Thats how The Boss Of Airbnb described the Travel Industry when he unveiled the latest Booking Numbers for the platform. Bigger properties, more rural properties these were the hot destinations that boosted revenues. Looking at the first quarter, us bookings were actually better than pre pandemic levels. And theres improvement in business in the uk and france. In the last 2a hours, us Health Officials said fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks in most settings. That prompted the airbnb boss, brian chesky, to tell investors we expect travel to be very different than before. People are discovering that they dont have to be tethered to one location to live and work. Well, is he right . Joining me now is sarah kunst, Managing Director of cleo capital. Do you think he is right because mike has our view of home, work, and change . I because mike has our view of home, work, and change . I think it has, home, work, and change . I think it has. And home, work, and change . I think it has, and maybe home, work, and change . I think it has, and maybe not home, work, and change . I think it has, and maybe not forever. I it has, and maybe not forever. But it is coming back in a Way Thatis but it is coming back in a way that is great for airbnb. We are seeing 90 normal travel and that is not priced into the results because the net loss tripled. As people get vaccinated they want to travel again. A lot of people made money during the pandemic and they want to go for longer trips, rent houses, Big Digital Nomads and be gone for a month. On the other side there are a lot of people who are really eager to rent out their properties and recoup some of the money that they have lost over the last Year. Over the last Year. Customers do appear over the last Year. Customers do appear to over the last Year. Customers do appear to be do appear to be paying higher prices. Why do you think that is . ~ , prices. Why do you think that is . ~ , , prices. Why do you think that is . ~ , ,. , is . I think it is supply and demand. Is . I think it is supply and demand, where is . I think it is supply and demand, where people i is . I think it is supply and i demand, where people want to 90, demand, where people want to go, which locations are still able to take in airbnb. I think it is interesting that airbnb said they are actually trying to figure out how to drive demand to places that doesnt haveit demand to places that doesnt have it and that might include having lower prices so they can do sort of what uber does with Surge Pricing but with Surge Locations to bump up places. Business is not quite as rosy everywhere, is it . It is less predictable outside the us, and there are significant regulatory risks depend on which country they are operating in. Which country they are oeratin in. ~ ,. , operating in. Absolutely. You see countries operating in. Absolutely. You see countries like operating in. Absolutely. You see countries like australia. See countries like australia that are still talking about maybe keeping their doors closed for another Year to international tourism and other countries where it feels really almost Day By day in terms of when they will be able to reopen and how much travel they can safely handle and then there is always the threat of a new, you know, Coronavirus Variant that comes in and undoes the vaccines. When you look at airbnb compared to expedia, who have their Revenue Down I7 come up with airbnb being up 5 Year on Year, it is not groundbreaking, but it is not groundbreaking, but it is not nothing. Not groundbreaking, but it is not nothing not nothing. Thank you for oininu not nothing. Thank you for joining me. Not nothing. Thank you for joining me, sarah not nothing. Thank you for joining me, Sarah Const not nothing. Thank you for i joining me, Sarah Const from california. Kunst. Youll remember earlier this hour we were discussing the uncertainty around portugal reopening to tourists next week. It appears there are no such concerns from greece, a country that also relies heavily on the tourism industry. In fact, tourism accounts for 20 of the entire economy and one in fivejobs. Now, there are a range of Safety Protocols in place. For example, arrivals will have to show vaccination or negative test certificates. And not everyone can visit Uk Holidaymakers still have to wait till monday before their government allows foreign travel. Here in the uk, greece is on the amber list, which means a 10 Day Quarantine for returning travellers, as well as two Pcr Tests. Lets to speak to george filippidis, Managing Director of andronis hotels, the group has which six hotels in santorini and one in athens. Not quite as straightforward as perhaps you would have liked the Summer Season to have started. How are bookings looking . We have seen a pickup, the trend over the last three weeks. So it is going to be something that will start slow but towards The End of the summer we expected to be almost 90 of what we had in 2019. In 9096 of what we had in 2019. In our 90 of what we had in 2019. In your view, 90 of what we had in 2019. In yourview, do 90 of what we had in 2019. In your view, do you think british travellers have been put off grease because of the requirement to quarantine on their return . Their return . Yes, i think it is a Strong their return . Yes, i think it is a Strong restriction i their return . Yes, i think it is a Strong restriction that. Is a Strong restriction that they put on most of the people. So who