Airbnb

Airbnb, Inc.

File:Airbnb logo Bélo.svg Logo introduced in July 2014 called the Bélo, symbolizing "belonging"
Company type	Public company
Industry	Hospitality, travel, technology
Founded	August 11, 2008 (2008-08-11) in San Francisco, California, United States
Founder	Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, Joe Gebbia
Headquarters	San Francisco , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Brian Chesky (CEO)
Products	Short- and long-term lodging, activities, associated services
Number of employees	(not specified)
Website	airbnb.com

Airbnb, Inc. (derived from "Air Bed and Breakfast") is a U.S.-based enterprise that manages a worldwide digital platform offering short- and long-term lodging, activities, and associated services. Acting as an intermediary, it generates revenue by charging commissions on reservations. Established in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia, Airbnb stands as the foremost service provider in the short-term rental sector.

History

In October 2007, after relocating to San Francisco, former classmates and roommates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia developed the concept of renting out an air mattress in their living room as a temporary lodging option akin to a bed and breakfast. By February 2008, Chesky's ex-roommate Nathan Blecharczyk joined the team as chief technology officer and became the third co-founder. Their platform, Airbedandbreakfast.com, was launched on August 11, 2008, targeting travelers struggling to secure hotel rooms during peak demand periods. The initial user base emerged during the Industrial Design Conference in mid-2008.

To raise capital, the founders sold presidential-themed cereal boxes inspired by the 2008 U.S. election candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, primarily at the Democratic National Convention. In January 2009, computer programmer Paul Graham invited them to join the startup accelerator Y Combinator, which provided $20,000 funding in exchange for a 6% equity stake. This investment enabled them to boost marketing efforts, resulting in 10,000 users and 2,500 listings by March 2009.

The company rebranded to Airbnb.com in March 2009 to reflect its broadened offerings beyond air mattresses. By November 2010, Airbnb had facilitated bookings totaling 700,000 nights, with growth accelerating significantly in recent months. At the March 2011 South by Southwest conference, Airbnb received an award recognizing its app. In November 2012, Airbnb launched "Neighborhoods," a travel guide designed to assist users in selecting neighborhoods that match their preferences.

By October 2013, Airbnb had hosted nine million guests since inception, adding almost 250,000 new listings within that year alone. In July 2014, the company updated its website and mobile applications with a new logo called the Bélo, symbolizing "belonging," and partnered with Concur to streamline business travel expense management.

Following eased U.S. restrictions in April 2015, Airbnb expanded operations into Cuba, becoming one of the earliest American companies to establish a presence there. In July 2016, ex-Attorney General Eric Holder was recruited to assist in formulating anti-discrimination policies after reports surfaced regarding racial bias from hosts; changes included concealing guest photos until booking confirmation.

November 2016 marked the introduction of "experiences," enabling users to book activities via the platform. In January 2017, Airbnb spearheaded a $13 million funding round for Resy, a restaurant reservation application, and in May debuted Airbnbmag through a collaboration with Hearst Communications.

Airbnb Plus—featuring verified high-quality homes—and Beyond by Airbnb for luxury rentals were unveiled in February 2018. By October 2019, two million guests were staying on Airbnb each night. That year also saw Airbnb's Rausch Street Films producing Gay Chorus Deep South, marking its first documentary film project.

On October 4, 2019 (World Animal Day), Airbnb launched animal-centric experiences supported by an animal welfare policy developed alongside World Animal Protection. In 2020, the company adopted Jetpack Compose technology for Android app development.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to booking declines of up to 96% in certain cities, although rural bookings saw an uptick. The firm committed $250 million toward host payouts for cancellations and reduced its workforce by approximately 25% across various regions. On December 10, 2020, Airbnb went public on Nasdaq under ticker "ABNB," raising $3.5 billion; hosts were offered shares valued at $68 each totaling $238 million.

In response to sanctions related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Airbnb suspended operations in Russia and Belarus in March 2022. Due to regulatory obstacles tied to COVID-19 policies and government data demands, it withdrew from China’s domestic market in May 2022.

Concerns emerged regarding Airbnb’s compliance with Chinese authorities’ requests for user data; this controversy led to a senior executive's resignation in 2019. Moreover, scrutiny arose over listings located on land owned by the sanctioned Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and accusations of discriminatory practices against Uyghur hosts within China.

After implementing a temporary ban on parties during the pandemic in August 2020, Airbnb permanently prohibited parties and events on its platform in June 2022 following complaints from hosts and neighbors. Enforcement technologies supporting this ban were introduced in August 2022.

