Since its establishment in 2007, Airbnb has since seen 4 million hosts welcome more than a billion guests to their homes. Operating in 220 countries and regions, the company helps residents and businesses reap the benefits of tourism, generating billions of dollars for hosts.
In addition to injecting money into local economies, Airbnb collaborates with local governments to promote travel that best serves communities. Currently, the company operates in more than 100,000 cities globally. Cooperation with local governments is vital in creating meaningful short-term rental legislation that protects locals’ right to share their homes and earn income while simultaneously benefiting communities.
In the United States and Canada, Airbnb has developed hundreds of partnerships, tax collection agreements, and data-sharing policies that balance community and host needs. This collaborative approach includes the collection and remission of taxes. From 2015 to 2022, Airbnb collected more than $1.5 billion in taxes in the US and Canada and more than $4 billion globally. This tax money has funded vital local services and proven particularly beneficial in recovering from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the company launched the city portal to share data with governments and tourism organizations worldwide. The innovative resource utilizes locally specific data and helpful tools to enhance local organizations’ collaboration with Airbnb. Currently, the company maintains more than 160 city portal partnerships.
The tourism industry suffered substantial losses during the pandemic. Airbnb supports economic recovery through partnerships with governments, non-profit organizations, and destination marketing organizations. With targeted marketing to encourage safe travel, Airbnb enhances economic growth for communities that depend on tourism. The company has created more than 140 partnerships with destination marketing organizations, 40 of them in Canada and the US.
In 2022 and beyond, Airbnb aims to expand hosting opportunities to even more communities, particularly those outside traditional travel hubs. For example, the company builds partnerships to support hosting in rural areas through a collaboration with Visit North Carolina and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The year-long “Dream Big in Small Town NC” campaign will promote travel to 16 rural North Carolina counties, aiding the post-pandemic recovery of numerous local shops and restaurants.
In another partnership, Airbnb and the New Communities Land Trust collaborate to encourage travel to Black-owned farms in Georgia. The Southwest Georgia Agri-Tourism Trail is a collection of experiences and stays founded by USDA Equity Commissioner Shirley Sherrod. Through this initiative, local farmers host travelers while raising social awareness about the unique needs and accomplishments of Black farming communities.
In addition to supporting tourism and economic recovery, Airbnb advocates for short-term rental regulations that protect hosts and communities. In Atlanta, for example, the company maintains contact with city leaders working to create safe, fair housing rules. The goal is to ensure the responsible implementation of short-term rental policies and the regulatory oversight that keep hosts and guests safe.
In Toronto, Airbnb recently became a licensed rental platform. The company established a city portal to share data with the city and has delivered more than $5 million in municipal accommodation tax (MAT) to the city. This money directly funds programs and services that benefit residents and visitors. For example, Toronto officials have designated these funds for the repair of roads and transit systems, cultural enhancement, and parks and recreation.
Airbnb will continue to support governments worldwide in establishing fair regulations for short-term rentals, in addition to supporting responsible travel and helping more communities reap the financial benefits of home sharing.
