Airbnb signs an MoU with the Ministry of Tourism to showcase India’s heritage stays and promote cultural tourism

• Airbnb to partner with the Ministry in its vision to promote inbound tourism as a part of its Visit India 2023 initiative

• Under the MoU, Airbnb will launch a dedicated 'Soul of India' microsite for the global audience showcasing India’s rich culture and built heritage

• Other areas of partnership under the MoU include destination promotion, sharing travel and tourism insights, Host recognition, and capacity building

June 2023: Airbnb today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to promote India as a most sought-after high-potential tourism destination and shine a spotlight on its rich cultural heritage.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Tourism Minister, Government of India, Ms. V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Shri Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager, Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, aims to underscore the cultural significance of India's heritage properties and encourage travelers to embark on immersive journeys through the country's diverse heritage.

At the heart of this partnership lies the launch of the exclusive ‘Soul of India’ microsite that showcases an array of heritage stays across the country. These heritage properties, steeped in history and architectural brilliance, offer an authentic glimpse into India’s rich cultural tapestry. Additionally, Airbnb will also offer support to Hosts in untapped tourist areas, assist them in promoting their homestays, build host capacity, and foster a culture of responsible hosting.

This year-long partnership symbolizes the shared commitment of both Airbnb and the Ministry of Tourism to enhance India's standing in the global tourism market through promotional strategies and campaigns.

Key elements of the MoU include:

• Destination Promotion - The Ministry of Tourism and Airbnb will work together on positioning India as a sought-after destination for cultural and heritage tourism, leveraging targeted domestic and international campaigns that showcase the distinctive heritage stays available throughout the country.

• ‘Soul of India’ Microsite - Airbnb will launch a dedicated ‘Soul of India’ microsite to promote heritage homes across India and share captivating stories behind the heritage properties and the destinations, with a goal to inspire visitors to embark on unique cultural adventures and immerse themselves in the unparalleled essence of India.

• Capacity Building and Insights - Airbnb will endeavor to train hospitality micro-entrepreneurs in emerging destinations that are part of the Ministry's flagship scheme. Airbnb will also share travel and homestay insights with the Ministry of Tourism for informed responsible tourism policies and training requirements.

Highlighting the importance of promoting cultural tourism and preserving heritage sites, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Tourism Minister, Government of India, said, “India’s age-old dictum “Atithi Devo Bhava” equates guests to God, and what better way to extend hospitality to guests than by making them stay in homes with local communities? Homestay accommodations offer travelers a personalized, immersive, and rooted-in-culture travel experience. We are delighted to partner with Airbnb, whose global reach will provide enhanced visibility to India’s unique and varied accommodation offerings and enable travelers an opportunity to experience our rich heritage first-hand. This partnership will contribute to the growth of inbound tourism, create economic opportunities for local communities, and position India uniquely on the global tourism map.”

Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager - India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb, said, “We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Tourism to celebrate the Soul of India. This MoU represents an important collaboration towards unlocking new economic and social opportunities through tourism in India while bolstering the Incredible India brand and bringing the richness of what India has to offer to even more international travellers. Airbnb has consistently placed Hosts and their empowerment at its core and is pleased to see the G20 countries, led by India, sharing the same commitment to equipping communities with the adequate skills and fostering responsible tourism practices.”

With the signing of this MoU, Airbnb and the Ministry of Tourism set the stage for an exciting journey that will not only promote India's cultural heritage but also create transformative experiences for travelers, foster economic growth, and celebrate the vibrant diversity that defines India's soul.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed 1.4 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

Indians are ready to explore the world, nights booked on Airbnb for international travel by Indian guests more than doubled in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022

• UK, US and places across Europe are the most popular international destinations amongst Indian travellers

• Continuing to see strong signs of travel recovery,  overall nights booked in India have grown by 70 percent when comparing full-year 2022 with pre-pandemic 2019

• Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi and Kullu tops the charts for domestic travel amongst Indian guests

• Solo and Family travel remains the most popular type of travel for Indian guests

The latest data from Airbnb has revealed that nights booked for International travel by Indian guests more than doubled in Q1 2023 when compared to Q1 20221. The United Kingdom, United States, and various European countries have emerged as the top destinations among Indian travelers looking to travel abroad.

While international travel has gained momentum, Indians are also seeking domestic travel adventures, indulging in beach getaways, city escapades, and serene vacations in the hills. Goa takes the top spot among the most booked domestic destinations, followed by Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Kullu. Overall nights booked in India have grown by 70 percent when comparing full-year 2022 with pre-pandemic 2019, while domestic nights in India grew by almost 110 percent.

Airbnb has also observed a continued enthusiasm among international guests to visit India and immerse themselves in the country's rich culture and heritage. The United States stands out as the leading origin for Airbnb guests visiting India, along with the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Canada.

Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “The strong enthusiasm we are witnessing for travel presents a remarkable opportunity to foster meaningful connections. It reflects the growing confidence and eagerness among Indian travelers to explore new destinations and create lasting memories. Alongside our vibrant Host community, we want to help ensure India has a diverse range of accommodation options needed to harness the travel rebound, while also helping to promote responsible travel practices that allow people to genuinely connect with local communities and immerse themselves in the country’s rich cultural heritage. We’re committed to working closely with the government and industry stakeholders to support and accelerate the ongoing travel recovery.”

Airbnb’s Travel Outlook for 2023

• In 2023, exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations has garnered significant interest, providing travelers with the opportunity to discover new places without preconceived notions.

• Solo travel is on the rise, with individuals seeking nature-based experiences to find balance and reconnect with themselves. The flexibility and freedom offered by solo travel, along with the desire for peace and solitude in rustic locales, have contributed to its surge. Airbnb's data indicates that solo travel in India has nearly doubled compared to the same period last year6.

• Traveling with family on Airbnb remains popular amongst Indians and has witnessed a remarkable surge of over 110 percent year-on-year7. Airbnb accommodations cater to families, with nearly 90 percent of stays equipped with kitchens, a quarter offering three bedrooms or more, and over a million accommodations providing cribs for small children.

• India has also witnessed a significant rise in responsible tourism, as travelers increasingly prioritize travel that promote responsible practices, such as community-based tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism. Responsible travel allows individuals to deeply connect with local cultures and lifestyles, providing authentic and unique experiences.

• Moreover, there is a growing demand for unique accommodations that go beyond traditional offerings, with travelers seeking distinctive spaces such as treehouses, houseboats, and farm stays.

Airbnb and MTDC partner to promote unexplored destinations in Maharashtra

Airbnb has partnered with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to promote homestay and bed & breakfast (B&B) tourism in the state of Maharashtra. By promoting homestay tourism, this partnership will encourage travel to lesser-known destinations and will enable inclusive community-led tourism in the state, that will further enhance economic prospects.

Under the agreement, Airbnb and MTDC will:

• Promote nearby travel-to destinations in Maharashtra that are off the beaten track and offer a unique experience to travelers

• Onboard three MTDC properties within Maharashtra that will offer travelers differentiated offerings including farm stays

• Conduct webinars and workshops to train homestay hosts and B&B owners on Airbnb’s enhanced cleaning protocol—the first overarching standardized guidelines for cleaning and sanitization in the home sharing industry—to support hosts in advance of reopening communities for travel.

The partnership furthers both parties’ commitment to support a sustainable tourism ecosystem,  while highlighting current and upcoming tourism destinations in the state. Through knowledge  sharing and training workshops with hosts, the partnership will also enhance the potential of  tourism to create jobs and sustain livelihoods for local communities and will spotlight unique  properties as more travelers explore stays near metro cities. 

Announcing the partnership, Aaditya Thackeray, Minister for Tourism, Environment & Climate Change and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, said: “Maharashtra is an  ecologically and culturally rich state and offers travelers unique travel experiences. We are  committed to improving community-driven hospitality that is sustainable and offers travelers  accessible, affordable and quality tourism. Safety is also key. With Airbnb, we will strengthen the  ecosystem for the growth of homestays and B&Bs in the state, to revive tourism growth in the  coming months. We appreciate Airbnb’s effort in helping us promote tourism in Maharashtra.”

Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager (India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan) at  Airbnb, said: “This partnership is a valuable opportunity to drive rapid demand growth towards domestic tourism and to support economic recovery. Airbnb has always been committed to  highlighting unique destinations that are off the beaten track, and to ensure that economic benefits  of tourism reach as many communities as possible. We are proud to be working with MTDC, and  to support their vision. Rebuilding trust in travel is a long-term mindset and requires a collaborative  effort between governments, tourism authorities and private players. We have witnessed  commendable efforts put in by the Government of Maharashtra and MTDC towards this endeavor  and are fully committed to support them”.

According to Airbnb’s own search trends and data, destinations within Maharashtra such as  Karjat, Igatpuri, Alibag and Panchgani remain widely searched for options with their stunning  scenery, including in the backdrop of the Western Ghats, and offer authentic cultural experiences  for travelers.

Airbnb's Commitment to Safer Travel: New Health and Safety Mandate

As people continue to find new ways to travel and host safely, in line with guidance and rules issued by local governments and health authorities, cleanliness remains a priority. Today, we announced hosts and guests must agree to follow Airbnb's COVID-19 Safety Practices, which include wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and, for hosts and their teams, abiding by our five-step enhanced cleaning process. This commitment will help provide extra assurances to try and safeguard all our stakeholders - hosts, guests, their communities and governments.

