Founded in 2008, Airbnb is no stranger to times of economic stress. And now, the home-sharing company is tapping into heightened worries about a recession and rising prices with its latest campaign targeting homeowners who may want to supplement their income by becoming Airbnb hosts.
A new series of ads and marketing will begin rolling out this week, timed to Airbnb’s release of winter product offerings. The new tools include AirCover for Hosts, which includes guest identity verification, reservation screening and $3 million in damage protection; and Airbnb Setup, which helps hosts set up their homes and listings for sharing. That includes assistance for new hosts from seasoned “SuperHosts,” who operate as mentors and receive special rewards for helping newcomers.
The company said that in 2021, typical hosts on Airbnb earned $3,971 or more, and that total earnings for the host category increased 30% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the year-earlier period.