Airbnb Land IOC Top Partnership In Nine-year Deal
The IOC has unveiled Airbnb as a major new Olympic sponsor in a nine-year, five-Games partnership.
At a press conference in London, IOC President Thomas Bach and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia announced that the online accommodation platform will join the IOC’s The Olympic Partners (TOP) Programme ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games, and will provide ‘hundreds of thousands of new Airbnb hosts… accommodation and experiences through to 2028.”
Those games will take place in some of Airbnb’s biggest markets, with Beijing (2022), Paris (2024), Milan (2026) and Los Angeles (2028) hosting the next five events across both Summer and Winter Games.
Airbnb has also announced the launch of a new ‘Olympian Experiences’ feature, which will allow travellers the chance to train with Olympic athletes and explore cities with them.
The IOC says the partnership will generate, “hundreds of thousands of new hosts over nine years, giving community residents the opportunity to earn extra income by providing accommodation and local experiences to visiting fans, athletes and other members of the Olympic Movement.” It is also understood that the partnership will not replace the Olympic Village, but would rather provide accommodation for officials and visitors and ensure host cities do not need to invest in hotels to house unsustainable numbers of visitors.
President Bach said: “This innovative partnership underpins our strategy to ensure that the efficient staging of the Olympic Games is sustainable and leaves a legacy for the host community. With Airbnb’s support, we will also develop new opportunities for athletes around the world to develop their own direct revenue streams through the promotion of physical activity and the Olympic values. Through this partnership, there will also be a direct benefit for athletes over and above the USD 5 billion the IOC is distributing during this Olympiad for their benefit to Organising Committees and sports organisations around the world.”
Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia added: “Airbnb and the IOC have a strong track record in creating and accommodating the world’s greatest events. Our Olympic partnership will ensure that the Games are the most inclusive, accessible and sustainable yet, and leave a lasting positive legacy for athletes and host communities. Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, and we are proud that the Olympic spirit will be carried by our community.”
