GNN reported earlier this month that from March 2nd to March 3rd, people from around the world booked 61,000 nights in Ukrainian cities via Airbnb, likely not one ever planning to check-in, or reschedule.
It was part of a creative social media campaign to channel funds into besieged cities where something like aid drops or supply trucks can’t reach, and saw $1.9 million raised for Ukrainians in just 48 hours.
Since that day, booking of Airbnbs across Ukraine has continued, with 434,000 rooms reserved and $15 million raised.
“We are so humbled by the inspiring generosity of our community during this moment of crisis,” said Haven Thorn, a company spokesperson. The company’s CEO also responded on Twitter.
One week later, 434,000 nights have been booked. That’s $15M going to Hosts in Ukraine
— Brian Chesky 🇺🇦 (@bchesky) March 12, 2022
On behalf of our Hosts in Ukraine, thank you. https://t.co/TXoQzDbF9l
Apart from this clever fundraising, the past two weeks have seen Airbnb.org, the business’s non-profit wing, receive more than $5.2 million in small-dollar, direct donations from a total of more than 59,000 individual donors across 92 countries.
Airbnb was also quick to announce it would be setting up temporary housing for 100,000 Ukrainian refugees across Europe and North America.
Airbnb hosts have answered this generosity with their own, and more than 21,000 individuals have signed up to open their Airbnb-listed properties to Ukrainians, including 14,000 across Europe and 4,000 in the U.S.
The Utah Jazz Foundation is also partnering with Airbnb.org to provide more than 32,200 nights of temporary housing to refugees fleeing Ukraine, a number representing exactly 200% of the capacity of their Vivint Arena home stadium.
“I cannot begin to express my thanks to the Utah Jazz Foundation for their support of Airbnb.org’s work,” said Joe Gebbia, Airbnb co-founder and chairman of Airbnb.org.
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In order to ensure a more comfortable stay, and to place less strain on their clients, a total of $16,625,000 has been contributed to an aid fund to help pay for these refugees’ lodgings, food, and other necessities by Airbnb employees and its co-founders, one of whom appeared on Ellen DeGeneres to announce an additional $10 million matching donation.
They said they were inspired by the reaction from their community and wanted to do their part.
Airbnb hosts that want to help need only register on the Airbnb.org Help Ukraine page.
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