Latest news with #KW
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
‘A criminal gang stole £20k worth of racing bikes from our Airbnb in France'
Has a company treated you unfairly? Our Consumer Champion is available to help. For how to contact her click here. Dear Katie, We booked an 11-bedroom property in France through Airbnb for a cycling trip during the Paris-Roubaix weekend in April. What should have been a memorable sporting holiday turned into a distressing ordeal involving burglary, unsafe accommodation and what we feel is a complete failure of Airbnb's much-advertised AirCover protection. Before our arrival, we informed the host that 14 guests would be bringing bicycles, and asked about secure storage. Upon arrival, we discovered that the property's deadlock was jammed and inoperable. My husband phoned the host, who promised a locksmith would attend the next day. However, that night we awoke at 3am to find the front door wide open. To our horror, we found that five bikes, a camera and a set of van keys had been stolen. Luckily, someone in our party had thought to place an AirTag on one of the bikes, and we subsequently recovered three of them by confronting the thieves ourselves. The police, who arrived heavily armed and in body armour, confirmed forced entry and advised us to leave immediately, warning that the gang might return. But Airbnb delayed our relocation, refusing to cover the cost for all guests. After hours of phone calls and having a front door that wouldn't lock, and us needing to guard the property physically, Airbnb finally agreed to let us find our own hotel. We had to pay upfront for alternative accommodation, and were later partially reimbursed. However, when we submitted claims for the stolen items, and other losses under Airbnb's AirCover policy, its insurer denied liability, citing 'forced entry', which effectively absolved the host and, by extension, Airbnb, of responsibility. We feel Airbnb's decision not to compensate us for the two bikes and the camera that remain lost directly contradicts its own promise of '$1m liability insurance' for stolen belongings where the host is liable. We feel our experience raises serious questions about Airbnb's AirCover policy. Its insurer initially claimed it didn't handle theft claims at all, until we sent them Airbnb's own terms. To date, we are still over £10,000 out of pocket. Airbnb's promises of guest protection and responsive support have proven hollow, and we feel we deserve better. Despite repeated attempts to contact them, Airbnb has ignored our emails and failed to address our concerns about the way we have been treated. – KW, via email Dear KW, You faced a terrifying ordeal when you awoke to shuffling sounds coming from downstairs, and you were met face to face with a group of robbers armed with spanners. They made off with some bikes and other valuables, but thankfully, you caught them before they could steal some of your group's more valuable bikes, which were worth as much as £10,000 each. After calling the police, you were startled when they arrived at around 7.30am fully armed with weapons. Apparently, they told you this street you were staying on was notorious for break-ins, as organised crime was rife in the area. Naturally, this frightened the life out of you all and made you want to leave immediately. If this area was as rife with crime as the police had said, then it struck me as deeply irresponsible of the host to allow guests to stay at this property without a sufficiently secure front door. A door with a latch and a functioning deadlock is the bare minimum one would expect at a rental property, and in fact, many insurers insist on front doors having this level of security for valid cover to be put in place. This front door did have a deadlock, but upon arrival at the property, you quickly realised it was temperamental. You messaged the host to let them know it was dangerous. He replied saying someone would come in the morning, but of course, by then it was too late. You also say you were provided with no key to the front door, just a four digit PIN which you were asked not to share with anyone, making you wonder whether it was ever changed between guest stays. Once the police had inspected the break-in, you say you were told that it looked as though the property had been broken into previously, which sent chills down your spine. You phoned Airbnb to report the incident and ask it to move you to another property, but by the sounds of it, it was initially rather useless. Following my involvement, you have now been fully refunded for your replacement hotel, and Airbnb has offered to reimburse the additional expenses you incurred 'as a goodwill gesture', including the van recovery and replacement key, train tickets and event entry fees. This amounts to around £6,000 in total, which will help make up for the £10,000 losses your group incurred as a result of the robbery. However, it still leaves you out of pocket by around £4,000 for the actual items stolen. You rightly point out that part of Airbnb offers cover for guests' stolen belongings in the rare event that their host is found liable for the incident. You made an AirCover claim which was reviewed by an independent adjudicator, but unfortunately they decided that the host was not liable for the claim. However, Airbnb has refused to disclose the full reasons for this decision, and has not sent you the adjudicator's report to examine, or given you the opportunity to appeal the decision. When I asked it for more information, it told me it had not received any evidence that the host confirmed there was anywhere for you to store the bikes after you told it in advance that you were bringing them, or that they described the lock as temperamental, or that they offered to call a locksmith. I told Airbnb that I couldn't see that any of this was reasonable evidence proving that the host was not liable for failing to install basic security on the property's front door, which ultimately left your bikes and camera vulnerable in the attack. I was left feeling concerned that the adjudicator's assessment of the situation had been sloppy, and that Airbnb wasn't interested in digging deeper to establish the true picture. To make matters worse, Airbnb refused to speak to me over the phone about the issue, insisting on email communication only, which only deepened my fears. So with Airbnb digging its heels in over the remaining money, those in your party whom the bikes and camera belonged to are now forced to claim on their home insurance, which will result in higher premiums for them. This seems unfair given the circumstances, and Airbnb's reticence to discuss the nitty gritty here has left me feeling uncomfortable to say the least. I'm sorry you're still disappointed with the outcome, but I have done all I can here with the limited information I've been given. An Airbnb spokesman said: 'Our host liability protection provides up to $1m in coverage in the rare event a guest's belongings are stolen or damaged during a stay and the host is found liable. In this case, the third-party adjuster investigated and did not find the host liable for this incident. 'However, we were sorry to hear about this experience, and as a gesture of goodwill, in addition to refunding the guests for their hotel, we have offered a reimbursement for additional expenses incurred.'
