghani said.
“People in big cities are realizing that cars are not a solution, congestion keeps worsening and building more roads will only attract more traffic.
“We need this updated version of public transportation.”
“That thing is terrible,” she said. “I arrive late at work all the time! Just earlier this week, my train was canceled for no reason.”
The Olympic finish line
One big question for many Parisians – and for visitors to the city – is whether the new network will be operational in time for the 2024 Olympic Games, which will mostly be staged around the French capital.
This was the original plan when the project was announced by then President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, long before the city won its Olympic bid. But numerous delays have stretched the timeline.
A full opening of line 14 by now, plus partial opening of lines 15, 16, 17 and 18, which together connect to both Paris international airports, had been promised by Sarkozy and his successor François Hollande.
However, the project has been hit by various setbacks during the years, including construction site floods, delays in equipment delivery, and perhaps most crucial of all, the Covid pandemic.
And eight months before the 2024 Olympic Games, only the extension of line 14 to Orly Airport is expected to open in time. The other lines will gradually come on line starting in late 2025, according to the project’s official website.
France’s Transport Ministry remains upbeat about the impact the new rail lines will have on Paris, insisting that network capacity will be increased by 15% in time for the Games, which are forecast to attract millions of visitors to the city, already a popular summer destination.
“Our action plan is clear, and we’re on schedule,” it told CNN.
Even behind schedule, the new lines are likely to enhance the French capital’s appeal.
As writer Ernest Hemingway once remarked: “There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home and in Paris.” And once the new Grand Express lines open, hopefully the distance between them will shrink a little further.
The National Security Council particularly urge travelers to avoid any manifestation of their Jewish and Israeli identity abroad.
The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) raised its travel warning levels for various countries, in most continents, due to intensifying threats from Iran and Hamas, as well as increased anti-Semitic incidents and attempted attacks against Jews and Israelis around the world.
The new guidance issued a raised level 2 warning of heightened vigilance for several countries in Western Europe, namely the UK, France, Germany and Russia; in South America, namely Brazil and Argentina; as well as Australia.
A more severe level 3 warning of avoiding non-essential travel war issued for certain countries in Africa, namely South Africa and Eritrea; and Central Asia, namely Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan.
The NSC advised the Israeli public to think carefully about the need to travel abroad over the next few weeks, to choose their destinations carefully and to follow security recommendations.
It particularly recommended to avoid high-risk areas, such as Arab and Middle Eastern countries, the North Caucasus, Iran's neighboring countries and certain Muslim countries in Asia.
Travelers were also advised to avoid anti-Israel demonstrations, to remain vigilant and not to openly display Israeli or Jewish symbols. Following a similar warning a month ago.
The new fees on the popular cruise lines involve the price of taxes, which - like everything else - has increased dramatically since 2019.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise enthusiasts are about to get hit with yet another fee, and they couldn't be less thrilled about the prospect.
Since 2019, the price of everything has gone up thanks to global inflation, and cruise prices are no different.
But while cruises have control over the prices of many things — such as Wi-Fi access and shore excursion prices — they don't have control over the increase of things like taxes.
And now, both cruise lines have announced that those increases will be passed on to customers.
For example, Quintana Roo in Mexico has announced that they will impose a $5 tax on all cruise ship passengers.
Rather than absorb the cost themselves, both cruise lines have announced that they will pass that tax on to its guests.
While that tax isn't due to be added until 2025, passengers are already furious that they'll be incurring an additional charge on an already-expensive excursion.
Mexican authorities, however, claim that the taxes will be "earmarked for tourism infrastructure projects and natural disaster recovery," per Cruise Hive.
"Approximately 30% of the funds would be directed to the Trust for the Attention of Natural Disasters, which would help mitigate damage from hurricanes, flooding, and other natural events. This could include emergency recovery projects and repairs, as well as funds to citizens and residents impacted by such disasters," Cruise Hive also reported.
The fees are anticipated to generate up to $25 million per year, by some estimates.
The proposed resolution to adopt these fees is likely to be granted, as well.
TSA is working on three new security systems that reimagine airport checkpoints, investing in technology to screen more passengers effectively using self-service rather than scaling up the number of screeners the government employs. Passengers will start using the first one beginning next month.
Here’s what they’re working on.
Pod-based design with individual screening consoles, carry-on screening system and flat panel passenger screening
In-motion panel sensors for screening as passengers move through checkpoints
Integrated carry-on bag conveyance system with security equipment and automated entry and exit doors
The first test project is rolling out at the Las Vegas airport. PreCheck passengers will complete the security process independently, using individual consoles or lanes. Passengers will be prompted by machines through each screening step.
