How Did Airbnb Begin?
Three recent college grads were creatively attempting to discover ways to generate money to pay their rent in 2008 when former President Barack Obama ran against John McCain. What began as a modest solution to prevent eviction ten years ago has developed into a multi-billion dollar enterprise that has altered the global travel and tourism industry.
Now that Airbnb is approaching its tenth birthday put on your party hat and learn these interesting facts so you can wow all of your property manager friends with your Airbnb knowledge!
1. Champion’s Breakfast
During the 2008 US presidential election, the company raised money by selling boxes of repackaged generic cereals dubbed ‘Obama O’s’ and ‘Cap’n McCain’s. Each box was $40, and the proceeds totaled over $30,000.
2. A Big Experience in a Tiny House
The world’s tiniest “home” was originally offered on Airbnb! This one-square-meter waterproof structure in Berlin, Germany, was designed for one person and contained a bed, desk, and chair. The one-euro-per-night rental was on wheels and held the record for being Europe’s lowest listing.
The rental was so popular that a young artist designed an apartment quite identical to it in Boston, Massachusetts, which was also advertised.
3. Airbnb’s “Air.”
Brian Chesky and his roommates leased out an inflatable mattress on the living room floor to pay their looming rent. The quick income generator has now evolved into Airbnb, which we’ve come to know and love. The word “air” in the name is a nod to the company’s beginnings.
4. The Original Airbnb B&B
Until 2015, CEO Brian Chesky posted his own home, the original Airbnb headquarters, on Airbnb. The original air mattress was no longer available for rent, but the sofa was lauded for its comfort, and Chesky was complimented for his friendliness and humility.
5. Living Spaces in a Variety of Locations
You generally think of an apartment or a single room inside an apartment when you think of Airbnb. Still, there are also tree homes, igloos, furnished caverns, lighthouses, yachts, castles, and even private islands, among the more unusual listings.
6. It’s All Over the Place
Except for Crimea, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, Airbnb operates in almost every nation on the earth. That’s 97.95 percent of the world’s surface area.
7. Community Members Who Are Involved
Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Airbnb created an emergency Disaster Response & Relief program, which provided free housing to victims and volunteers of natural disasters. In approximately 100 evacuations worldwide, the project has given secure shelter.
8. Reservations, Reservations, Reservations
Airbnb had around 400 guests in its first year of operation. After ten years, over 400 visitors check in to an Airbnb every two minutes, a 26,280,000 percent increase in check-ins. My mind has been blown.
9. There’s More to It Than Meets the Eye
You’ve seen that Airbnb’s iconic ‘A’ logo is an upside-down heart, but did you also notice that the loop is identical to a map pin? The Bélo, which comes from the word “belong,” is an iconic logo that depicts people, places, and love in conjunction with the company’s aim of connecting people from all over the globe and building a worldwide community where everyone belongs.
