[FESTIVAL] How professional Hosts can bridge hospitality and social sustainability in the Airbnb community

[Claudia331]

Although the combination of addressing loneliness and professional hosting may initially seem contradictory, these businesses can create shared value for both professional Hosts and their guests and communities 

I know of some professional hosting businesses that enhance and promote the entire economic ecosystem. They help guests immerse themselves in the local culture, customs, and products. In turn, that can generate a sense of familiarity, belonging, and a desire to return.

I have also  worked at several nonprofit companies whose mission, alongside their tourist hospitality activities, is to create projects and services for guests with different needs, like travelers, refugees, workers, and students.

My first working experience was in social cooperation. For many years, I welcomed migrant women and older people with Alzheimer’s disease who were hosted in community facilities. I learned what it means to support people with different needs and backgrounds. I carry this experience with me today as a Host.

A few months ago, I partnered with some colleagues at the social organization where I currently work to start a guest house called @home. It’s located in a small town in the Lecco province in Italy and serves female students and young workers looking for stable accommodation. We’ve welcomed teachers from southern Italy, international students at the Polytechnic University of Milan,  supermarket saleswomen on relocation, and  single mothers with newborn children. 

This guest house can accommodate up to seven  women. It shares the common areas of the large house with a group of Ukrainian refugees, who are part of international protection projects. Older village residents also come to play cards and participate in other activities twice a week.

We recently organized a welcome gathering where the Ukrainian women cooked some of their traditional dishes and the girls from the guest house helped my colleagues prepare for the event. 

A moment of getting to know each other, sharing and celebrating to warm the hearts, not to feel lonely and to discover new ways of living together under the same roof, even if in separate units and with very different needs.

The decision to list the guest house on Airbnb resulted from the desire to make the home accessible to as many women as possible. 

Mary, Angela, Elizabeth, the three students/workers at @home  

Daniel, Delphine, Tatiya, and I are sharing our experiences with addressing loneliness through hosting and look forward to reading about your experiences. Read what Daniel, Delphine and Tatiya have to share about their experiences below: 

• Enhancing guest experiences through local engagement by @Daniel1651 
• My journey of connection and warmth in the French countryside by @Delphine348 
• A decade of Airbnb hosting focused on building lifelong connections by @Tatiya0 
  
  

We would to hear from you:

• If you are a professional Host, how do you create connections between your guests?
• How are professional Hosts able to create value for people and the community?
• How can Airbnb better promote social enterprises supporting social tourism projects? 

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

@Claudia331 - I hear you through every word. The responsibility and spirit of hosting has been escalated so well. I consider myself fortunate to belong to this community and feel assured to work towards sustainability avenues. I have a policy to reduce , reuse and recycle. My listing has minimal plastic usage, and request my guests if they can work to segregate garbage and help the housing society. This is my first step and I am positive in bringing in more. Thank you for the insights. 

[Bhumika]

@Dr-Jayanthi1 It's always inspiring to read host discussions related to sustainability in the community. I’m tagging @Laurelle3  in your comment as well, as I thought she might appreciate your efforts, given that she is a sustainable host herself. 💚

@Dr-Jayanthi1 how do you usually explain guests to help with segregate garbage? Do you have any visual notes that can help guests?

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Hey @Bhumika, I do not have visual notes, but we follow color coded bins, white(medial, sanitary wastes), blue (other plastics) green(food and other compostibles). A very few guests understand my thoughts, a good number of them take it as they please. I do send in a set message when they request to book my place. Mine is a request, curious to know @Laurelle3 of it’s a rule in your listing. Wish to know more on how garbage segregation is successfully implemented through guests. 

[Claudia331]

@Dr-Jayanthi1 thanks to you for your reply!

I think that every single contribution in social and environmental sustainability has a big impact and the sharing helps a lot us to inspire and improve our hospitality

[Laurelle3]

@Claudia331 Thank you for sharing your inspiring story of opening your home and heart to others. You have shown the ability to understand another's needs and creating a space for others to share.

It’s wonderful to hear how your guest house not only provides accommodation but fosters a sense of belonging and community, especially for those in need.  

You are a wonder woman to involve your work with hospitality building a place where you have promoted your hosting abilities to enrich others, for the guests, Thank you for sharing such a meaningful example of compassion and inclusivity.

Laurelle from Downunder

[Bhumika]

@Laurelle3 what a beautiful comment 😍 

[Claudia331]

@Laurelle3 join Bhumika in a big thank for your beautiful comment ❤️

I helped get this project started, I take this opportunity to thank my colleagues of the social cooperative where I'm working, who follow this project day by day

This show that an integration between touristic hospitality, in a large sense, and hospitality for people with social needs is possible and it can be a source of mutual well-being and enrichment 

Laurelle let's also stay in touch about the environmental sustainability initiatives 💚

[Bhumika]

Hi @Claudia331 , thanks so much for sharing an inspiring journey of building a community through hosting! 😍

Have you faced any specific challenges in setting up the guest house?

[Claudia331]

Hi @Bhumika thanks to you and the team for sharing this post and this story ❤️

I would say many challenges... I can mention some, sharing at the end that, despite them, I think the effort is worthwhile:

- the first challenge was to rethink the spaces of the house so that the guests of the guest house and guests from international protection programs (Ukrainian refugees, and refugees coming from other countries) could coexist peacefully

- a second challenge was “convincing” the colleagues from the social cooperative that promoting the guest house on the Airbnb platform was the best solution to widen the guest audience as much as possible and be as inclusive as possible

- finally, another challenge is to create the conditions for collaboration and integration of the different guests of the house

...work in progress for now with the pride of being Superhosts 🙌