Earlier this year we introduced Airbnb's Enhanced Cleaning Protocol, a set of guidelines for cleaning and sanitization developed with guidance from leading experts in hospitality and medical hygiene and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, which earned the Safe Travel stamp from the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC).

Since the launch of the program in June, hosts have enrolled nearly 1.5 million listings and guests have given these listings an average 4.8* star rating for cleanliness. Early in the pandemic, Airbnb also issued health and safety guidelines about wearing a mask and practicing social distancing in accordance with guidance from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control.

Helsinki hospitality startup Bob W raises €4 million for tech-enabled apartment hotels with custom sanitisation process

Key Take Away

Bob W, a Helsinki-based hospitality startup, has raised €4 million in a seed round led by by Founders and joined by real estate investors NREP and Estonian firm Kaamos.

The Finnish startup offers an accommodation hybrid between hotels and short-stay apartments or hosted homes like Airbnb, which guests can rent nightly, weekly or monthly. 

 The hospitality company also touts its ‘Ridiculously Clean Standard’, a 63-step protocol to clean, sanitize, disinfect and seal every suite.

For More Information Click Below:

tech.eu/brief/bob-w-seed/

Airbnb Launches Campaign to Support Domestic Travel & Local Economic Growth

Key Take Away

The initiatives come as the travel industry takes initial steps to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work includes a series of partnerships with destination marketing organizations to help these organizations use the Airbnb platform to support local economic development. 

Partnering with local communities to promote travel and economic growth

We are working with governments and tourism agencies to help support responsible and safe travel that benefits local citizens and small businesses.

Go Near

In a survey commissioned by Airbnb, nearly half of US respondents said they will prefer to stay within a day’s drive for their first trip once lockdown restrictions lift.

For More Information Click Below :

news.airbnb.com/airbnb-launches-campaign-to-support-domestic-travel-local-economic-growth/

Measuring Discrimination on the Airbnb Platform

Key Take Away

In partnership with Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization with millions of members, and with guidance from civil rights and privacy rights organizations, Airbnb will launch a groundbreaking project to measure and fight bias and discrimination. It will start on June 30, 2020, and will be limited to U.S.-based hosts and guests

This project has been in development for nearly two years with support and input from Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, Center for Democracy & Technology, Color Of Change, League of United Latin American Citizens – LULAC, National Action Network, The Leadership Conference, and Upturn

For More Information

news.airbnb.com/measuring-discrimination-on-the-airbnb-platform/

A Message from Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb, Inc.

Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky sent the following note to Airbnb employees.This is my seventh time talking to you from my house. Each time we've talked, I've shared good news and bad news, but today I have to share some very sad news.

When you've asked me about layoffs, I've said that nothing is off the table. I must confirm that we are reducing the size of the Airbnb workforce. For a company like us whose mission is centered around belonging, this is incredibly difficult to confront, and it will be even harder for those who have to leave Airbnb. I am going to share as many details as I can on how I arrived at this decision, what we are doing for those leaving, and what will happen next.

 Airbnb's business has been hit hard, with revenue this year forecasted to be less than half of what we earned in 2019. In response, we raised $2 billion in capital and dramatically cut costs that touched nearly every corner of Airbnb.

While these actions were necessary, it became clear that we would have to go further when we faced two hard truths

• We don't know exactly when travel will return.

• When travel does return, it will look different.

Out of our 7,500 Airbnb employees, nearly 1,900 teammates will have to leave Airbnb, comprising around 25% of our company. Since we cannot afford to do everything that we used to, these cuts had to be mapped to a more focused business

How we approached reductions

It was important that we had a clear set of principles, guided by our core values, for how we would approach reductions in our workforce. These were our guiding principles:

• Map all reductions to our future business strategy and the capabilities we will need.

• Do as much as we can for those who are impacted.

• Be unwavering in our commitment to diversity.

• Optimize for 1:1 communication for those impacted.

• Wait to communicate any decisions until all details are landed — transparency of only partial information can make matters worse.

  Process for making reductions

  Our process started with creating a more focused business strategy built on a sustainable cost model. We assessed how each team mapped to our new strategy, and we determined the size and shape of each team going forward. We then did a comprehensive review of every team member and made decisions based on critical skills, and how well those skills matched our future business needs.

  The result is that we will have to part with teammates that we love and value. We have great people leaving Airbnb, and other companies will be lucky to have them.

  Severance

  Employees in the US will receive 14 weeks of base pay, plus one additional week for every year at Airbnb. Tenure will be rounded to the nearest year. For example, if someone has been at Airbnb for 3 years and 7 months, they will get an additional 4 weeks of salary, or 18 weeks of total pay. Outside the US, all employees will receive at least 14 weeks of pay, plus tenure increases consistent with their country-specific practices.

