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business Saturday 3 OctOber 2020
California wavers on theme park opening rules amid pressure

By ADAM BEAM and AMY state expects to lose $78.8
TAXIN billion in travel spending for
Associated Press 2020 — up from an initial in-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) dustry loss forecast in June
— Gov. Gavin Newsom on of $75.4 billion for the year.
Friday delayed new oper- While the occupancy rates
ating rules for theme parks at California's hotels are
such as Disneyland that higher than the national
have been closed since average, Visit California
the beginning of the pan- CEO Caroline Beteta said
demic as tourism industry Southern California's Or-
officials warned the state ange County where Dis-
was set to lose more than neyland and other theme
$78 billion in travel related parks are located "is faring
spending this year. the worst across all regions
The Newsom administration given its high dependency
had planned to release the on Disneyland."
new rules on Friday, spokes- Beteta said she doesn't
man Nathan Click told the expect travel spending in
Sacramento Bee. But fol- California to return to 2019
lowing industry criticism of levels until at least 2024.
the proposed rules, state Disney this week an-
health officials said no an- nounced it would layoff
nouncement was coming 28,000 workers at its parks
Friday as negotiations con- in Florida and California.
tinue. "Given the size and Workers United Local 50,
operational complexities In this March 13, 2020 file photo, visitors take photos at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., the last day which represents Disney-
the park was open due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
of these unique sectors, we Associated Press land's food service work-
are seeking additional in- ers, said on social media
put from health, workforce health and safety require- for an update on those ly," White said. "If we lose all that more than a third of
and business stakeholders ments, there are many oth- rules. But all he would say of our business for the first its nearly 7,800 members
to finalize this important ers that need to be modi- is "as soon as we have an quarter of 2021, our des- would be affected by lay-
framework," Dr. Mark Gh- fied if they are to lead to announcement to make tination is going to be se- offs, including about 400
aly, California's top pub- a responsible and reason- it will be made." That ap- verely, severely devastated full-time workers.
lic health official, said in able amusement park re- peared to frustrate Scott and I think there is a lot of In a letter to employees,
a statement. Amusement opening plan," Guerrero White, president and CEO businesses that will never the company blamed its
park leaders saw a draft said in a statement. of the Greater Palm Springs come back." troubles in part on Califor-
of the new rules Thursday No one has said what Convention & Visitors Bu- Florida has allowed its nia's "unwillingness to lift
and urged state officials Newsom's proposed rules reau, who said he has lost theme parks to reopen with restrictions." Walt Disney
to change them, said Erin would have allowed. Fri- all large meetings through restrictions. But California's Co. chairman Bob Iger quit
Guerrero, executive direc- day, the board of directors the end of the year and is rules still don't allow large Newsom's economic re-
tor of the California Attrac- for Visit California — the beginning to lose bookings gatherings for concerts, covery task force after the
tions and Parks Association. state's tourism marketing for the first quarter of 2021. conventions and amuse- layoffs were announced,
"While we are aligned on authority — asked a New- "We need guidance and ment parks. California tour- the Sacramento Bee
many of the protocols and som administration official we need guidance quick- ism officials said Friday the reported.q

Airbnb blocking some rentals over Halloween to halt parties

By DEE-ANN DURBIN Airbnb said it will also look In July, the company
AP Business Writer more closely at two- and banned U.S. and Cana-
Airbnb will prohibit one- three-night reservations dian guests under age
night rentals over Hallow- during Halloween. A guest 25 with fewer than three
een weekend as part of may be denied, for exam- positive reviews from book-
its ongoing effort to crack ple, if they try to book a ing entire homes close to
down on party houses. whole home close to their where they live. That poli-
The action, announced Fri- own home during that pe- cy was later expanded to
day, comes nearly a year riod and they don't have a the United Kingdom, Spain
after a deadly shooting at history of positive reviews and France. And in August,
an Airbnb in Orinda, Cali- on Airbnb. Airbnb banned parties
fornia. Five people were Airbnb has taken a series worldwide and limited oc-
killed in the shooting, which of steps to crack down cupancy at its rentals to 16
happened during an unau- on parties since last year's people.
thorized Halloween party. shooting. Last November, it Airbnb has also warned
San Francisco-based Airb- started manually reviewing guests and hosts that it
nb said it will ban one-night U.S. and Canadian reser- could take legal action
rentals of entire homes in vations to weed out suspi- against violators. In August,
the U.S. and Canada on cious rentals. The compa- for the first time, it started
Oct. 30 or Oct. 31. Previous- ny's efforts have intensified legal proceedings against
ly booked one-night rentals as it prepares for an initial a guest who held an unau- In this Feb. 22, 2018, file photo Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian
will be canceled and Airb- public stock offering, which thorized house party in Sac- Chesky speaks during an event in San Francisco.
Associated Press
nb will offer refunds. could come later this year. ramento, California.q