Over the past 7 years, Airbnb has been bridging gaps between communities, turning strangers into friends, and making neighbors into partners. This collectivism and even more so, this sharing culture, has undoubtedly brought us closer together and has made this vast world seem that much more within reach.
But togetherness does not simply describe the effect of Airbnb: it also describes the cause. Started by 3 people, the company has grown to over 1,000 and has been collecting endless numbers of friends along the way. I’m not just talking about the millions of hosts and guests that make up this home sharing revolution: I’m talking about the collaborations and the partnerships that have helped to inspire and propel the revolution.
Each Airbnb partnership is a moment of development, marking a new direction for both the brand itself and for the community that it has created. These relationships are important in describing this culture of which all of Airbnb is a part, which is why it’s important to recognize each handshake, each moment of change.
For every one of Airbnb’s corporate partnerships that has contributed to the rippling universal partnership among its users: here’s a brief, yet comprehensive overview.
SERVING THE PUBLIC
May 21, 2012: Airbnb opens its doors to Harboring Hearts’ doctors traveling to give transplants and save lives in New York.
September 24, 2014: Together, Airbnb and ServiceNation ensure that AmeriCorps volunteers (and volunteers of similar programs) can enjoy free accommodation while serving their country on their year term.
October 8, 2014: Airbnb joins New York Red Cross in a fire prevention campaign to promote fire safety and relief through community outreach, with programs both in local education and awareness.
February 10, 2015: Airbnb partners with local outreach programs, HandsOn Bay Area, The Tenderloin Housing Clinic and the San Francisco Public Library, to engage and give back to the community.
April 29, 2015: A partnership with the American Red Cross equips Airbnb with the expertise and resources to offer free emergency preparedness training for hosts.
June 11, 2015: Airbnb gets involved with SAFE and the SF Police Department in the fight against crime and for public safety in San Francisco.
June 29, 2015: In response to the disaster relief program launched for Hurricane Sandy, Airbnb found a partner in the non-profit volunteer organization All Hands. Together, the two help accommodate volunteers in Nepal and thus, help perpetuate social service and outreach.
August 7, 2015: Airbnb both contributes to and sponsors the local Annual Toy Drive through a friendly partnership with San Francisco Firefighters Local 798. Teaming up supports not only the cause but also the community.
October 1, 2015: Airbnb expands its relief impact by partnering with Airlink and Start Network to bring financial and residential resources to emergency disaster volunteers.
October 3, 2015: A philanthropic collaboration with UNHCR (The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) has opened the door for Airbnb and its community to support similar initiatives: Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Through this partnership with UNHCR (and contributions to the cause), Airbnb is distributing travel credit to relief workers in Greece, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to help perpetuate refugee support and general mankindness.
BUILDING THE BRAND
December 2, 2013: Airbnb partners with sharing economy advocacy group, Peers.
July 18, 2014: Airbnb and DesignStudio proudly introduce the new face to their brand, The Bélo.
December 3, 2014: A collaboration between Airbnb and Music Dealers is formed to inspire artists to craft an Airbnb-themed song that both embodies the brand and connects the community.
May 29, 2015: A promotional partner campaign with the Grateful Dead’s music tour, Fare Thee Well, attracts and inspires a younger Airbnb community while promoting creativity through its contribution to a musically-themed playground in the Chicago area.
June 5, 2015: A promotional partner campaign with the usic festival, Lollapalooza, attracts and inspires a younger Airbnb community.
August 5, 2015: Airbnb launches Apple TV application preview, a cooperation that will soon enable guests to explore listings on the largest monitor yet.
September 11, 2015: FIBA launches exclusive viewing partnership with Airbnb.
October 2, 2015: Westpac and Airbnb partner to cross-promote home loans and home sharing.
November 3, 2015: Airbnb partners with American Express, granting members and participants certain benefits including seamless sign in, verification, and check-out. Loyalty points included.
November 12, 2015: At the 2015 Airbnb Open Conference, Airbnb announces their new “host assist” feature, backed by partnerships with various electronic lock companies, smart lock applications, and key concierge services (namely, August, Danalock, Igloo home, Kevo, Keycafe, Lockstate, Miwa, Nest and Yale).
CONNECTING THE COMMUNITIES
July 28, 2014: Airbnb launches their Business Travel program and embarks on a professional journey of their own, with Concur. Concur’s Triplink Service automatically populates booking records and expense reports and serves as a one-stop shop for company travel policy, as well.
Continuous and even recent developments in the Business Travel program – including particular amenity requirements and host standards – allude to the blazing success fueled by this single partnership.
December 11, 2014: In a marriage of travel industry influencers, KLM Airlines partners with and begins to promote Airbnb accommodations across the flight booking process.
March 20, 2015: Airbnb announces that it will join and accommodate think-tank student organization, Fabrica, during the festival, Housewarming, which showcases interactive designs and installations that portray belongingness and embody connectivity across communities and cultures.
July 29, 2015: Airbnb partners with Summer Search to promote a home-sharing community that is inclusive of all ages and travel purposes, including teens in the trying process of planning their futures and pursuing education.
August 18, 2015: As Airbnb expands to Asian markets, they can quickly learn how to maximize opportunity in China through their strategic, local partnerships with China Broadband Capital (CBC) and Sequoia China.
September 4, 2015: Airbnb and Otpus partner to encourage communication among travelers who would otherwise suffer from roaming charges.
September 16, 2015: As shedding light on hidden gems is an integral part of Airbnb’s mission, the brand partners with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to encourage tourism to Brooklyn neighborhoods off the beaten path.
September 30, 2015: Airbnb announces its yet another promotion of the sharing culture among peers through its partnership with EatWith in Paris throughout the course of the Airbnb Open in 2015. The collaboration encourages like-minded tourists and locals to break bread together (homemade bread, at that) in the comfort of authentic Parisian homes.
October 26, 2015: Sydney Opera House invites Airbnb Superhosts to exclusive tours as the two-year partnership kicks off.
October 30, 2015: Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) joins forces with Airbnb to push Airbnb accommodation discounts for subscribers of the telecommunications service.
November 3, 2015: Airbnb and Virgin America team up to grant flyer points both to travelers who book Airbnb through the joint partners’ portal and to new hosts who sign up there, too.
SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT
September 4, 2014: Airbnb joins Nest in an effort to conserve energy and promote cleaner local environments. “Learning Thermostats” track energy use and teach better consumption practices in order to contribute to a smarter and healthier ecosystem. The collaboration has allowed for free distribution of this product to select hosts across the United States.
August 20, 2015: Following suit in recent environmental initiatives, Airbnb partners with Tesla to bring home charging stations (for the Model S) to Airbnb properties along the West Coast.
These collaborations have shown how Airbnb both contributes to and supports its community, the environment, and those in need. Together, Airbnb and its partners are connecting initiatives and in turn, connecting cultures. It’s a small world, after all.
* There are dozens upon dozens of Airbnb affiliates and partnerships – both short- and long-term – making it difficult to compile a totally exhaustive list. If you notice any collaboration that is not mentioned, please let us know and we will be more than happy to add it to this resource!
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