Airbnb Doubling Down with New Tech Hub and Global Ad Campaign Announcements

During the thick of the pandemic, many expected Airbnb to fizzle out due to lockdown ordinances, travel restrictions, and users canceling their travel plans en masse. However, the short-term rental hosting platform has survived and it’s boosting efforts to support travel in different ways. 

First, the startup has announced that it has chosen a technical hub- Atlanta, Georgia. The center will house a product development team and more. The goal is to make Atlanta the regional headquarters for both technical and non-technical roles within Airbnb’s staff pool.

Partnering with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Airbnb will work with the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to support youth engagement strategies to promote equitable access to education, development, and training opportunities for the younger generations within the city. 

Bottoms said: 

“Atlanta is the South’s shining star and our prosperity depends on cultivating a diverse company base that brings jobs and creates opportunities for our residents. We welcome Airbnb to Atlanta and look forward to working with them to build a pipeline of good-quality jobs for our local workforce. ” 

Airbnb has also launched a huge ad campaign called ‘Made possible by hosts.’ It’s the first global marketing campaign in five years and showcases different people dreaming or preparing for their next trip. 

This is also the first marketing stunt since the beginning of the COVID pandemic but Airbnb isn’t balking. ‘Made possible by hosts’ is meant more to keep its brand at the forefront of consumer’s minds as travel restrictions go lax. 

Originally the company switched up to long-term stays as a way to keep relevant during a lockdown world as well as support quarantine by offering spaces for consumers to get away from others.