An Airbnb program will teach individuals about the riches of a small UNESCO World Heritage Site for three months. The company will cover flights and will allow volunteers up to €900 each month. The destination is Grottole, which is a small village in southern Italy.
The Airbnb program seeks to revive the town, restoring "the village's cultural center, in addition to filling out [more than 600 vacant] homes." In the first month, individuals will learn about Grottole's culture, the language, and cuisine. They will also explore the points of interest in the region such as the 10th-century castle, wine cellars, and more. In the remaining two months, the Airbnb program will ask participants to "co-host stays" with not-for-profit Wonder Grottle, introducing more people to the brilliance of the town.
Photo Credits: Airbnb
Enriching All-Expenses-Paid Excursions
This Airbnb Program Ships Individuals to Grottole, Italy
Trend Themes
1. Community-led Regeneration - The program's emphasis on restoring the village and involving locals can inspire similar community-led regeneration efforts globally.
2. Experiential Tourism - The popularity of Airbnb's immersive program presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the experiential tourism market.
3. Sustainable Travel - The Airbnb program's focus on sustainability and responsible tourism presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the eco-friendly travel market.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - Hotel chains can implement similar immersive programs in partnership with local communities to provide authentic experiences to their guests.
2. Real Estate - The success of the Airbnb program can inspire real estate developers to focus on regenerating neglected areas instead of building new ones, attracting tourists and boosting the local economy.
3. Cultural Conservation - Non-profit organizations working on cultural conservation can collaborate with travel companies to create sustainable tourism programs that both educate and support the preservation of cultural heritage sites around the world.