Starting in January, PreCheck passengers in Vegas can test out an automated screening lane with carry-on bag conveyance system. They’ll be given instructions by a video monitor. And they’ll go through automated entry and exit doors.
Passengers who don’t pass screening the first time, for instance leaving items in their pocket, the entry door will open back up for them to take those items out and be re-screened.
When passengers clear screening, the automated exit door opens and instructs them to gather their belongings.
System To Be Tested In January, Credit: Department Of Homeland Security
TSA describes the project as part of its effort to “increase screening efficiency and improve the passenger experience while keeping a stable number of Transportation Security Officers” or put another way: spend massively on capital equipment to avoid hiring more people.
Willie Sutton said he robbed banks because “that’s where the money is.” But that’s only because he came too early to know about selling new technologies and equipment to the TSA. One after another, generation after generation of the latest TSA-promoted technology eventually ends up mothballed from backscatter machines and Rapiscan and now we have analogic screening devices meant to speed up checkpoints actually slowing them down. Here we have contracts with Micro-X, Vanderlande Industries, and Voxel Radar. That second one can’t be real, right?
Ultimately, TSA is supposed to prevent dangerous items from going through security checkpoints, which requires on focusing on dangerous items and not sci-fi plots. It requires a focus on real threats and not taking scissors away. But that’s not even correct. TSA itself has said there were no known threats against aviation, it’s all hypothetical. And if there were, hardening airport checkpoints just pushes the threat to somewhere else. It doesn’t make people safer, but it prevents TSA from being blamed for the next disaster because it’ll happen outside its area of responsibility.
It’s official: After more than seven years of dreaming and 900 days of design and construction by thousands of experts, Royal Caribbean International welcomes the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas to the family in a momentous celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The world’s largest cruise line hosted a ceremony on the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation, where representatives signed on the dotted line just two months before the new ship’s January 2024 debut in Miami.
Marking the milestone at the celebration were more than 1,200 crew members and workers, who were joined by Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley and Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.
“Today, we are celebrating more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation and dreaming at Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation experience,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Delivering Icon of the Seas represents all that can be accomplished with strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering memorable vacations responsibly, and we thank Meyer Turku and an incredible village of skilled partners for joining us on this journey. The memories millions of families and vacationers will make on Icon will be our greatest accomplishment yet.”
The transfer of ownership, commonly known as the delivery of a new ship, between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku also commemorated the series of never-before-seen feats accomplished during more than two years of construction: from the installation of the AquaDome, the single largest glass and steel structure to be lifted onto a cruise ship, to engineering more water on board than ever before across seven pools, six record-breaking waterslides and more. Now is when Icon will sail from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where the cruise line will start to put the finishing touches on the world’s best vacation before it heads to Miami. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 29, adventurers can follow Icon’s journey by visiting Royal Caribbean’s website.
“Welcoming Icon of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family is a remarkable accomplishment years in the making for thousands of innovators, engineers, architects and designers,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Seven years ago, we had an ambitious idea to create the first vacation truly made for every type of family and adventurer; now, it’s in our hands, and in this final stretch, we’ll bring it all to life for the biggest debut in our history in January 2024.”
Whether “family vacation” means getting away as a family, couple or friends, Icon’s all-encompassing lineup features firsts and next-level favorites for everyone to make memories their way every day across eight neighborhoods. There are adrenaline-pumping thrills, unrivaled ways to chill, more than 40 ways to dine and drink, cutting-edge entertainment across the cruise line’s four signature stages – air, ice, water and theater – and more. And with 28 different ways to stay, including the new three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse, even the rooms are thoughtfully designed for every type of vacationer.
The five brand-new neighborhoods and three reimagined favorites are destinations in themselves filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants and bars, including:
Thrill Island – The new center of thrill features Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides; Crown’s Edge, part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride on which adventurers swing 154 feet above the ocean; the FlowRider simulator; the Lost Dunes minigolf course and more. In between adrenaline rushes, just steps away are new spots to grab laidback bites or sweet treats: Basecamp and Desserted for over-the-top milkshakes.
Chill Island – Four of the seven pools on Icon are at this three-deck slice of paradise, each with a unique vibe and prime ocean views: the lively Swim & Tonic, the cruise line’s first swimup bar at sea; Royal Bay,the largest pool at sea; Cloud 17, an adults-only retreat; and the serene, infinity-edge Cove Pool. With different tunes from live bands and DJs, and poolside spots for drinks and quick, casual food – like The Lime & Coconut and its new frozen cocktail bar, and El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresca – vacationers can chill day and night.
