How destinations can benefit from the rise in remote workers
Key Takeaways
- New guide provides industry-first analysis of global remote work initiatives.
- Calls for low-cost and expeditious remote worker visa program.
- Proposes model tax and financial incentives for remote workers and employers.
- Recommends essential amenities like internet connectivity and community support for workers and their families.
Key Takeaways
- New guide provides industry-first analysis of global remote work initiatives.
- Calls for low-cost and expeditious remote worker visa program.
- Proposes model tax and financial incentives for remote workers and employers.
- Recommends essential amenities like internet connectivity and community support for workers and their families.
Airbnb today published a guide for governments and destinations outlining recommendations for how communities can benefit economically from the rise in remote workers. Airbnb’s Guide to Live and Work Anywhere: How Communities Can Benefit from Remote Workers is based on Airbnb’s insights, data and experiences in partnering with 20 destinations that are embracing the potential of remote work, as well as a review of remote worker programs worldwide.
“Where policy-makers once had to fight to attract entire companies (or even industries), today governments and destination marketing organizations must consider how to recruit individuals and families who can work remotely and how to ensure that the benefits of remote work are felt by the wider community,” said Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Airbnb. “The best approach is one that not only attracts remote workers, but also integrates them into communities so that all residents can benefit from this rising trend.”
Since the start of the pandemic, remote work has surged around the world and the trend is also evident on Airbnb’s platform, with many guests choosing to live and work in a location for extended periods of time. Long-term stays (28 days+) continue to be Airbnb’s fastest-growing category by trip length, more than doubling from Q1 2019.1
Remote workers represent a huge socio-economic opportunity for destinations and host communities. For example, Tulsa’s remote worker incentive program generated nearly $20 million in additional local gross domestic product and approximately $1.6 million in induced state and local tax revenue in 2021 alone, with every dollar spent on the incentive program resulting in $2.38 in new induced labor income locally.
To reap the benefits of remote working, Airbnb’s Guide to Live and Work Anywhere provides recommendations for:
- Improving visa processes and streamlining tax compliance
- Encouraging remote workers to support local businesses
- Immersing remote workers and their families into host neighborhoods.
The remote work “revolution” has particular promise for smaller cities and rural communities, many of which have been hurt by macroeconomic trends in recent decades. Since the pandemic started in March 2020, globally, more than 8,100 cities and towns have received their first-ever Airbnb bookings – including over 1,300 in the US. In 2021, domestic nights booked by US guests on Airbnb for stays in rural areas grew 110 percent compared to 2019, while Airbnb Hosts in rural counties in the US earned over $3.5 billion over the year.
In partnerships with 20 global destinations, Airbnb continues to evolve the experience for remote workers for guests, Hosts and host communities alike. This month, dedicated remote work hubs for Tampa Bay and Tulsa were activated. Later this month, we’ll launch hubs for Salzkammergut (Austria), Thailand, Cape Town, and Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy).