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                By <a class="article_info__author__link js-ga_event_click" href="/users/johnmccarthy" data-event-label="Author Name">John McCarthy</a><span class="desktop_only article_info__dash">-</span><span class="article_info__published">29 August 2017 13:08pm</span></div></div></div><div class="social_block social_block--bordered social_block--article" data-event-category="Article Page Share Block - Top"><div id="share-count" class="js-ajax-view" data-view-path="/extra/share-count" data-param-url="/news/2017/08/29/airbnb-waives-houston-fees-after-hurricane-harvey-floating-world-marketing-email"></div><ul class="social_block__networks"><li class="unstyled_list__item"><a class="social_block__link--twitter js-ga_event_click" data-event-label="Twitter" 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            <figcaption class="caption photo__caption">AirBnb offends with &#039;Floating Homes&#039; promotion / Quartz</figcaption>
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</div></div><div class="col"><div class="article__body js-ga_event_click_body" data-event-category="Article Page Body"><p><a href="http://www.thedrum.com/topics/airbnb">Airbnb</a> is up a creek without a paddle after an email marketing campaign promoting a “Floating World” accomodation came across as insensitive in light of Hurricane Harvey’s onslaught of Texas.</p><p>As much of Houston and the surrounding area remains submerged by unprecedented rainfall, the natural disaster has resulted in <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/28/harvey-may-force-30000-people-into-shelters-while-flooding-will-linger-officials-warn/?hpid=hp_hp-banner-main_houstonledeall-820am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.5989097b59b1" target="_blank">nine confirmed deaths</a> at the time of publication.</p><p>Airbnb is one brand helping to ease the plight of the local populace, seeing as some 30,000 people are estimated to be without shelter after the disaster. The company has waived its service fee as homeowners queue to list their properties one the site to take in the homeless for free between 23 August to 1 September.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p>People in neighboring cities are opening their homes to those affected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash" target="_blank">#Harvey</a> by using Airbnb. The company has waived all service fees. <a href="https://t.co/WbCRZhoWtl" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/WbCRZhoWtl</a> — AJ+ (@ajplus) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/902266466006794240" target="_blank">August 28, 2017</a></p></blockquote><p>However, somewhat sullying the philanthropic gesture was a poorly-timed marketing email offering accommodation in a picturesque 'Floating World'. It landed in the inbox of members as the hurricane was ravaging coastal areas of Texas.</p><p><a href="https://qz.com/1064387/airbnb-sent-a-floating-world-marketing-email-in-the-middle-of-hurricane-harvey/" target="_blank">An Airbnb spokesperson apologised for the campaign to Quartz</a>: “The timing of this email marketing campaign was insensitive and we apologize for that.</p><p>“We continue to keep everyone affected by Harvey and all the first responders and their families in our thoughts.”</p><p>The move leveraged some criticism on Twitter.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p>Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">@Airbnb</a>, probably not the best time to send an email advertising "floating homes" ya know? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarveyStorm?src=hash" target="_blank">#HarveyStorm</a><a href="https://t.co/XVzjsO7e5D" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/XVzjsO7e5D</a></p><p>— Michael L. (@formula623) <a href="https://twitter.com/formula623/status/902234680887574530" target="_blank">August 28, 2017</a></p></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p>Hey, <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">@Airbnb</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AirbnbHelp" target="_blank">@AirbnbHelp</a> -"Floating homes, waterfall slides, & more reasons to travel" maybe not best email to send to Texas this morning <a href="https://t.co/5NvID4H2nt" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/5NvID4H2nt</a> — jesuisverycleancoal (@jenniferinc) <a href="https://twitter.com/jenniferinc/status/901469011409604608" target="_blank">August 26, 2017</a></p></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p>Kinda poor timing for this add, <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">@Airbnb</a>, with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneHarvy?src=hash" target="_blank">#HurricaneHarvy</a> creating many "floating homes"... <a href="https://t.co/VMiozLw0AA" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/VMiozLw0AA</a> — Matthew Ritter (@RittonTwit) <a href="https://twitter.com/RittonTwit/status/902317443435114497" target="_blank">August 28, 2017</a></p></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p>Considering the major meteorological disaster atm, not sure <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">@</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">Airbnb</a>'s email promoting floating cottages was particularly well thought-out. — Chris (@CTIGower) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTIGower/status/902302462354354176" target="_blank">August 28, 2017</a></p></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p>Poor judgment <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb" target="_blank">@Airbnb</a> re email I received w beautiful photos. "Stay above water. Live the life aquatic with these floating homes." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash" target="_blank">#Harvey</a></p><p>— Alden Ulrich (@AldenUlrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/AldenUlrich/status/902292642934882304" target="_blank">August 28, 2017</a></p></blockquote></div><p><span class="article__tagline">This article is about: </span><span class="article__tags"><a href=http://www.thedrum.com/location/world class="js-ga_event_click " data-event-value="0" data-event-label="Tag">World</a>, <a href=http://www.thedrum.com/topics/airbnb class="js-ga_event_click " data-event-value="1" data-event-label="Tag">Airbnb</a>, <a href=http://www.thedrum.com/topics/email class="js-ga_event_click " data-event-value="2" data-event-label="Tag">Email</a>, <a href=http://www.thedrum.com/us/advertising class="js-ga_event_click " data-event-value="3" data-event-label="Tag">Advertising</a>, <a href=http://www.thedrum.com/us/brand class="js-ga_event_click " data-event-value="5" 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All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div></div></footer><div id="DFP_Pixel"></div><script type="application/ld+json">[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/news\/2017\/08\/29\/airbnb-waives-houston-fees-after-hurricane-harvey-floating-world-marketing-email","mainEntityOfPage":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/news\/2017\/08\/29\/airbnb-waives-houston-fees-after-hurricane-harvey-floating-world-marketing-email","headline":"Airbnb waives Houston fees after Hurricane Harvey but \u2018Floating World\u2019 marketing email touches a nerve","articleBody":"Airbnb is up a creek without a paddle after an email marketing campaign promoting a \u201cFloating World\u201d accomodation came across as insensitive in light of Hurricane Harvey\u2019s onslaught of Texas.As much of Houston and the surrounding area remains submerged by unprecedented rainfall, the natural disaster has resulted in nine confirmed deaths at the time of publication.Airbnb is one brand helping to ease the plight of the local populace, seeing as some 30,000 people are estimated to be without shelter after the disaster. The company has waived its service fee as homeowners queue to list their properties one the site to take in the homeless for free between 23 August to 1 September.People in neighboring cities are opening their homes to those affected by #Harvey by using Airbnb. The company has waived all service fees. pic.twitter.com\/WbCRZhoWtl \u2014 AJ+ (@ajplus) August 28, 2017However, somewhat sullying the philanthropic gesture was a poorly-timed marketing email offering accommodation in a picturesque 'Floating World'. It landed in the inbox of members as the hurricane was ravaging coastal areas of Texas.An Airbnb spokesperson apologised for the campaign to Quartz: \u201cThe timing of this email marketing campaign was insensitive and we apologize for that.\u201cWe continue to keep everyone affected by Harvey and all the first responders and their families in our thoughts.\u201dThe move leveraged some criticism on Twitter.Hey @Airbnb, probably not the best time to send an email advertising \"floating homes\" ya know? #HarveyStorm pic.twitter.com\/XVzjsO7e5D\u2014 Michael L. (@formula623) August 28, 2017Hey, @Airbnb @AirbnbHelp -\"Floating homes, waterfall slides, & more reasons to travel\" maybe not best email to send to Texas this morning pic.twitter.com\/5NvID4H2nt \u2014 jesuisverycleancoal (@jenniferinc) August 26, 2017Kinda poor timing for this add, @Airbnb, with #HurricaneHarvy creating many \"floating homes\"... pic.twitter.com\/VMiozLw0AA \u2014 Matthew Ritter (@RittonTwit) August 28, 2017Considering the major meteorological disaster atm, not sure @Airbnb's email promoting floating cottages was particularly well thought-out. \u2014 Chris (@CTIGower) August 28, 2017Poor judgment @Airbnb re email I received w beautiful photos. \"Stay above water. Live the life aquatic with these floating homes.\" #Harvey\u2014 Alden Ulrich (@AldenUlrich) August 28, 2017","datePublished":"2017-08-29T13:08:00+01:00","dateModified":"2017-08-29T13:16:59+01:00","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/news\/2017\/08\/29\/airbnb-waives-houston-fees-after-hurricane-harvey-floating-world-marketing-email","publisher":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"The Drum","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com","telephone":"(44) 141 552 5858","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/assets\/images\/logo\/logo-thedrum-desktop.png"},"email":"enquiries@thedrum.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Glasgow","addressRegion":"Scotland","postalCode":"G1 5AB","streetAddress":"Mercat Building, 4th Floor, 26 Gallowgate"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedrumpage","https:\/\/twitter.com\/thedrum","https:\/\/plus.google.com\/+thedrum","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/thedrum","https:\/\/instagram.com\/drumeu\/","https:\/\/uk.pinterest.com\/thedrum\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheDrumReel"]},"image":"http:\/\/media-assets-02.thedrum.com\/cache\/images\/thedrum-prod\/s3-news-tmp-77017-untitled_design_78_0--default--1024.png","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"John McCarthy","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/users\/johnmccarthy","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/johngeemccarthy"]},"creator":{"@type":"Person","name":"John McCarthy","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/users\/johnmccarthy","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/johngeemccarthy"]},"keywords":"Airbnb, email","articleSection":"Advertising"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebSite","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/search?query={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"The Drum","url":"http:\/\/www.thedrum.com","telephone":"(44) 141 552 5858","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.thedrum.com\/assets\/images\/logo\/logo-thedrum-desktop.png"},"email":"enquiries@thedrum.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Glasgow","addressRegion":"Scotland","postalCode":"G1 5AB","streetAddress":"Mercat Building, 4th Floor, 26 Gallowgate"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedrumpage","https:\/\/twitter.com\/thedrum","https:\/\/plus.google.com\/+thedrum","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/thedrum","https:\/\/instagram.com\/drumeu\/","https:\/\/uk.pinterest.com\/thedrum\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheDrumReel"]}]</script><!-- START Parse.ly Include: Standard --><div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"><span id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="thedrum.com"></span></div><script>
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