are making up the majority of your bookings, then . ~. ,. , majority of your bookings, then . ,. , majority of your bookings, then . ,. , then . Most of our bookings come from france. Then . Most of our bookings come from france, the then . Most of our bookings come from france, the united then . Most of our bookings come from france, the united states, l from france, the united states, and then it is spread out through various european countries, mainly. Through various european countries, mainly. Ok. We were talkin countries, mainly. Ok. We were talkingjust countries, mainly. Ok. We were talking just before, countries, mainly. Ok. We were talking just before, speaking i talking just before, speaking to you about the importance of the Travel Industry and the Tourism Sector to the economic success of the country. Critical, you could say. But how does the greek population itself feel about an influx of people from All Over The World to the islands . fist people from All Over The World to the islands . People from All Over The World to the islands . At the moment there is a to the islands . At the moment there is a real to the islands . At the moment there is a real concern. To the islands . At the moment there is a real concern. Most i there is a real concern. Most of the people will have been vaccinated. It is an important sector and hotels are operating with the measures. Anyone under risk needs to be vaccinated or tested. So in general there is a concern. There are always people that are afraid of it, but the majority of greeks are happy about the reopening. But at the current rate of vaccination it would take the government in excess of 50 days to fully vaccinate another 10 of the greek population . To fully vaccinate another 1096 of the greek population . Yes, this is true. Of the greek population . Yes, this is true. We of the greek population . Yes, this is true. We have this is true. We have administered 4 Million doses, a little bit over 4 Million. But all the Population Groups that are in high risk are already vaccinated and most of the people in tourism have been vaccinated. We are expecting to be finished in the next few weeks. �. ,. ,. , weeks. 0k were going to leave it there, i think, at the it there, i think, at the moment. Thank you george. Good luck with summer and all the bookings. I because well for you. Bookings. I because well for ou. ~ bookings. I because well for ou. ~ ,. , bookings. I because well for yon i bookings. I because well for yon i hope i bookings. I because well for yon i hope iti you. Thank you. I hope it noes you. Thank you. I hope it goes well you. Thank you. I hope it goes well for you. Thank you. I hope it goes well for you. Staying with travel, dubai is the worlds busiest airport for international travellers, and Passenger Numbers there have dropped from 86 Million a Year to less than 26 million. My Colleague Aaron Heslehurst caught up with paul griffiths, The Boss of Dubai Airports, and asked him if he believed travel to return to previous levels. If you look at what the us are doing and what theyre doing in Singapore And Israel and in the uk, you can see that there direct correlation between the progress of Vaccine Distribution and actually the inverse rate of infection and various other measures such as hospitalisation and the death rate. That, ithink, is the proven exit. It is up to countries to decide how they are going to get mobile again and actually adopting a Vaccination Strategy is, i think, the only way through this, so we can get back to the global mobility that we once took for granted. So i am a complete supporter. It is up to the countries to decide what the countries to decide what the entry requirements are and it is up to the airlines and the airports Around The World to enforce it. figs the airports Around The World to enforce it. To enforce it. As you know, paul to enforce it. As you know, paul. There to enforce it. As you know, paul, there are to enforce it. As you know, paul, there are those i paul, there are those opposed to vaccination passports. The world tourism council, the world health organization, they say will only discriminate against both people from typically developing nations where Vaccine Rollout is way behind. ,. , , � behind. The problem isnt the vaccine passport, behind. The problem isnt the vaccine passport, the behind. The problem isnt the| vaccine passport, the problem is the distribution of vaccines. And i think what has to happen is the whole of the globe has to get together and prioritise the vaccination of the entire population and make that more equitable. I dont think there is an alternative to vaccine passports. Besides, it is not a new notion. I am old enough to have at home somewhere one of those yellow booklets that we had to travel to south America Or Africa with, Years ago. This isjust a modern, digitalversion with, Years ago. This isjust a modern, digital version of the same. �. ,. , modern, digital version of the same. ,. ,. , same. But paul if it does not work, would same. But paul if it does not i work, would you be able to run multiple systems if that is what is needed . We are already seeing huge long queues at Heathrow Airport because of these covid 19 checks. Is it inevitable that airports like yours and others will see long queues when you arrive . Absolutely not. For example, we operate a testing regime. So everyone that needs a test on arrival gets one. It is provided free by the government. We havejust opened a Testing Lab on site at the airport which will process all of those Pcr Test results within three hours. We have processed so far more than 4 Million tests at the airport without queues. Whatever the system, we will adapt our processes to ensure that our passengers are not put in huge long queues and kept waiting. Well, he was on bbc World News can see more of that interview with the Dubai Airports ceo. Thats on talking business with Aaron Heslehurst this weekend. The times are on your screen now with the first airing at 23 30 gmt on saturday. Lets get some of the days other news. Disney attracted fewer streaming customers than expected last quarter, stoking fears that a key engine of the century old Companys Transformation may be losing some momentum. The Entertainment Giant reported 103. 6 million disney customers at The End of last quarter, shy of the 110. 3 million analysts had expected. The shares fell as much as 5. 3 in extended trading on the news. Elsewhere, and this is a big story, The Boss of the us Technology Giant ibm said a Computer Chip Shortage could last another two Years. Its president , jim whitehurst, told the bbc it could be a few Years before the situation improves. Many firms have seen production delayed because of a lack of semiconductors, triggered by the pandemic. Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin And Ethereum are continuing theirfalls. The volatility was sparked by Elon Musk after he said his Firm Tesla would no longer accept bitcoin as payment for its products citing environmental reasons. And in related news, quarterly profits for the Cryptocurrency Exchange Coinbase surged by more than 20 times from a Year earlier. Now, the first quarterly loss for chinas top E Commerce Platform alibaba since it went public in 2014 has led its us listed shares to fall. Sharanjit leyl is following the story from our asia business hub. How significant is this, sharanjit . It how significant is this, sharanjit . Sharanjit . It is of big significance. Sharanjit . It is of big significance. They i sharanjit . It is of Big L significance. They first quarterly loss as a company. They are listed in Hong Kong and those shares continue to fall today. They have been down over 5 just a little earlier. That is going against the broader Hong Kong market, which along with other markets are rising, taking cues from wall street. As i mentioned, the first ever operating loss for the company is really being blamed on that record 2. 8 Billion antimonopoly fine, you will remember, that alibaba was slapped with by the Countrys Market Regulator last month. This regulatory crackdown on big Technology In China has led to that suspension of the nearly 35 Billion ibo of its affiliate, ant group. They will be hoping this is the last of their issues with regulators. We know it came with that cancellation of the ipo. 2. 7 billion has been wiped off the value of its stock as scrutiny continues. That includes the massive fine i just told you about. It was slapped with china because they have been clamping down on its big tech sector, much not helped by comments that alibabas comments that aliba bas comments that alibabas comments by its founder, jack ma, last Year, which when taken well, and has led to Jack Mas low profile of late. There was an investigation into a Food Company that Alibaba Competes with. Despite all of this, alibaba is predicting Strong revenue for the next Year, betting that the pandemic driven shift to online shopping will remain Strong. Will remain Strong. Thank you very much. Will remain Strong. Thank you very much, Sharanjit Will remain Strong. Thank you very much, sharanjit do i will remain Strong. Thank you very much, sharanjit Do Stayl very much, sharanjit do stay with us here on bbc news. Still to come how yoga went from a simple excercise you did once a week in your gym to a booming industry. The pope was shot, the pope Will Live that is the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon that, as an italian Television Commentator put it, terrorism has come to the vatican. The man they called the butcher of lyon, klaus barbie, went on Trial Today in the french town where he was the Gestapo Chief in the second world war. Winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentenced to six Years injail. The judge told Mrs Mandela there was no indication she felt even the slightest remorse. The chinese government has called for an all out effort i to help the victims of a powerful earthquake the worst to hit the I Country for 30 Years. The computer Deep Blue has tonight triumphed over the World Chess Champion gary kasparov. It is the first time A Machine has defeated a reigning World Champion in a classical chess match. Americas first legal same sex marriages have been taking place in massachusetts. God bless america this is bbc World News. The latest headlines palestinian Rockets Target civilian areas in israel and the palestinians have responded by moving forces closer to gaza. Cases that the indian Coronavirus Variant have doubled in the past week. They are considering bringing forward vaccines and considering surge testing. Muslims Around The World are now celebrating eid, after a month of fasting. That usually means visiting family and feasting. This is the second Year in a row that festivities will be quieter than usual, due to the pandemic. But that doesnt mean you Cant Dress up for the occasion. And in asia thats leading to a boom in muslim compliant fashion. A lot of people think