This paper investigates how COVID-19 is impacting different accommodation types, and whether travellers' choices regarding accommodation type are affected by the need for physical distance. Study 1 shows that travellers are very reluctant to book shared flats on Airbnb during the pandemic. However, full flats – controlling for price levels - are preferred to hotel rooms. Study 2 clarifies the process behind the increased choice for full flats, i.e., the need for physical distance. In Study 3, we actively manipulate physical distance and show that assuring physical distance will reduce the concerns towards hotel and shared flat options. Apart from enlightening the psychological process behind accommodation choice, the study offers operators actionable suggestions on how to maximise bookings despite the pandemic.

本文研究了COVID-19如何影响不同的住宿类型，以及旅行者对住宿类型的选择是否受到身体距离需求的影响。研究1显示，在大流行期间，旅行者非常不愿意在Airbnb上预订共享公寓。但是，全套公寓（控制价格水平）优于酒店客房。研究2阐明了增加全平面选择的过程，即需要物理距离。在研究3中，我们积极地操纵了物理距离，并证明了确保物理距离将减少对酒店和共享公寓选择的担忧。该研究除了启发住宿选择背后的心理过程外，还为运营商提供了有关在大流行情况下如何最大限度地增加预订量的可行建议。