Airbnb, the leading home-stay community, completed 15 years this week and currently has hundreds of employees across the globe supporting property rentals in nearly 25,000 cities across the globe.
The Airbnb narrative is an inspiring story that exemplifies creativity and resilience. It all started in 2007 when Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, two San Francisco roommates, were having trouble paying their rent. All the hotels were occupied because of an upcoming conference, which caught their attention. With an idea to offer attendees a place to stay, they decided to create a makeshift bed and breakfast in their apartment, offering air mattresses and homemade breakfast. Nathan Blecharczyk, joined the team, and they launched a website, Airbedandbreakfast.com, in August 2008 that provided temporary accommodations and morning meals for individuals who faced difficulties reserving hotel rooms.
Airbnb’s growth was not without challenges. They faced initial scepticism and encountered legal and regulatory obstacles in some cities where traditional hotels and landlords were concerned about the platform’s impact on housing availability and safety standards.
Over the years, Airbnb has evolved into a global hospitality and travel platform, connecting millions of hosts with travellers seeking unique and authentic experiences. The company’s valuation soared, and it became a household name in the travel industry.
Interesting facts
- Airbnb offers extremely unique places to rent. They have castles, beach huts, igloos, and thousands of tree houses currently available on the site.
- Airbnb is present in most countries around the globe and has around 7 million+ listings globally.
- In 2020, the company went public with an initial public offering (IPO)
- Innovative Experiences: In addition to lodging, Airbnb introduced “Experiences,” allowing hosts to offer unique activities and tours to travellers.
- Over the years, more than one billion guests have stayed at an Airbnb.