Before you're temped to boycott...

[Judi1363]

Don’t throw out the AIRBNB baby along with the bathwater!

Take action, but please DON’T BOYCOTT! There’s something else you can do. Otherwise, you’ll hurt DISPLACED PERSONS in need of housing and mom-and-pop HOSTS like me. Read on!

CONCERN: Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, has just joined DOGE. There are loud calls to boycott Airbnb. But…

KEY BACKGROUND: There are TWO Airbnb companies: .COM and .ORG. Notice that the second is a not-for-profit company. ORG provides FREE housing for displaced people all over the Globe – Ukraine, LA fires (19,000 people so far), Southeast Georgia floods, Greece earthquakes, and many others. Hosts can contribute $$ or their rental unit to help fund it. Check out their website.

GEBBIA: He’s the Chairman of .ORG. He stepped away from any executive role at .COM years ago, though he is still on the board and an 8% owner.

TAKE ACTION: Skip the boycott and continue to help others who are desperate, and go right to the top. Tell the other co-founders you want Gebbia removed from the .COM Board and the leadership team at .ORG. Email Brian Chesky - the Chairman and CEO of .COM, as well as Nathan Blecharczyk - Chief Strategy Officer of .COM. (See email addresses below.)

Boycotts are effective, but so is deluging leaders with our opinions. The latter doesn’t hurt those who are being helped.

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!

EMAILS: This message won't post with specific email addresses so please pardon the gibberish...

Brian dot Chesky at Airbnb dot com

Nathan at Airbnb dot com

[Judi1363]

I sent my comments to the Super Host support center directly on Airbnb.com and got this back within minutes:

"I understand that you are getting in contact with regard to the Future of your business. I know that as a Super Host you go above and beyond for your users and so this is not a typical situation you encounter, but I'm here to support you through this as I know this a frustrating situation for you to deal with.

We are aware of the growing concerns and will work towards providing an update shortly. Until then please use the link below to let us know how you feel about this concern.

We always want to hear from our community. If you’d like to give us feedback on this issue or your experience, you can do so at:

airbnb.com/help/feedback

Best Regards,
Nakeita S.

[Cathi4]

I just sent this to Airbnb:

<We have been 5 star hosts in our home for a number of years and now our bookings have hit rock bottom. Our rooms are empty, empty, empty. I am reading that there is a boycott on Airbnb due to political ties to DOGE. This is reprehensible and we are exploring other options as I speak. Please don't write back and say that you are sorry. If Airbnb is not willing to actually do anything about it then I don't want to hear "sorry". If Airbnb continues to decline the staff there will lose their jobs as well so be prepared.>

[Tina12667]

Thank you for this.  Just emailed them both.

[Steve290]

These fascists pay zero attention to emails and talk.  Action like deleting the accounts is the only way to impact them.

[Cathi4]

That's what I plan to do.  What's the point of keeping them open anyway?  They are empty, empty, empty.  I have been perplexed and was hearing about boycotts but now I am certain that's what it is.  Am going back to renting rooms to students like I used to do.  Am making flyers for the community college near me and also will post on Craigslist and whatever other forums I can.  Not sure if Facebook Marketplace is an option.

[Erin8514]

Thank you so much for this information. I was ready to cancel my reservation and boycott, but I didn't want to punish the hosts. I just sent an email.

[Carrie649]

Thank you for this!  I have sent emails to both.

[Steve290]

I am not boycotting.  I have deleted my 15 year account.  I refuse to be associated with a **bleep**.  His allegiance is obviously in full support of fascism and authoritarianism as he is a part of the oligarchy in the midst of overthrowing the US government.

Wake up.

[Karen4526]

Good on you! I have decided to do the same after the people I have already rented to are out. I am not accepting any more requests and will delete my account. There are other options available. 

[Pam92]

Unfortunately I don't think there are other suitable options available for those of us who host from our own homes. I'm semi-retired, host two private suites in my 124yo home, and rely on that as my primary source of income now. I'm in a quandry.

[Cathi4]

I'm in that situation too.  I used to rent rooms to students for many years.  I'm making flyers now for the community college near me.  Check out schools in your area.  Most have housing boards.  Some you might have to pay, others are free.  I'm also going to check if Facebook Marketplace has an option for housing.  There is also Craigslist.  My renters weren't always students, just young people looking for an affordable place to live.  I used to rent just month-to-month.  Back in the day some of my renters became my best friends!  There are wonderful people out there needing housing.  You just need to do a little leg work and find out what is in your area.

I have been perplexed at why we were not getting bookings and now I know.  Our rooms are pretty much empty all the time.  

[Debra777]

Well said Steve290!

[Pam92]

I have already had one person with a booking inquiry come back the next day to say they aren't booking because they are boycotting Airbnb due to Gebbia's involvement with DOGE. They asked if I was also on VRBO so they could book with me there. But to my knowledge, people like me who host spaces in the homes where we live cannot list on VRBO. We are left to rely on Airbnb for our livelihoods, and not booking our Airbnb spaces causes more pain to us "little guys" than to Airbnb itself.

I will be emailing Chesky and Nathan. Thanks for posting!

[Karen4526]

For those of you in the USA or in lower Europe, there are alternatives to Airbnb. I live in Northern Sweden, so my options are limited, but VRBO is available here. I found this article in Travelfreak.com listing all sorts of other options. Homestay sounds like a good alternative for those of you who have places inside your own home. 

[Cathi4]

Pam, Read my response to the person above you.  I shared other options.