  Equity

  We are dropping the one-year cliff on equity for everyone we've hired in the past year so that everyone departing, regardless of how long they have been here, is a shareholder. Additionally, everyone leaving is eligible for the May 25 vesting date.

  Healthcare

  In the midst of a global health crisis of unknown duration, we want to limit the burden of healthcare costs. In the US, we will cover 12 months of health insurance through COBRA. In all other countries, we will cover health insurance costs through the end of 2020. This is because we're either legally unable to continue coverage, or our current plans will not allow for an extension. We will also provide four months of mental health support through KonTerra.

  Our goal is to connect our teammates leaving Airbnb with new job opportunities. Here are five ways we can help:

• Alumni Talent Directory — We will be launching a public-facing website to help teammates leaving find new jobs. Departing employees can opt-in to have profiles, resumes, and work samples accessible to potential employers.

• Alumni Placement Team — For the remainder of 2020, a significant portion of Airbnb Recruiting will become an Alumni Placement Team. Recruiters that are staying with Airbnb will provide support to departing employees to help them find their next job.

• RiseSmart — We are offering four months of career services through RiseSmart, a company that specializes in career transition and job placement services.

• Employee Offered Alumni Support — We are encouraging all remaining employees to opt-in to a program to assist departing teammates find their next role.

• Laptops — A computer is an important tool to find new work, so we are allowing everyone leaving to keep their Apple laptops.

Hotel Industry 2020 – The New Normal

 The "light and warmth of hospitality," coined by Conrad Hilton, will not be apparent upon entrance to a hotel post COVID-19. Expect acrylic covered front desks, masks and gloves, signage advising guests to use caution, frequent disinfecting of public spaces, wide open lobbies with limited seating and restaurants and bars that have six feet of separation in every direction. The good news is that we are approaching the re-opening of the economy!

According to the top prognosticators in the hotel industry, here is what we are looking at from an occupancy, average rate (ADR), RevPAR perspective:

The best case seems to point to a drop in occupancy from 66% in 2019 to 50% in 2020 and a drop in ADR from $133 to $107 resulting in a RevPAR drop of over 30% from $88 to $55. Worst case scenarios have us dropping well below 50% in RevPAR, close to Armageddon. Once STR releases an April forecast, the overall average should increase. These firms have done a tremendous job of analysis given the completely different demand generators—the bad news here is that even in the best scenarios, there are no net profits forecast for 2020.

Operations

Profits will be gone in 2020 with hopes of a return to closer to normal revenues and profits in 2021 or 2022. The implementation of completely new protocols including hospital grade sanitization, masks and thermometers will be fairly expensive relative to supply costs.

Valuation

We can expect values to decline in line with net income, but with less deals done. The real question will be when will values come back to 2019 levels and will it be a buyer's or seller's market. The latter depends on how long it will take for this destabilized market to bounce back. Over-leveraged sellers will be at risk as short-term values will take a precipitous drop. However, lenders will only foreclose on operators who do not engage in a sincere way. They do not want to own hotels. Transaction volumes will be down according to an April, 2020 Lodging Industry Investment Council survey.

Supply

Airbnb and short-term rentals will continue to impact hotels. With unemployment numbers at new highs, millions of Americans will need to find a way to supplement their income and home sharing may be people's means to do so. New supply for those accommodations could surge and have a negative impact on hotel room rates in general. But many cities have sued Airbnb and our original prediction was that they would become an online travel agency (OTA) by 2020. Well, only time will tell, but they have postponed their 2020 IPO.

Demand

We will start to see two separate groups emerge - those who feel they can travel freely, and those who are still susceptible to the virus. The first group is made up of individuals who have tested positive for the virus anti-bodies - meaning they had the virus and lived and those who believe they are not at significant risk. This group will be our primary source of demand, while others may continue to quarantine and limit travel. This summer, we can expect to see "pent up" demand. After being stuck at home for eight or more weeks, consumers will be itching to travel.

Airbnb fires contractual workers, postpones undergrad hiring

It will also reportedly delay hiring undergrad hiring until 2021. It informed workers that they will be receiving notices from their third-party agencies. Some of the workers said even their managers appeared to have no prior information of the layoffs and has terminated contingent workers’ contracts early

TC’s Natasha Mascarenhas has since learned StubHub, Glassdoor, Funding Circle and Checkr have also cancelled their respective internships.

TechCrunch has since heard from an incoming intern that he was notified and that he’s now scrambling to find a new internship

These personnel changes come just one day after Airbnb secured a $1 billion loan. Earlier this month, Airbnb raised an additional $1 billion in debt and equity.