of it as boring and less stylish and not revealing clothes. When more advocates and huge giants such as mango, mango, when they took it in, it changed everything. It is notjust about loosefitting clothes. It is not just about long sleeves all long maxi dresses but it is about functionality so for example, when you have sleeves that are slightly tapered and it looks great beaches and great when you were it not practical for a great when you were it not practicalfor a modern muslim woman and so this is what we normally do, we take make adjustments so they can lift their sleeves up. Adjustments so they can lift their sleeves up. During cobit we changed their sleeves up. During cobit we changed the their sleeves up. During cobit we changed the direct their sleeves up. During cobit we changed the direct design | we changed the direct Design Direction and made it covid, to make it more comfortable and even a Jersey Type of Fabric Thatis even a Jersey Type of fabric that is fashionable and he did not have to iron it and very comfortable to wear at home because that is where they will because that is where they will be most of the time. We want to provide affordable, trendy, modest, practicaland modest, practical and comfortable outfits, modest, practicaland comfortable outfits, all in one design. Yoga is booming. In the west its now arguably more of a lifestyle than a form of exercise and comes in many forms. In the past decade it has morphed from being an exercise you might do once a week at your local gym to a major industry. On monday in england, Yoga Studios will open their doors again for indoor exercise classes. Will customers feel confident to return . Joining me now isjonathan sattin, founder of triyoga. Thank you forjoining us. How would you describe the pandemic has had on the industry . Emotionally and financially challenging and intellectually stimulating. Before covid, we had five centres teaching about 750 classes a week. We had international teachers coming from All Over The World and last march, all of those centres closed and within five days we went online and had online, about 50 classes online straightaway. Online, about 50 classes online straightaway straightaway. Incredible talkinu straightaway. Incredible talking about straightaway. Incredible talking about what i straightaway. Incredible talking about what is i straightaway. Incredible i talking about what is going on for the reopening of the studios. What changes have you made to try to bring people back . ,. ,. , back . So, the safety of our students. Back . So, the safety of our students, staff back . So, the safety of our students, staff are back . So, the safety of our. Students, staff are paramount so weve done a lot of different things. Ventilation systems are key. We have installed a state of the art verification, Hospital Grade units in the classes and reception. Reduced class capacities, seven times more studios, Cleaning Protocol through the day, take your temperature during the day, a number of protocols to keep People Safe. Number of protocols to keep People Safe People Safe. Are confident arc ue People Safe. Are confident argue about People Safe. Are confident argue about returning, i People Safe. Are confident| argue about returning, how confident do you think are about returning . Confident do you think are about returning . Looking at the numbers this about returning . Looking at the numbers this morning, about returning . Looking at the numbers this morning, running| numbers this morning, running at 50 capacity for the first day and this is important for us because all of our proceeds are going to an indian charity called Breed India to support Oxygen Supplies in delhi, but generally, i think people will come back straightaway and are keen to come back. I think for other people, it would take time. All of the classes will be live streamed as well as being in the studio. Be live streamed as well as being in the studio. Yoga is very closely being in the studio. Yoga is very closely associated i being in the studio. Yoga is| very closely associated with Well Being and everything Well Being and everything Well Being related has been a real boost during the pandemic. How likely do you think it is that people who took up yoga in the last Year or so will continue to do this because it has been a big Growth Market for you . I has been a big Growth Market for ou . ~ � ,. , has been a big Growth Market for ou . ~ � ,. ,. , for you . I think its a really aood for you . I think its a really good question. For you . I think its a really good question. I for you . I think its a really good question. I think for you . I think its a really good question. I think we | for you . I think its a really i good question. I think we will find out. People have realised that yoga is an amazing practice. It has so many benefits, mental, physical, reduces stress, helps you with your sleep, reduces stress, helps you with yoursleep, makes reduces stress, helps you with your sleep, makes you fitter, improves immunity, so i think people now have the opportunity to go to centres and also do it online so i hope that this, this surge, for a better word, this surge, for a better word, this increase continues. One big area of growth is the asian market. ,. ,. , big area of growth is the asian market. ,. , market. You position yourself into that . Market. You position yourself into that . You market. You position yourself into that . You mean market. You position yourself