Airbnb is an American company that operates an online marketplace for short- and long-term homestays and experiences. It was founded in 2008 by two designers who had space to share and hosted three travelers looking for a place to stay. The company acts as a broker and charges a commission from each booking. Airbnb connects people who want to rent out their homes with people looking for accommodations in specific locales. The company has listings in more than 220 countries and regions worldwide.
Airbnb offers a variety of accommodations, including vacation homes, condo rentals, private rooms, shared rooms, and even hotel rooms. The company has also expanded its travel offerings to include local activities programs called Experiences. On the business front, Airbnb for Work has everything needed to do your job on the road, from top-rated places and collaborative spaces to team-building Experiences and administrative tools that make managing travel easier than ever.
Airbnb has a global Community Support team that is available 24/7 in 11 different languages to help with rebooking, refunds, reimbursements, and more. The company also offers AirCover for Hosts, which is included every time you host and provides $3M in Host damage protection.
The term "Airbnb" is a contraction of "Airbed and Breakfast," an earlier name that reflected the companys origins. The companys founders started renting air mattresses in their San Francisco home to conference visitors.
