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We worked with various hotel partners on a custom co-op campaign to help restart tourism in Hawaii after a series of natural disasters impacted the islands.
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Navigating natural disasters to minimise travel disruptions
Learn how to prepare for natural disasters, minimise last-minute cancellations and keep you and your travellers safe.
As natural disasters become increasingly common, the need for effective preparation and recovery has never been more vital. The safety of our partners and travellers is our top priority, and we recognise the significant threat that natural disasters can pose to your business and how they negatively impact travellers’ experiences.
To help you navigate these situations effectively and mitigate partner-initiated cancellations, we’ve curated natural disaster resources and guidelines. Use them to minimise disruptions and help you and your travellers to be informed, supported and safe when disasters strike.
In case of an emergency
Preparation is key when it comes to natural disasters. There are several steps you can take to stay ahead of potential emergencies, as well as ensure guest safety and peace of mind during unforeseen events.
1. Be proactive
For Vrbo hosts, make sure you’re aware of our Extenuating Circumstances Policy to understand which qualifying travel events and disruptions require you to issue refunds to guests for impacted holiday rental reservations, regardless of your cancellation policy.
2. Be mindful
Manage your rates and availability so that they are appropriately priced. In most regions, price gouging during a time of emergency is considered a violation of unfair trade practices law and is illegal.
3. Prepare staff
Conduct regular training sessions that establish and reinforce emergency response procedures for before, during and after an emergency event. This can include multiple communication plans and evacuation routes to accommodate different scenarios if your primary plan becomes unfeasible.
4. Keep guests informed
Stay up to date and provide guests with clear and accurate information such as:
- Local emergency numbers
- Location and contact details for the nearest hospital
- Evacuation routes
- Emergency contact number for holiday rental hosts, along with a backup contact
These details should be shared with guests either directly before their stay, by direct communication or easily identifiable signage at your destination, property or transport hub.
5. Stay connected
Share important updates regarding your reservations or property status (e.g., closures/openings, damages, customer amenity impacts) through your Partner Central account, Vrbo dashboard or Expedia Group account manager.
Hurricane and typhoon preparedness
Typhoon season generally spans from May to October in the Western Pacific region, while the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. To stay informed about potential hurricanes and typhoons, regularly monitor official sources, such as the global resources below, and check forecasts and warnings issued by local authorities.
Safety measures during flooding or heavy rainfall
Major storm systems can bring localised flooding due to heavy rainfall, impacting both air and ground travel. To avoid travel disruptions, stay updated on the evolving weather patterns in your area with reliable resources, such as those listed below.
Winter storm readiness
Winter storm season in the Northern Hemisphere is November to March, bringing severe weather and challenging conditions that can cause major travel disruptions. Trustworthy global resources or your local weather stations provide up-to-date storm forecast alerts and can be used to monitor developing or active storms.
Global resources:
Wildfire and bushfire preparedness
With rising global temperatures, the severity and frequency of wildfires and bushfires is a critical issue. Wildfire season typically starts in North America and Europe in late spring and can last until late autumn, depending on the region, while bushfire season in Australia starts in October and extends until March. Stay informed about wildfire and bushfire risks and warnings in your area by referencing global resources, such as those listed below.
Recovering and rebuilding
We know the path to recovery can be challenging in the wake of a natural disaster—it’s in these difficult times that a strong partnership is crucial. We’re here to support you and offer resources to help you during a natural disaster, as well as ways to recover and rebuild in the aftermath.
Explore case studies
There are many ways we support recovery efforts, including developing strategic advertising campaigns to help drive business and restore tourism after a natural disaster.
Stay prepared and connected
Hotel partners
Stay connected by downloading the Expedia Group Partner Central app on the App Store or on Google Play and ensure your inventory is up to date to help travellers find emergency accommodation during a natural disaster.
You can also use the messaging tool in the app to communicate with guests before, during and after their stay. We offer pre- and post-stay messaging templates so you can easily communicate with travellers before or during a crisis to help them determine if they should keep their travel plans. For more information on how to communicate in crisis situations, including details on your relocation obligations, please visit our Partner Central Help site.
Vrbo hosts
Download the Vrbo owner app where you can use the messaging tool to stay in contact with guests throughout their stay. Our messaging templates can be used to easily communicate information about the natural disaster and whether they should stick to their initial travel plans or not.
Visit the Vrbo Help Centre for more information about managing your property and your guests.
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Partner Central Help
Head to our Partner Central Help site to get your questions answered on natural disaster management and more.
Vrbo Help Centre
Visit the Vrbo Help Centre for more information about managing your property and your guests.
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