CBC
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Cricket's popularity is growing in Waterloo region, especially among women
Cricket has been gaining in popularity in Canada for the past few years. In Waterloo region, the sport has garnered more attention especially among women. CBC K-W's John Dalusong joined two local cricket teams during their practice, and he spoke to a few players about the growth of the sport in the region and why they love it so much.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Keller Williams Expands to Singapore
AUSTIN, Texas, July 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keller Williams Realty, LLC (KW), the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count, is expanding across Asia. As momentum continues, KW has awarded a new master franchise in Singapore. As of June 30, KW has 22 market centers and 1,196 affiliated agents across Asia. "We are thrilled to welcome KW Singapore to our KW family," said William E. Soteroff, president of Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), the international division of KW. "As our growth across Asia continues to gain momentum, Singapore represents a dynamic market where our models and culture will thrive." Led by Regional Operating Principal Melvin Lim, the KW franchise in Singapore is currently initiating operations. In Q3 2025, KW® Singapore is expected to open its first market center. Lim brings to KW® Singapore 16 years of real estate experience spanning residential sales and brokerage operations. Currently, he serves as the co-founder and CEO of PropertyLimBrothers, a full-service real estate brokerage operating in Singapore. "Melvin and his PropertyLimBrothers team bring a proven track record of innovation, leadership, and success in the Singaporean real estate market," said Soteroff. "We're confident they will set another powerful benchmark for KW's expansion across Asia." Lim is also widely recognized for pioneering the use of video home tours in Singapore as a powerful marketing strategy. "I aspire to watch KW systems and models shape the Singaporean housing market by empowering real estate agents to think like entrepreneurs," said Lim. "It is exciting to see how the KW brand has attracted 50 recruits even before the official launch of KW Singapore." Singapore marks the eighth KW master franchise in Asia. The brand's other seven regions include Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, and India. As of June 30, KWW has more than 270 market centers (outside the U.S. and Canada) across more than 60 regions. KWW has more than 17,500 affiliated agents collectively operating outside the U.S. and Canada. KWW is currently exploring further expansion opportunities across Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia. Core criteria for new licensees start with having a qualified leadership team grounded in the Keller Williams® culture; KWW also strives for stability in the government, banking, and judicial systems, and a higher maturity level in the real estate market. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW's regions include Albania; Argentina; Aruba; Bahamas; Belize; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bonaire; Cayman Islands; Colombia; Costa Rica; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Delhi NCR, India; Dominican Republic; Dubai, UAE; El Salvador; France; Germany; Greece; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Mexico; Monaco; Mongolia; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; São Paulo, Brazil; Saudi Arabia; Scotland; Serbia; Singapore; Sint Maarten; Slovenia; Southern Africa; Spain; Suriname; Thailand; Turkiye; Turks and Caicos; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Vietnam. About Keller Williams Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams Realty, LLC is the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count. It has more than 1,000 market center offices and 162,000 affiliated agents. The franchise is No. 1 in units and sales volume in the U.S. Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven, and education-based culture that rewards affiliated agents. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Darryl G. FrostDirector of Public Relations and Media / 254-466-3627 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Keller Williams Expands to Singapore
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Keller Williams Realty, LLC (KW), the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count, is expanding across Asia. As momentum continues, KW has awarded a new master franchise in Singapore. As of June 30, KW has 22 market centers and 1,196 affiliated agents across Asia. 'We are thrilled to welcome KW Singapore to our KW family,' said Soteroff. 'As our growth across Asia continues to gain momentum, Singapore represents a dynamic market where our models and culture will thrive.' Share 'We are thrilled to welcome KW Singapore to our KW family,' said William E. Soteroff, president of Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), the international division of KW. 'As our growth across Asia continues to gain momentum, Singapore represents a dynamic market where our models and culture will thrive.' Led by Regional Operating Principal Melvin Lim, the KW franchise in Singapore is currently initiating operations. In Q3 2025, KW® Singapore is expected to open its first market center. Lim brings to KW® Singapore 16 years of real estate experience spanning residential sales and brokerage operations. Currently, he serves as the co-founder and CEO of PropertyLimBrothers, a full-service real estate brokerage operating in Singapore. 'Melvin and his PropertyLimBrothers team bring a proven track record of innovation, leadership, and success in the Singaporean real estate market,' said Soteroff. 