News

People are Booking Airbnbs in Ukraine To Get Money to Residents

Airbnb confirmed it is waiving all guest and host fees for bookings in Ukraine to assist in the effort.

Published March 4, 2022

IRPIN, UKRAINE - MARCH 04: A member of the Ukrainian military gives instructions to women and children that fled fighting in Bucha and Irpin before boarding an evacuation train from Irpin City to Kyiv that was scheduled after heavy fighting overnight forced many to leave their homes on March 04, 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine. Russia continues assault on Ukraine's major cities, including the capital Kyiv, a week after launching a large-scale invasion of the country. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Image Via Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, people are finding creative ways to help Ukrainians trapped in the war. One method is through booking local Airbnbs in the country, while not actually going to stay there.

A Guardian report detailed how many residents of Ukraine are facing extreme financial hardship as a result of the war, resulting in the bookings across Airbnb. Airbnb also announced the company would be providing free short-term housing for 100,000 refugees fleeing the country.

A number of people shared their booking confirmations and encouraged others to do the same:

Some online called on Airbnb to waive booking fees in Ukraine so that the in-country hosts would receive all the proceeds. A company spokesperson confirmed that the company would be waiving fees in the country. “We appreciate the generosity of our community during this moment of crisis,” she said. “Airbnb is also waiving all guest and host fees on all bookings in Ukraine at this time.”

They responded to a number of Twitter users asking them about fees for guests and hosts, and confirmed that they would be waiving all of them for Ukraine:

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said the company was reviewing whether to continue its operations in Russia. He also said they had provided free housing to around 54,000 refugees globally in the last decade, and most recently to Afghan refugees.


Sources

Abrahamson, Rachel Paula. “How Americans Are Using Airbnb as a Way to Get Money to Ukrainians.” TODAY.Com, 3 March 2022. https://www.today.com/news/ukraine-airbnb-money-booking-rcna18507. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.

“Host People Fleeing Ukraine.” Airbnb.Org, https://airbnb.org/help-ukraine. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.

Quach, Georgina. “Airbnb to Offer Free Housing to 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees.” The Guardian, 28 Feb. 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/28/airbnb-to-offer-free-housing-to-100000-ukrainian-refugees. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.

Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.