Brooklyn Chamber & Airbnb Launch Major Partnership to Promote Tourism

Project Will Be Airbnb’s First Program to Connect Hosts with Local Businesses
 
Almost One Third of Airbnb’s NYC Visitors Stay in Brooklyn, Generate $100 Million in Economic Activity for Area
 The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Airbnb announced on Wednesday a first-of-its kind partnership program geared towards promoting tourism across the borough. The Neighborhood Tourism Fellowship will be Airbnb’s first attempt at systematically connecting its hosts with local businesses in an effort to improve its user experience. If successful, the company plans to replicate the program globally.

The announcement was made during the launch event of the newly redesigned ExploreBK.com website, Brooklyn’s dedicated tourism website. The new ExploreBK.com assists visitors in finding Brooklyn’s best dining, events, shopping, attractions, and more, while providing local businesses and attractions with an easy-to-use tool to promote themselves. It will also serve as the home of a series of borough-wide alcohol trail maps, helping visitors sample the best wines, beers, and spirits in Brooklyn. The new site will allow people to book hotel rooms for their next trip through a partnership with Booking.com, as well.

“Brooklyn has long been a major tourism destination — due in large part to the amazing people that live here and the great businesses that surround them — and the new ExploreBK.com will make visiting the world’s greatest borough easier and more enjoyable than ever,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “This partnership with Airbnb is an exciting opportunity for us to continue promoting the best that Brooklyn has to offer, while also greatly improving the experiences of visitors. We’re eager to begin working with Airbnb on this terrific program, which we hope will serve as a model for how the company can improve community engagement globally.”

“Both residents and travelers from across the globe will have an even greater experience exploring Brooklyn with the upgraded ExploreBK.com,” said Brooklyn Chamber Board Chair Denise Arbesu. “From hidden gems to the borough’s most popular attractions, the new ExploreBK.com has it all. The Brooklyn Chamber is proud to have Brooklyn’s greatest travel tool and proud to begin this incredible partnership with Airbnb — both are sure to take Brooklyn tourism to the next level.”

“We’re proud to be working together with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to launch this program and further the tremendous economic impact of tourism throughout the diverse neighborhoods of this borough,” said Airbnb Global Head of Civic Partnerships, Molly Turner. “In addition to becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, Brooklyn is home to a vibrant middle-class community facing rising costs of living. Airbnb is committed to fostering the growth of tourism in a way that benefits both small business owners and the middle class families who depend on homesharing to make it affordable for them to live in Brooklyn.”

“The Statue of Liberty welcomes newcomers to our city with the line: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ That is the energy with which Brooklyn welcomes new visitors to our beautiful borough,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “I am excited to work with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Airbnb to further my mission of connecting tourists with all of the one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy everything Brooklyn has to offer, ensuring the popularity of our brand translates into prosperity for all Brooklynites.”
 
In addition to organizing events to introduce hosts to local business owners, Airbnb will fund a Chamber community outreach organizer to meet with Brooklyn businesses one-on-one and educate them on opportunities to get in front of Airbnb’s users. The company will also be a primary sponsor of the Chamber’s new ExploreBK website.
 
Almost one third of all Airbnb visitors to NYC stay in Brooklyn, and 45 percent spend at least some time in the borough. In 2014, Airbnb generated $100 million in economic activity in Brooklyn. In Bed-Stuy alone, travelers generated $30 million in direct spending in the neighborhood — $10.2 million to local hosts and $19.8 million to local businesses in the neighborhood.
 
About The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce promotes economic development across the borough and serves as an advocate for its member businesses. Its mission is to promote a healthy and robust business environment throughout Brooklyn. The Chamber is one of New York’s largest business advocacy and economic development organizations.

About ExploreBK.com
ExploreBK.com is Brooklyn’s dedicated tourism website, a complete source for Brooklyn dining, events, shopping, attractions, and more. The site is designed to help both New Yorkers and visitors find the best of Brooklyn all in one place, while giving local businesses and attractions an easy-to-use tool to promote themselves.

About Airbnb
Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world – online, or from a mobile phone or tablet.
 
Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 34,000 cities and 190 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.
  
 
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