'We're confident they will set another powerful benchmark for KW's expansion across Asia.' Lim is also widely recognized for pioneering the use of video home tours in Singapore as a powerful marketing strategy. 'I aspire to watch KW systems and models shape the Singaporean housing market by empowering real estate agents to think like entrepreneurs,' said Lim. 'It is exciting to see how the KW brand has attracted 50 recruits even before the official launch of KW Singapore.' Singapore marks the eighth KW master franchise in Asia. The brand's other seven regions include Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, and India. As of June 30, KWW has more than 270 market centers (outside the U.S. and Canada) across more than 60 regions. KWW has more than 17,500 affiliated agents collectively operating outside the U.S. and Canada. KWW is currently exploring further expansion opportunities across Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia. Core criteria for new licensees start with having a qualified leadership team grounded in the Keller Williams® culture; KWW also strives for stability in the government, banking, and judicial systems, and a higher maturity level in the real estate market. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW's regions include Albania; Argentina; Aruba; Bahamas; Belize; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bonaire; Cayman Islands; Colombia; Costa Rica; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Delhi NCR, India; Dominican Republic; Dubai, UAE; El Salvador; France; Germany; Greece; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Mexico; Monaco; Mongolia; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; São Paulo, Brazil; Saudi Arabia; Scotland; Serbia; Singapore; Sint Maarten; Slovenia; Southern Africa; Spain; Suriname; Thailand; Turkiye; Turks and Caicos; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Vietnam. About Keller Williams Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams Realty, LLC is the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count. It has more than 1,000 market center offices and 162,000 affiliated agents. The franchise is No. 1 in units and sales volume in the U.S.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Keller Williams Donates $150,000 to Support Central Texas Flood Relief
AUSTIN, Texas, July 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keller Williams Realty, LLC (KW), the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count, and KW Cares, a 501(c)(3) public charity created to support the KW community and their families, have donated $150,000 to support Central Texas flood relief efforts. "We're heartbroken by the devastation caused by the recent flooding across Central Texas," said Chris Czarnecki, CEO and president of KW. "At Keller Williams, we don't just show up in moments like this, we come together." "This donation and the amazing relief efforts being undertaken by our affiliated agents and leaders reflect our deep commitment to standing shoulder to shoulder with our people and their communities when they need it most," said Czarnecki. The $150,000 donation from KW and KW Cares will be directed to TEXSAR: Texas Search and Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit first-responder organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, and Mercy Chefs, a faith-based nonprofit organization providing disaster and humanitarian relief. TEXSAR serves all citizens of the State of Texas and deploys at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management agencies. Mercy Chefs provides professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies. "In every disaster, our mission remains the same, which is to bring immediate relief and lasting hope to the people we serve," said Alexia Rodriguez, CEO of KW Cares. "From mobilizing supplies to helping KW-affiliated agents and families rebuild, we're here for the long haul." "While all agents and leaders are safe and accounted for in the recent flooding, we are very proud to help support the local community through these two amazing non-profit partners," said Rodriguez. "We are also on standby to support our KW community members who are affected by the flooding in North Carolina over the past weekend." KW Cares has trucks, trailers, and pre-stocked warehouses with supplies for disaster response. The Austin, Texas-based KW Cares call center assists KW® agents and families impacted by disasters. Since 2003, KW Cares has provided over $67.0 million in assistance through more than 7,300 grants to KW® agents and families. KW Cares is funded primarily through KW® agents who donate a portion of their real estate commissions. About KW Cares KW Cares is a 501(c)(3) public charity created to support KW® associates and their families through hardships they experience as a result of a sudden emergency. This charity is at the heart of Keller Williams' culture in action—finding and serving the higher purpose of business through charitable giving in the market centers and communities where associates live and work. About Keller Williams Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams Realty, LLC is the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count. It has more than 1,000 market center offices and 163,000 affiliated agents. The franchise is No. 1 in units and sales volume in the U.S. Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven, and education-based culture that rewards affiliated agents. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Darryl G. FrostDirector of Public Relations and Media / 254-466-3627 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