into that . You mean the i market. You position yourself| into that . You mean the asian market locally into that . You mean the asian market locally or market locally or internationally . Internationally. We have seen huge growth in the us, europe and the big Boom Area seems to be a xia . We and the big Boom Area seems to be a xia . ~. And the big Boom Area seems to be a xia . ~. ,. , and the big Boom Area seems to beaxia . ,. ,. , be a xia . We are only based in london be a xia . We are only based in london seems be a xia . We are only based in london seems to be a xia . We are only based in london seems to be be a xia . We are only based in london seems to be a i be a xia . We are only based in london seems to be a xia. L be a xia . We are only based in l london seems to be a xia. So london seems to be a xia. So we have a lot of international students so i presume that growth will continue asia. Sorry, i had to do a quick move to the desk and these issues are not great to walk in and checking the markets these shoes. Volatility and fears in rising prices, stacking trouble in the markets and looks like there was a rebound and this is pointing to the us as being higher as well and as a cryptocurrency is, the evangelist has turned critic. Elon musk has said bitcoin will no longer be an acceptable form of currency for tesla products. Citing environmental impacts. We have seen a big fall of cryptocurrency is across the Board Cryptocurrency is across the Boa Rd and calls cryptocurrency is across the board and calls for greater regulation as well because cryptocurrency is not backed by anything like the us dollar for example. Backed by anything like the us dollarfor example. And dollar for example. And checking in dollarfor example. And checking in on the us dollar in wall street, and there we go, this is how the session ended yesterday. Light crude, 63 a barrel. That is it for me. Thank you for your company. Do you carry on twitter and for all your major stories, go online for the main stories and you can see the website as well. That is if you are viewing from abroad. In the uk, do not forget you have Bbc Breakfast coming up in about five minutes. They are getting all dolled up and ready and waiting for you you will be in good hands. It is my birthday do you wish me a happy birthday on twitter see you soon hello. Theres been no shortage of wet weather this week and there is plenty more where that came from as we head towards the weekend. Thursday was a particularly soggy affair across some southern areas. You can see this curl of cloud on the Satellite Picture a slow moving Weather System that brought heavy and persistent rain. There is more cloud behind me in the atlantic another area of low pressure heading our way for the weekend. In between, well, arguably, a slice of slightly drier weather. There will still be some showers and actually, as we go through the day, the showers will tend to pop up in the areas where we develop some sunshine, so across Northern Ireland, eventually western parts of scotland, North West england, wales, the South West. It will turn into a sunshine and Showers Day after a dull start for some. But for Eastern England and certainly the North East of scotland, we will hold on to more cloud. Where we have more of the cloud, well, there wont be so many showers but it will feel chilly 11 or 12 degrees and there could be the Odd Spot of drizzle around at times. Now, as we head through Friday Night into saturday, some bits and pieces of Showery Rain will be replaced by a band of more persistent rain pushing up from the South West across england, wales, into Northern Ireland by The End of the night. Quite a mild start to the weekend but it is going to be quite a turbulent weekend of weather, actually, with some very, very heavy downpours and thunderstorms, always with some sunny spells in between. Our band of rain will continue to push its way slowly northwards during saturday, perhaps getting up into the South Of Scotland by The End of the day. Behind it, sunshine and showers, but those showers really will start to turn very, very heavy for wales and the South West, with Hail And Thunder later on. Top temperatures between 11 and 15 degrees. And then, we head on into sunday, and this area of low pressure is going to move right across the uk. As this sits on top of us during sunday, it will allow for some very unstable conditions in the atmosphere. That means big Shower Clouds are going to develop with some hail and some thunder, frequent lightning potentially in these showers, torrential downpours of rain and some pretty squally, gusty winds. Particularly windy for coasts of Southern England and the Channel Islands gusts here in excess of a0 mph. But in any sunshine between the showers, not feeling too bad highs of 16 degrees. Good morning, welcome to breakfast with Naga Munchetty and charlie stayt. Our Headlines Today tackling the indian covid variant. As cases double in a week, the government says it Cant Rule out local lockdowns. If you have flights booked to portugal on monday, you may not be able to get in, after the country extended its covid alert. Pulling down the shutters on High Street history. Debenhams bows out after 200 Years. Ill look back at the good, and bad, times for the iconic brand. And times for the iconic brand. With foreign Traveller Lo tricky, and with foreign Traveller Looking tricky, blackpool is hoping to welcome more visitors than ever as more of us are likely to holiday