In June 2025, Airbnb secured status as an official commercial partner for the FIFA Club World Cup under a three-year agreement that includes providing accommodations for major upcoming tournaments such as the co-hosted 2026 men's World Cup (United States, Canada, Mexico) and the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Acquisitions

#	Date	Company	Details
1	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Accoleo	German rival; facilitated Airbnb’s inaugural international branch in Hamburg
2	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	CrashPadder	Incorporated 6,000 UK listings; positioned Airbnb as the largest accommodation platform in the UK
3	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	NabeWise	Digital city guide; refocused towards localized traveler recommendations
4	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Localmind	Location-based Q&A service enhancing local knowledge
5	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Vamo	Trip planning tool; team members acquired after immediate service closure
6	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Lapka	Sensor technology startup to strengthen tech capabilities
7	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Trip4real	Marketplace for travel experiences, diversifying beyond accommodations
8	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Luxury Retreats International	Canadian luxury villa rental firm; purchased for $300 million in cash and equity
9	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Tilt.com	Social payment platform enhancing community interaction
10	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Accomable	Specialized in accessible lodging options for travelers with disabilities
11	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	AdBasis	Advertising technology company focused on A/B and multivariate testing solutions
12	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Gaest	Danish venue booking platform for meetings and events
13	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	HotelTonight	Last-minute hotel booking service acquired for $400 million to broaden travel offerings
14	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Urbandoor	Global marketplace providing extended stay options for corporate clients, enhancing business travel services

|- 15 | November 2023 | GamePlanner.AI | AI-focused startup acquired for nearly $200 million, advancing Airbnb’s technological expertise |}

Corporate office history

Airbnb inaugurated its first overseas office in London in October 2011. By early 2012, the company had expanded its presence to include Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Moscow, and São Paulo, complementing existing locations in San Francisco, London, Hamburg, and Berlin. In September 2013, the firm designated Dublin as its European headquarters.

In November 2012, Airbnb established its eleventh office in Sydney and revealed intentions to enter the markets of Thailand and Indonesia. The subsequent month saw the opening of an office in Singapore to support its expanding operations across Asia. Reflecting shifts in its operational approach and global employee base, Airbnb adopted a policy permitting unlimited remote work for nearly all staff members in April 2022.

Equity transactions, corporate financing, and valuation milestones

In April 2009, the company obtained $600,000 in initial capital from Sequoia Capital, with participation from Youniversity Ventures partners Jawed Karim, Keith Rabois, and Kevin Hartz. By November 2010, Greylock Partners and Sequoia Capital jointly contributed $7.2 million during a Series A funding round. In July 2011, investors including Andreessen Horowitz, DST Global, General Catalyst, and A Grade Investments partners Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary injected $112 million.

April 2014 marked a significant $450 million investment led by TPG Capital at a valuation of $10 billion, joined by Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group, T. Rowe Price, and Sherpa Capital. In June 2015, a funding round totaling $1.5 billion was secured from General Atlantic, Hillhouse Capital Group, Tiger Management, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GGV Capital, China Broadband Capital, and Horizons Ventures, valuing the company at $25.5 billion.

September 2016 saw Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures invest $555.5 million at a $30 billion valuation. In March 2017, Airbnb raised an additional $1 billion in funding, bringing total capital raised beyond $3 billion with a valuation of $31 billion. During the COVID-19 crisis in April 2020, Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners purchased $1 billion worth of shares at an $18 billion valuation alongside $1 billion in debt financing carrying interest rates between 9% and 11.5%.

Critiques and disputes

The company has encountered criticism for its potential contribution to escalating residential rents, its refusal to disclose sensitive customer information to governmental authorities, and permitting listings within West Bank settlements. The hotel industry contends that Airbnb circumvents equitable regulatory standards. Airbnb frequently declines to provide listing data to regulatory bodies due to privacy concerns.

Impact on housing affordability

Research suggests that Airbnb's short-term rental offerings have contributed to rising long-term rental prices by diminishing available housing stock as property owners opt for more lucrative short-term rentals. The watchdog platform Inside Airbnb accuses the company of manipulating data to minimize these effects. Furthermore, landlords have been implicated in unlawfully evicting tenants to convert units into higher-yielding Airbnb accommodations. These consequences on affordable housing have led to stricter lodging regulations that Airbnb actively contests through lobbying efforts. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the "Airbnb effect."

Listings within Israeli settlements

In November 2018, Airbnb announced plans to remove approximately 200 listings located in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank, a highly disputed issue between Israelis and Palestinians. Following discrimination lawsuits filed by property owners in Israel and the United States, Airbnb reversed this policy in April 2019. Instead of removal, the company committed to donating profits derived from these listings to humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, United Nations reports from 2020 and 2023 indicate that Airbnb continues to generate revenue from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, contravening international human rights norms. On February 12, 2020, Airbnb was named on a United Nations Human Rights Council list of companies engaged in activities raising human rights concerns, specifically categorized under services that support the maintenance and existence of settlements.

Hotel Industry Criticism

The hotel sector has expressed discontent with Airbnb due to its competitive influence and the differing regulatory standards it operates under. This dynamic has led to revenue drops for hotels in specific regions and intensified lobbying efforts from traditional hospitality firms.