Surfside – Introducing the first neighborhood made for young families. Adults and kids can stay and play all day between ways to splash, like at the new Water’s Edge pool for grownups nearby Baby Bay and the Splashaway Bay aquapark for kids, and new, dedicated dining options such as the Surfside Eatery buffet, Pier 7 for all-day brunch and the convenient Surfside Bites To chase down the bites, there’s The Lemon Post, a brand-new bar that features two menus – one for adults and the other for kids.
AquaDome – A tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot at night, the new neighborhood is filled with wraparound ocean views, new and returning restaurants and bars, a 55-foot-tall water curtain, and the next-level AquaTheater that debuts the first cast of robots, skateboarders, divers and more. From Royal Caribbean’s first foodhall, AquaDome Market, and Rye & Bean – a new bar for lattes and coffee-infused cocktails – to the new Overlook bar and pods, and the cruise line’s marquee aqua shows, it’s a transformational experience.
The Hideaway – Tucked away and sitting 135 feet above the ocean is a new neighborhood that combines the good vibes of beach club scenes around the world. The first suspended infinity pool at sea is at the center of it all, and it has 180-degree ocean views that make it the perfect place to watch sunsets from the point of view only a cruise can offer as vacationers enjoy the dedicated DJ and bar.
Royal Promenade – The heartbeat of Icon features more than 15 restaurants, bars and lounges, including Dueling Pianos, Royal Caribbean’s first dueling pianos bar; the new 1400 Lobby Bar, inspired by the history of shipbuilding, with an ocean-facing terrace that opens the reimagined neighborhood to the outdoors for the first time; and favorites with a twist like Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Starbucks and more. The all-time favorite also debuts floor-to-ceiling ocean views, an engineering feat made possible by The Pearl, the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture.
Central Park – Lusher and livelier than ever, the open-air neighborhood is reimagined with more ways to dine, drink and be entertained. Thousands of real plants line new experiences and favorites with a twist, such as the popular Izumi, with a new location and a walkup window; and American steakhouse Chops Grille. Making their debut are spots like Empire Supper Club, an extravagant experience that pairs eight courses with wine, cocktails and music; and Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, for live performances of soulful jazz, jazzy pop music and more.
Suite Neighborhood – Spanning four decks, Royal Caribbean’s most expansive Suite Neighborhood features larger suites, the new Grove Suite Sun Deck, complete with a private pool, whirlpool and dedicated Mediterranean dining; and a now two-level Coastal Kitchen with views of the AquaDome and the ocean.
Icon is also the cruise line’s first ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel. The dual-fuel engines will work alongside a lineup of energy efficiency initiatives and industry-leading environmental programs on board, like the first waste-to-energy plant at sea. Twenty-four percent more energy efficient than the standards required for ships being designed today, the cruise line’s most sustainable ship yet will mark the next step in parent company Royal Caribbean Group's journey to introduce a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.
Every type of family and adventurer can get away on the world’s best vacation and island hop in the tropics at any time of the year. Each 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean adventure from Miami features idyllic destinations across the Caribbean and an unmatched day of thrill and and chill at Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Plus, dialing up the perfect on Perfect Day in January 2024 is the private island’s first adults-only escape, Hideaway Beach, an all-day experience complete with a private beach and pools, new dedicated spots for drinks and bites, exclusive cabanas, live music and more.
More details about Icon and the latest news are available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/Icon.
Family members and representatives of people who died said the company has not done enough and called for it to mandate that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in every rental.
In February 2014, Airbnb made a commitment: The company would require hosts to confirm that carbon monoxide detectors were installed in every listing by the end of the year.
Months earlier, the short-term rental company faced one of its first reported deaths involving carbon monoxide: a Canadian citizen staying in an Airbnb in Taiwan. The company wanted to do more, it said in a now-deleted blog post.
“By the end of 2014, we’ll require all Airbnb hosts to confirm that they have these devices installed in their listing,” the blog post said of carbon monoxide detectors.
Nearly a decade later, the company has not made any such mandate — and more lives have been lost along the way.
NBC News has identified 19 deaths since 2013 that occurred at Airbnb properties and are alleged to have involved carbon monoxide poisoning, according to interviews with family members of victims and a review of news articles, autopsy reports, police records, and court and government documents. The company is currently facing at least three lawsuits pertaining to carbon monoxide deaths or poisonings.
