Source: Airbnb

Key Takeaways

  • Airbnb and the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine have signed a joint memorandum to support post-war tourism.
  • To date, Airbnb.org has helped more than 130,000 refugees to find free, temporary stays.
  • Airbnb shares tourism data with the western Ukrainian city of Lviv via Cityportal interface.

Airbnb and the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine have signed a joint memorandum on the post-war period. To this end, the Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development in Ukraine, Mariana Oleskiv, and Airbnb co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk met at the Consulate General of Ukraine in Munich. After the end of the war, tourism in Ukraine should be supported again.

Airbnb’s initiative to provide free temporary housing to 130,000 refugees from Ukraine was a significant support for us. After the victory, we would like to express our gratitude and show our hospitality by inviting the whole world that stands by Ukraine to visit us. The Memorandum of Understanding signed today actually proves our intentions to jointly restore the tourism industry of our country. Mariana Oleskiv, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development in Ukraine

Hosts on Airbnb are the heart of our community. This, of course, includes Hosts in Ukraine. Although minimal tourism is possible in Ukraine today, it is important to set the course for the post-war period now. With this joint memorandum, Airbnb commits to support tourism in Ukraine at the end of the war – this is a strong sign for our community on the ground. Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Airbnb

More than 130,000 refugees have been housed to date

Since the start of the war against Ukraine, Airbnb.org has helped more than 130,000 people find free and temporary accommodation. These stays were funded by Airbnb, Inc. and other Airbnb.org donors, as well as hosts who offered free and discounted stays through Airbnb.org.

This work was also made possible by Airbnb.org’s partner NGOs, which helped book and coordinate stays for refugees. Airbnb.org has worked with more than 40 organizations around the world to provide temporary housing for people fleeing Ukraine.

In Germany, Airbnb is working with PHINEO, among others, to support the Ukraine Response Incubator program this November. Airbnb is also cooperating with Ukraine Hilfe Berlin. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Airbnb organized a Breakfast & Learn together with the organization, raising funds for Ukraine.

Since Q2 2023, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv has also been using the City Portal, so there is already a first partnership with a Ukrainian city for data exchange. The City Portal’s technology offers governments and tourism organizations data insights, remitted tourist tax revenue, compliance tools, and centralized access to the Airbnb Neighborhood Support hotline. More than 300 cities and tourism organizations have partnered with Airbnb to access the City Portal.

Last year, Airbnb worked with The Sputniks, Bienvenida, Karuna and United for Ukraine. Some of them specifically cater to minorities, such as children with disabilities and their families.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 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.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.'s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org's charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

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