Airbnb Action: Organizing Around the World

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Oswin McCarthy
5 years ago
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1 Airbnb Action: Organizing Around the World Page 1

Last November, Airbnb announced that we would support the creation of 100 independent Home Sharing Clubs in 100 Cities around the world in 2016.

2 Last November, Airbnb announced that we would support the creation of 100 independent Home Sharing Clubs in 100 Cities around the world in Today, more than 60 of these clubs have been created and we are on track to meet our goal of 100 clubs by the end of the year. From Chicago to Australia, these clubs, our community of hosts and guests and our global policy team are winning real victories for home sharing. In many ways, this organizing effort has historical precedent. From guilds to unions, networks of people with shared economic and societal interests have come together to leverage the power of their voices. Today, Airbnb hosts -- who earn 97 percent of the price they charge for their listing -- and Airbnb guests who use our platform to see the world are coming together to speak out and they represent a formidable community. There are 6.5 million Airbnb hosts and guests in the United States. By comparison, there 3 million teachers in the National Education Association, 2.4 million members of the Sierra Club and 1.5 million members of the Human Rights Campaign. Going forward, hosts and guests will continue to organize and advocate for the right to share their home in cities around the world. To empower our community, Airbnb created the Community Center, which is an online platform for Home Sharing Clubs to self-organize. Hosts can use this platform to join a local club, plan meetups, and discuss how they want to impact their community. Page 2

3 Clubs in More Than 60 Communities In more than 60 communities around the world, Airbnb hosts and guests have come together to form independent home sharing clubs. These clubs gather on a regular basis and provide members with the opportunity to connect with one another, support local initiatives and advocate for fair home sharing policies. In Portland, the Home Sharing Club Leaders plan and lead training sessions for other members of the Portland host community on the short term rental permitting process. Club Leader Debi hosted a meeting in a local small business with 24 other Portland hosts where hosts could learn about the process through a peer-to-peer training. The Washington, D.C. Club is separated into four neighborhood-level chapters that focus on hyperlocal initiatives and unite for city-wide advocacy. Hosts are currently bringing their own lived experiences and passions to the Club. For example, Club Leader Cathy organized a Merchant Walk for her fellow 14th Street hosts to engage with her favorite restaurants and shops. Another host, Synta, hosted a Sustainability Page 3

4 Meeting with hosts East of the River to brainstorm with members on how to make their lives and their listings more green, while discussing the benefits of the local solar energy co-op to promote sustainable living. Founding hosts Jordie and Deborah lead the East Bay Homesharers on small business initiatives, community service, and advocating for clear and progressive legislation around home sharing. The Club has volunteered at local schools, the Oakland Zoo and the annual Animal Services adoption drive. The Small Business Committee of the Club is organizing three Merchant Walks in Oakland this summer. Additionally, Club members have delivered public comment at five Berkeley City Council and Planning Commission Hearings so far this year. New York home sharers traveled to Albany to speak out against legislation that would put more than 30,000 New Yorkers at risk of eviction and foreclosure and home sharers continue to urge Governor Cuomo to veto this legislation. Berliners are coming together to lead support for clear home sharing rules, and the community is growing fast with much momentum. The Free Democrats have called on Berlin to change its law. Hosts attended two local District Council meetings and submitted questions about the lack of clear and fair rules for home sharers in the capital. Club Members came with homemade banners and signs to show their support. Host Sebastian spoke personally with the Berlin Mayor on his tour of the city, sharing his story and asking for clarity in the law. A few weeks later, Sebastian was joined by fellow hosts at an event to speak directly with the Senator of Urban Development. Both the Mayor and the Senator said they saw a need for clarification of the law. A recent poll shows the vast majority of Berliners agree, they seek clear and simple home sharing rules. Barcelona is home to six neighborhood level club chapters that focus on local actions like attending meetings of their local neighborhood associations and district councils to inform their neighbors and local councillors about home sharing and how it benefits Barcelona's neighborhoods. Page 4