Airbnb has issued statements in seven of the cases, which accounted for 17 of the deaths. In five of the statements, Airbnb said it would pay for costs associated with the deaths or that it had removed Airbnb listings associated with the incidents. None of the statements contested details of the reports surrounding the deaths, and none addressed carbon monoxide’s role in the incidents. Other statements expressed condolences. In the two cases in which the company has not commented, Airbnb was the target of lawsuits. One of those suits was settled and the other was dismissed.
In a statement provided to NBC News, the company said: "The safety of our community is a top priority, incidents on Airbnb are exceptionally rare and we take action when a concern is reported to us."
Family members and representatives of people who died said Airbnb has not done enough to address the situation and called for the company to commit to a mandate that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in every rental. Some said Airbnb promised to work with them but that they now feel brushed aside.
Jennifer Winders, whose father and stepmother died from carbon monoxide poisoning in an Airbnb in Mexico in November 2018, said that the company agreed to meet with her and her brother on potential safety improvements as part of a settlement that included financial compensation.
Winders said they had one meeting in February 2022 with the company where they gave suggestions.
“I feel like that’s something that would be really beneficial is to have Airbnb continue to reach out to people who are continuing to feel the effects of what happened in one of their rentals,” she said. “I wonder after seeing all these deaths in 2022, to be honest, if any steps were taken.”
All of the deaths reviewed by NBC News happened outside the U.S., where regulations regarding carbon monoxide detectors are inconsistent (48 U.S. states have laws mandating the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in at least some residential buildings, according to First Alert, a company that specializes in fire and carbon monoxide safety). Four of the cases reviewed by NBC News happened in Mexico. The other cases happened in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, China and Taiwan.
Airbnb’s international footprint amid the patchwork of carbon monoxide regulation presents an already-challenging compliance landscape for the company, which says it's advocated for carbon monoxide detector regulation in Mexico and other countries. But family members say the wide variability of regulation is even more reason for Airbnb to step in and set its own standard on carbon monoxide detectors.
A life cut short
Jaime Mejia jumped on a flight to Brazil with little information other than a message from an Airbnb host telling him that his son had died.
Sebastian Mejia, 24, had moved from Miami to Rio de Janeiro in October 2022 on a Fulbright scholarship to study Indigenous communities. His budget was tight, but he found an affordable Airbnb. He called his family every week to check in, and they were proud of how far his hard work had taken him.
On Oct. 5, 2022, Sebastian was found dead in the shower of his Airbnb. A water heater in the bathroom had been leaking carbon monoxide, according to a technical report from Rio de Janeiro police, and the apartment had no detector to warn him. Carbon monoxide levels measured in the apartment were four times the maximum acceptable levels, police said.
“This shouldn’t have happened. It was easily preventable,” Sebastian’s brother, Daniel, said. “It should be something that’s the most basic thing that you should be able to go take a shower and not die.”
After Sebastian’s death, it took 10 days to go through the repatriation process and return his body to the United States. Over 300 people from across the U.S. traveled to Florida to attend his funeral.
Sebastian’s family believes that if the company required property owners to install carbon monoxide detectors, he might still be alive.
Sebastian’s family said that Airbnb never reached out to them after Sebastian’s death. In June, they sued the company in California state court. An Airbnb representative said that communication from the company was directed to the family’s legal representative.
“Unfortunately he has not been the first and he will not be the last, and other families have to go through the same experience,” his mother, Rosa Elena Martinez, said. “And that’s terrible that Airbnb, knowing exactly what’s happening, they haven’t done anything to stop it.”
Martinez said their primary motivation for bringing the lawsuit was to inspire a policy change at the company.
“They could pay us $1. But if they change the policy, and we make these public, it will be totally worth it,” she said. In court, Martinez is seeking damages exceeding $25,000, according to the complaint, and a legal injunction that would force Airbnb to remove listings without carbon monoxide detectors and mandate the use of detectors along with the inspection of fuel-burning devices. No trial date has been set.
Sebastian’s family isn’t alone in their pursuit. NBC News identified six lawsuits pertaining to carbon monoxide poisoning at Airbnbs. Three are ongoing, two were settled and one was dismissed
Lawyers and families say that in their disputes with the company, Airbnb has attempted to push them into private arbitration. Users consent to private arbitration when they sign up as part of the platform’s terms of service. The private arbitration system used by many corporations has been criticized as favoring businesses in disputes. An Airbnb representative said that arbitration is typically faster and more cost-effective in resolving disputes for all parties.