Absence of a Loyalty Program

Among prominent travel service providers, Airbnb stands out for not offering a loyalty program, which has drawn customer criticism. This gap is partially attributed to the platform’s relatively limited engagement with the business travel segment.

Guest Review Objectivity

Airbnb’s review mechanism requires both hosts and guests to provide feedback before viewing each other’s comments, aiming to minimize retaliatory assessments and promote fairness. Nonetheless, doubts persist regarding the impartiality of reviews, as potential hosts may reject guests with unfavorable ratings, and the prohibition of anonymous reviews might discourage honest negative evaluations. These aspects can compromise the trustworthiness of the system.

Joe Gebbia’s Role at DOGE

In February 2025, Airbnb cofounder and board member Joe Gebbia became affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His involvement raised concerns that led to calls for an Airbnb boycott, highlighting possible threats to the company’s public image.

Actions Against Far-Right Extremism

In August 2017, Airbnb took steps to cancel reservations and deactivate accounts associated with participants of the white supremacist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, citing its nondiscrimination policies. This move demonstrated Airbnb’s dedication to inclusivity but was met with criticism from rally organizer Jason Kessler.

In January 2021, scrutiny arose when Airbnb allowed individuals involved in the January 6 United States Capitol attack to secure accommodations near Capitol Hill, despite local hotels banning far-right extremists. Responding to security concerns before President Biden’s inauguration, Airbnb prohibited all bookings in that vicinity ahead of the event.

During 2023, conservative media outlets condemned Airbnb for removing the parents of Canadian far-right figure Lauren Southern from its platform; the company promptly reversed this action, calling it an "error."

In May 2024, a former contractor filed a whistleblower complaint accusing Airbnb of diluting its anti-extremist policies and disbanding its enforcement team. Airbnb refuted these allegations, reaffirming its commitment to community safety and regulatory adherence.

Sponsorship of the 2022 Winter Olympics

Airbnb was one of fifteen principal sponsors for the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing. Despite appeals from human rights advocates urging withdrawal due to alleged abuses by the Chinese Communist Party, including the persecution of Uyghurs in China, Airbnb chose to maintain its sponsorship. This decision reflected a strategic priority to sustain global operations amid political controversies.

Lengthy Terms of Service Agreements

In 2014, linguist Mark Liberman drew attention to the considerable length of Airbnb’s legal documents, noting that their terms of service, privacy policy, and related agreements collectively contained roughly 55,081 words—similar in length to a short novel—raising issues regarding user comprehension and transparency.

Host Misconduct

Hosts have been accused of evading tax obligations and bypassing Airbnb’s screening processes, resulting in issues such as abrupt cancellations, accommodations that are unsafe or below standard, theft, privacy violations, and even grave offenses including sexual assault and homicide. Reports have also surfaced about bait-and-switch tactics, where guests receive accommodations different from those advertised. Although Airbnb maintains that such occurrences are statistically rare, it has taken measures by banning offenders and their related accounts.

In July 2024, CNN reported that Airbnb’s policies include disclaimers informing users that background checks might not uncover all prior criminal records or registrations as sex offenders, and that convictions for severe crimes like murder or terrorism do not automatically exclude hosts from the platform.

Concealed Surveillance Devices

There have been cases where hosts secretly recorded guests using hidden cameras, sometimes placed in private spaces such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Outlets like The Washington Post and Fast Company have published advice on identifying hidden cameras in Airbnb rentals. In a 2023 deposition, an Airbnb representative stated that the company does not routinely alert law enforcement when complaints arise but may communicate directly with hosts internally—a practice criticized for potentially obstructing investigations.

In March 2024, Airbnb declared a prohibition on indoor cameras within listed properties effective April 30 and mandated disclosure of any noise-decibel monitoring devices. A July 2024 CNN report revealed that Airbnb "repeatedly fails to safeguard its guests despite awareness that hidden cameras are a continual issue," noting that the company’s approach appears designed to evade regulation and distance itself from accountability for guest privacy and safety.

Non-compliance with Government Data Requests

Legislation in various jurisdictions requires Airbnb to provide guest information to support regulatory compliance and hotel tax collection. Although Airbnb legally contested such a mandate in New York, it consented in May 2019 to deliver anonymized data for approximately 17,000 listings to assist the city in combating illegal rentals. Comparable agreements were established in Boston and Miami.

In Belgium, Airbnb declined to release requested data, citing conflicts with European Union regulations. The Belgian Constitutional Court referred this dispute to the European Court of Justice, which ruled in April 2022 that sharing tourist transaction information with tax authorities aligns with EU law and remanded the case back to Belgium’s court system.

Legality of Charging Service Fees in the Netherlands

A Dutch subdistrict court determined in March 2020 that Airbnb’s practice of imposing service fees on both hosts and guests was unlawful, entitling roughly 30,000 guests to reimbursement. In response, Airbnb filed countersuits seeking judicial clarification regarding the decision.

See also

• Holiday cottage
• Vacation rental