5 Clubs have been established globally -- more than 30 percent are outside of the United States -- and are currently up and running in: Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, SPAIN San Sebastian, SPAIN Mexico City, MEXICO Sant Martí, Barcelona, SPAIN Madrid, SPAIN Maui, HI Zona Nord / Sarrià - Sant Gervasi, Barcelona, SPAIN Seville, SPAIN Honolulu, HI Eixample, Barcelona, SPAIN Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Houston, TX Paral lel / Sants - Les Corts, Barcelona, SPAIN Sydney, AUSTRALIA Austin, TX Gràcia, Barcelona, SPAIN Byron Bay, AUSTRALIA Richmond, VA Valencia, SPAIN Milan, ITALY Charlottesville, VA Bed-Stuy/Crown Heights, NY Tokyo, JAPAN Arlington, VA Bronx, NY Vancouver, CANADA Washington, DC Queens, NY Toronto, CANADA Denver, CO Upper Manhattan, NY Berlin, GERMANY Indianapolis, IN Lower Manhattan, NY Frankfurt, GERMANY Boston, MA Albany, NY Los Angeles, CA New Orleans, LA Central Park, NY East Bay, CA Seattle, WA Greater Brooklyn, NY San Diego, CA Cleveland, OH Northern Brooklyn, NY Sonoma County, CA Chicago, IL Ithaca, NY Sacramento, CA Atlanta, GA Staten Island, NY San Luis Obispo, CA Miami, FL Catskills, NY Joshua Tree, CA Santa Fe, NM Jersey City, NJ Del Mar, CA Montgomery County, MD Portland, OR Nashville, TN Annapolis, MD Page 5

6 Progress Around the World These clubs, the Airbnb community and our work directly with policymakers are making a difference. In the second quarter of 2016, we have won real victories and made substantial progress around the world: Chicago The city of Chicago enacted new rules that Airbnb supports that allow people to share their homes on a short-term basis in every neighborhood, ward and zone. Los Angeles The Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted to legalize short term rentals. Leading up to the hearing, over 7,000 s were sent to members of the Los Angeles City Council and Planning Commission and over 200 Airbnb hosts attended and gave public comment at the hearing. The process now moves on to the City Council. Denver Denver joined the growing number of cities that are embracing innovation and enabling middle class people to share their homes. Over the past two years, Airbnb, members of our host and guest community and policymakers have worked together Page 6

7 to create common sense regulations for the City of Denver. Among other things the new law includes an easy to use online registration process for home sharers. East Coast, United States We have finalized agreements with a number of cities and states in the United States and this summer we will be collecting taxes in jurisdictions up and down the Eastern Seaboard, including: Pennsylvania Connecticut Jersey City Rhode Island South Carolina Florida Arizona Governor Doug Ducey met with Airbnb hosts and signed a new law that allows home sharing to be a powerful economic tool for families across Arizona. Japan The Prime Minister s Cabinet approved a new policy framework that will allow home sharing and short term rentals nationwide. Korea The Korean Government recently introduced legislation to the National Assembly which will create clear new rules for home sharing. Australia The South Australian state government has introduced new planning rules that provide clear support for short term rentals and allow residents to embrace the sharing economy. EU The European Commission is leading support for the sharing economy and has called for a clear and consistent approach to regulation across Europe. It will champion the development of the sharing economy and ensure benefits are available widely. It will lead calls to ensure unnecessary barriers to participation are removed. Page 7

8 Catalonia The Government of Catalonia announced it is working on new rules that allow regular people to share their homes. It has established a commission to oversee the work and advise the government. Lisbon Airbnb and the City of Lisbon have signed an agreement to promote responsible home sharing and simplify the payment of tourist taxes, allowing Airbnb to collect and remit on behalf of hosts and guests. France Airbnb will begin collecting and remitting tourist taxes in a further 17 cities in France, bringing the total number to 19. Page 8

9 Strength of the Airbnb Community With global tourism growing, there will be more people home sharing tomorrow than there are today. The number of guests arrivals in Airbnb listings has surged past 100 million and Airbnb listings are spread across more than 34,000 cities. On some nights, there are more than a million guests staying at an Airbnb listing. And in key cities around the world, Airbnb hosts and guests represent a substantial portion of the overall population and are eager to speak out about the benefits of home sharing: City 1 Airbnb Hosts + Guests Total City Population Strength of Airbnb Community San Francisco 181, , % Paris 528,521 2,244, % Seattle 114, , % Washington, D.C. 104, , % Amsterdam 107, , % Miami 35, , % Denver 54, , % Barcelona 116,506 1,602, % 1 Airbnb hosts and guests refers to the number of users in that city who are hosts or who have ever booked a trip as of July 1, Page 9

10 The Airbnb community also represents a significant and growing bloc of voters and citizens. Page 10

11 Working With Cities In the second half of 2016, we will continue to collaborate closely with cities around the world. While home sharing is not new, home sharing over a global people-topeople platform is new. And in the same way new laws were needed to address policy objectives when we transitioned from the horse and buggy to the car, we need new approaches to help cities address issues related to the changing nature of how people live, work and travel. Home sharers will continue to organize and educate their fellow citizens about the benefits of sharing their space and we look forward to partnering with individual cities to address their unique policy needs. Page 11

Volunteering in Oklahoma City, OK

6/17/2010 Oklahoma City Profile - Volunteering in information on volunteering and civic engagement Volunteering in Oklahoma City, OK Statistics for this area were collected within the Oklahoma City Metropolitan