After almost 10 years of solo travel, my go-to place for accommodations is suddenly tainted. Airbnb — the disruptive company once celebrated for changing how travelers booked short term rentals — is now facing a wave of backlash. For me, Airbnb once meant cozy, affordable stays for around $30 a night, connecting with guests and locals alike. It was a way to see the world not just through hotels, but through someone’s living room.
Airbnb was a popular choice for many travelers until a recent boycott.
How did this popular travel site get put on the do-not-book list? Let’s discuss.
Why are people threatening to leave Airbnb?
It all started when Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, joined Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficacy (DOGE). Adding fuel to the fire, Gebbia admitted to voting for Trump in the recent election. In an age when public opinion matters more than ever, this move has rubbed many travelers the wrong way.
Reports show that DOGE has cut over 30,000 federal jobs. The Trump administration also fired 1,000 National Park Service workers. While job cuts are a part of any business or political climate, these job cuts came swiftly and without explanation. The government has yet to say in detail how they plan to use the money saved by cutting jobs.
Meanwhile, CEO Brian Chesky has stayed quiet on how much influence Gebbia actually holds, claiming that board members don’t steer the company’s daily decisions. Still, many guests and hosts see his presence as unacceptable.
With many people out of work, citizens are seeking ways to fight back. Boycotting is a way for the people to be heard. With billionaires in power, controlling where money goes can combat injustices.
Even before the boycott, Airbnb has faced fire for how its short-term model affects communities. In cities like Los Angeles, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, lawmakers say vacation rentals contribute to gentrification, reduce housing stock, and push out long-term tenants. Some cities have introduced strict regulations or outright bans. Lawsuits have piled up as tenants accuse Airbnb of helping landlords turn housing into profit machines.
Likewise, many users don’t want to support a business that pays a man whose values aren’t aligned with theirs.
Helen0, an Airbnb user, expressed her views on an Airbnb forum.
“That the chairman of Airbnb is now working with ‘DOGE’ … concerns me on a moral level, but it is also extremely concerning on a business level. I found out about this on social media — not through Airbnb communicating transparently with the hosts who are its lifeblood — but as part of a call to boycott Airbnb completely.”
Ironically, Airbnb has a history of helping to house migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, although Gebbia has expressed strong criticism of immigration issues.
Christopher Nully, Airbnb’s head of corporate communications and public affairs made a statement to Skift regarding Gebbia. He stated that even though Gebbia is on the board, he isn’t a part of the day-to-day operation.
It seems that Airbnb is trying to separate its business from the actions of Gebbia, assuring the public that Gebbia won’t influence the company’s growth or direction.
Yet, saying that Gebbia is not on the front lines of Airbnb may not be enough. Smithson0, an Airbnb host shared their concerns on a forum. “I am very concerned that yet another multi-billionaire has decided to participate in the ransacking of the U.S. federal government… If Gebbia wants to pal around with Musk while they destroy federal workers’ lives, he should not do it while sitting on the Airbnb Board.”
While the boycott is gaining traction, what will be the long-term outcomes? Will the boycott even make a dent in the billions of dollars Gebbia makes? What about the hosts who rely on Airbnb for their income?
What should travelers and owners do?
Suggestions for alternatives are flooding social media and various online spaces. Here are some of the options presented:
- VRBO: Great for long-term rentals in the U.S.
- TrustedHousitters: A system where you watch people’s homes and pets in exchange for staying at their homes while they are away.
- Nomador: Another house-sitting platform.
- Hostelworld: Great for finding low-cost hostels.
There are also the options of staying at Black-owned or minority-owned hotels and hostels.
Enroot Travel offers information on Black-owned stays.
Noirbnb and Innclusive are alternatives to Airbnb that cater to people of color.
Journey Black Home is a database and community that helps Black travelers find and book Black-owned Airbnbs.
But what about the hosts?
While many people have deleted their accounts, some are advocating for a different course of action. Many hosts are working-class average people relying on Airbnb for income. Boycotting the platform could hurt hosts. So, some are taking action by emailing the founders and CEO to remove Gebbia from the board.
The future of Airbnb seems to hang in the balance. Travelers now view Airbnb as guilty by association, even though Gebbia is not part of the daily operations.
As travel influencers push out content in support of the boycott, I am encouraged to take action as well. Instead of jumping to Airbnb to book my next trip, I will be looking into other platforms. Sure, there’s more research involved, but I’d rather know my money is going to good use.
Along with this, I can’t help but think of the Colombian woman who rented out her upstairs room on Airbnb. It may not be easy for her or others like her to move to another platform. Hopefully, this boycott doesn’t have to last forever. I hope that with the loss in revenue, Airbnb can take action and remove Gebbia from the board. If Airbnb is about community, now is the perfect time for them to take action.
