Dubbed The Neighborhood Tourism Fellowship, the initiative is Airbnb’s first attempt at systematically connecting its hosts with local businesses in an effort to improve its user experience. If successful, the company plans to replicate the program globally.
“We’re proud to be working together with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to launch this program and further the tremendous economic impact of tourism throughout the diverse neighborhoods of this borough,” said Airbnb Global Head of Civic Partnerships, Molly Turner. “In addition to becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, Brooklyn is home to a vibrant middle-class community facing rising costs of living. Airbnb is committed to fostering the growth of tourism in a way that benefits both small business owners and the middle class families who depend on homesharing to make it affordable for them to live in Brooklyn.”
The announcement was made during the launch event of the newly redesigned ExploreBK.com website, Brooklyn’s dedicated tourism website. The site assists visitors in finding Brooklyn’s best dining, events, shopping, attractions, and more, while providing local businesses and attractions with an easy-to-use tool to promote themselves. It will also serve as the home of a series of borough-wide alcohol trail maps, helping visitors sample the best wines, beers, and spirits in Brooklyn.
“This partnership with Airbnb is an exciting opportunity for us to continue promoting the best that Brooklyn has to offer, while also greatly improving the experiences of visitors. We’re eager to begin working with Airbnb on this terrific program, which we hope will serve as a model for how the company can improve community engagement globally,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to organizing events to introduce hosts to local business owners, Airbnb will fund a Chamber community outreach organizer to meet with Brooklyn businesses one-on-one and educate them on opportunities to get in front of Airbnb’s users. The company will also be a primary sponsor of the Chamber’s new ExploreBK website.
The announcement did draw some rebuke from the Hotel Association of New York City, which has been locked in an ongoing battle with Airbnb over tourism accommodations, but the organization stopped short of criticizing the chamber for forming a partnership with a company that’s part of the burgeoning shared economy industry.
“This is simply a transaction for Airbnb to attempt to buy goodwill when their operation is exacerbating the affordable housing crisis and creating other potential safety issues for visitors in New York City,” said Lisa Linden, spokeswoman, Hotel Association of NYC.
The chamber currently has 27 hotel/accommodation members, but Chamber Spokesperson Michael Pantelidis said the Chamber’s role is to juggle the needs of all its’ members.
“The Chamber has over 2,000 members, and we continue to try and find innovative ways to work with all of them to improve the business climate in Brooklyn,” Pantelidis said.
Almost one-third of all Airbnb visitors to the city stay in Brooklyn, and 45 percent spend at least some time in the borough. In 2014, Airbnb generated $100 million in economic activity in Brooklyn. In Bed-Stuy alone, travelers generated $30 million in direct spending in the neighborhood — $10.2 million to local hosts and $19.8 million to local businesses in the neighborhood.
The partnership also has the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.
“I am excited to work with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Airbnb to further my mission of connecting tourists with all of the one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy everything Brooklyn has to offer, ensuring the popularity of our brand translates into prosperity for all Brooklynites,” said Adams.
