Airbnb bans house parties during coronavirus, and files preliminary paperwork for public stock offering

Because there have been too many "What coronavirus?" parties at properties rented through its service, Airbnb is banning house parties worldwide.

Airbnb has also filed preliminary paperwork for public stock offering, which is rather a bold move in 2020.

The company is trying to clean up its reputation and comply with coronavirus-related limits on gatherings during the pandemic, reports the Associated Press:

The San Francisco home sharing company will limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people. It may offer exceptions for boutique hotels or other event venues.

Airbnb said it may pursue legal action against guests and hosts who violate the ban. Last week, for the first time, Airbnb took legal action against a guest who held an unauthorized party in Sacramento County, California.

Airbnb files confidential IPO paperwork, amid a challenging period for the travel industry. @dee_bosa has the details. https://t.co/7Zhhs5AYU8 pic.twitter.com/2pfrWguft9

- CNBC (@CNBC) August 20, 2020

A public offering by Airbnb would cap a volatile year in which its business was devastated by the spread of the coronavirus https://t.co/EDNPDql4Wc

- NYTimes Tech (@nytimestech) August 20, 2020