A revolution is changing how we live and work, bringing about a revolution in how we travel. The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly untethered tens of millions of people from the need to work in specific places at specific times. They can now work from anywhere, travel any time, and stay for longer. While technologies like Zoom make it possible to work from home, Airbnb is making it possible to work from any home—and ultimately, to live anywhere.
A 7,500-consumer survey we commissioned across five countries found that:
- More than one third (38%) of self-identified hybrid/remote employees say they would rather quit their jobs than go back to work in-person full-time.
- Nearly two thirds (63%) of all respondents say they have come to expect more flexibility from their employers.
- One third say that after the pandemic, they will live somewhere else while working remotely more often than before the crisis.
- More than one third (37%) say they will undertake more longer-stay travel.
The Live Anywhere Revolution on Airbnb
The ways guests are using our platform as parts of the world begin to emerge from the pandemic support these findings:
People increasingly are living on Airbnb:
- From July to September, 20 percent of our nights booked were for stays of one month or longer. Guests this year are spending more on these longer stays now than at any point in Airbnb history.
- In 200 destinations around the world, people already are living on Airbnb: 30 percent of guest nights in these places have been for long-term stays.
- In the past year, more than 100,000 guests have stayed continuously on Airbnb for at least three months.
Pent-up demand:
As countries around the world start to loosen their travel restrictions, we’ve been seeing sudden increases in interest in these countries. For example, in the US, which historically is the largest inbound travel market in the world:
- During the week following the October 15 announcement of the November 8 reopening date, nights booked by foreign guests for stays starting November 8 increased by 44 percent.
- As of this week, starting on November 8, Hosts in more than 4,000 different destinations across the US including Puerto Rico will welcome inbound foreign guests.
After so much time spent apart from loved ones due to lockdowns and travel restrictions, we’re also seeing greater interest in holiday travel over 2019:
- As of the end of September, we had over 40 percent more nights booked for Thanksgiving week in the US than at the same time in 2019.
And we’re seeing this strong demand extend into 2022:
- As of the end of September, we had over 50 percent more nights booked for stays 12 months out than at this time in 2019.
- Long-term stays are our fastest-growing category and family trips are our fastest-growing trip type.
- In our 7,500-sample, five-country survey, interest in travel overall is high, with more than two thirds (71 percent) saying they are currently booking or considering travel within the next year.
Cross-border travel:
Even before the latest announcements about lifted border restrictions, we were seeing recovery in both longer-distance and cross-border travel:
- Overall, cross-border travel has been increasing steadily throughout the year, from 20 percent of gross nights booked in the first quarter, to 27 percent in the second, to 33 percent in the third.
- For October 2021, cross-border travel gross nights booked hit approximately 80 percent of levels from October 2019.
To meet the needs of travelers according to these new trends, Airbnb launched:
AirCover – Top-to-bottom protection. Free for every Host. Only on Airbnb.
Translation Engine – The most advanced translation technology ever offered to our community.
Accessibility Review – Every photo of accessibility features submitted by stays Hosts is reviewed for 100% accuracy.
I’m (even more) Flexible – Search for more unique homes up to 12 months in advance.
Verified Wifi – Our new speed test tool verifies the speed of the Wi-Fi in a listing.
Smarter Trips Tab – A redesigned Trips tab with all your must-have travel details.
Ask a Superhost Expansion – Connects new Hosts to a Superhost in their area for 1:1 help.
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.