A persistent killer
Carbon monoxide is an invisible killer: a colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal depending on the exposure levels. Poisoning symptoms mimic the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes poisoning hard to detect until it’s too late.
Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning increased every year from 2012 to 2019, according to a report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on consumer product-related carbon monoxide deaths. In 2020, Congress passed a bill to require carbon monoxide detectors in public housing, after an NBC News investigation uncovered at least 13 deaths of public housing residents from carbon monoxide poisoning since 2003.
Globally, carbon monoxide poisoning remains an issue, with 28,900 deaths recorded in 2021, according to research published in the medical journal The Lancet, most of which the study noted were preventable.
“Out-of-date, ill-maintained, or incorrectly installed heating systems have been linked to many cases of residential unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning,” the study said.
In recent years, carbon monoxide deaths have also occurred at hotels and other short-term rentals.
Airbnb has taken some steps to address carbon monoxide concerns, primarily by encouraging hosts to install detectors. In 2014, it began offering one free carbon monoxide detector to hosts; Airbnb will not distribute multiple detectors to a single host, despite the prevalence of multi-unit Airbnb businesses. The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends a carbon monoxide detector be placed on every floor of a residence. Airbnb’s program has been running for nine years, but in June the company said it had only distributed enough detectors to cover 2.3% of its 7 million active listings. The company said in a statement to NBC News that it had distributed detectors to 230,000 hosts out of over 4 million, or around 5.8%.
Airbnb listings display if rental properties do or don’t have carbon monoxide detectors. A listing that lacks detectors displays crossed-out text that says “Carbon monoxide alarm” at the bottom of the “What this place offers” section, among other features like “Kitchen,” “Wifi” and “TV.”
Airbnb says that it flags if listings don't have carbon monoxide detectors to guests in confirmation and reminder emails.
A 2018 study in the journal Injury Prevention found that only 57.5% of U.S.-based Airbnb locations were listed as having carbon monoxide detectors.
Charon McNabb, founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (NCOAA), noted that Airbnb has taken other sweeping actions affecting all of its listings previously, questioning why it wouldn’t do the same for carbon monoxide.
“Airbnb implemented mandatory Covid-19 protocols to save lives. Implementing the same type of safety measures with carbon monoxide alarms would also save lives,” McNabb said. “Recommendations are not enough and carbon monoxide alarms should be mandated in all hotels and Airbnbs.”
Poisonings and deaths can still occur, though, even if detectors are installed. In one 2022 case, three Americans reportedly died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an Airbnb rental that was advertised as having carbon monoxide detectors inside. It’s not clear whether or not they were functioning.
According to the NCOAA, 565 were victims of carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S. this year. And the CDC estimates that over 400 Americans die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning, which McNabb said only represents known cases.
“We know that that number is far too low,” McNabb said. “There are many, many more carbon monoxide poisoning deaths and injuries that are not included in that number due to the nature of the poisoning.”
Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at the National Fire Protection Association, said states ought to have codes and laws that compel companies such as Airbnb and VRBO to install carbon monoxide alarms.
“Peer-to-peer rentals are another place where there is a lag in terms of statewide regulations and laws enacted for what has to be safety equipment involved,” she said.
VRBO did not respond to a request for comment.
Many people don’t consider that their vacation destination may not have the same rules around safety equipment as their home city or state, or that homes rented on sites like Airbnb could be regulated differently than hotels. Given the patchwork of regulation and the slow pace of legal change, victims’ families questioned why Airbnb wouldn’t step in to require carbon monoxide detectors.
Alarms are necessary, experts say, because it can be incredibly hard to realize you are being affected by carbon monoxide before it is too late.
“Because of the sinister nature of carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s not always easy to identify the health effects that we’re feeling, especially when we’re on vacation,” McNabb said.
McNabb recommended travelers carry portable carbon monoxide detectors, which retail as low as $10.
“We’re not taking our own water test kit to an Airbnb or hotel, that is the minimum level that we expect when we rent a hospitality suite,” she said. “When we go to bed at night we expect there to be a lock on the door. We expect that when we go to bed, we’re going to wake up in the morning and not have to worry about carbon monoxide threatening our vacation or our lives.”
Source: By Ben Goggin and Khadijah Khogeer, https://www.nbcnews.com/
Still, McNabb said that she believes most people operate with the expectation that there is a certain level of safety when they rent a hotel room or an Airbnb.
