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Introducing the $10,000,000 OMG! Fund for the world’s craziest listing idea

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Airbnb is on the hunt for the world’s craziest spaces — and will help foot the bill to build them.

Airbnb is on the hunt for the world’s craziest spaces — and will help foot the bill to build them.

Australia

Whether it’s the next boot, UFO house or a 6-ton potato, the first-of-its-size $10,000,000 OMG! Fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers from around the globe. The fund’s $10 million will help finance 100 of the craziest ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings, which are Airbnb’s collection of the most unique homes.

Starting today, anyone with an out-of-this-world idea can submit an application at airbnb.com/omgfund. One hundred people with the 100 craziest ideas will receive USD $100,000* (approx $144,277 AUD) each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability.

The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. As part of this shift, Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves, and Airbnb Categories, which launched last month, provide a new way to search for these spaces. More than 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to Airbnb in 2021 and the OMG! Category – which since introduced has been clicked on 2.5M times – showcases the craziest amongst them, making it easy for guests to discover these listings in places they wouldn’t have otherwise looked. 

Hosting on Airbnb provides powerful economic benefits to Hosts and their communities. In 2021, the typical Host in Australia earned over $12,400 AUD. Booking fun and unique listings are on the rise, nights booked at unique properties increased globally by over 49 percent from 2019 to 2021.  

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand echoes Chesky’s passion for unique spaces especially amongst Australians. 

Now more than ever Aussie’s are are looking to maximise their travel and stay in unique spaces to create a full experience with their holiday. With the recent launch of Airbnb’s Categories and the popular OMG! Category, it has never been easier to find fun exciting listings. From tiny homes with breathtaking landscapes, to treehouses in the mountains and a picturesque van called ‘Stevie’, Australians are looking for the out of the ordinary to help take a break from everyday life. It’s also the perfect time to become a Host on Airbnb and it’s easy with a simplified process in just 10 easy steps. You’re in full control of your availability, prices, house rules, and how you interact with guests, and each and every reservation is covered for free by our Million Dollar Host Guarantee as well as our Host Protection Insurance. And now with the OMG! Fund, Airbnb can help Hosts stand out from the rest.

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand

Emily Stygall, Host of one of Australia’s most wishlisted unique listings, Alkira Eco-Glamping Retreat said.

 It definitely helps having a unique Airbnb listing as there are so many options out there, so it really makes a difference to have something special. I’m meeting so many people from all over the world who are seeking a unique stay, more so than the location itself! I’ve travelled the world, and whenever I stay somewhere else, I like to bring aspects of each location home with me. My mum is an artist and she taught me the value of collecting these little treasured items.

In the five years since becoming a Host, I’ve leveraged the popularity of my Airbnb listing to allow me to express my creativity and connect with hundreds of people in the process.

Emily Stygall, Host of Alkira Eco-Glamping Retreat

Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundary-pushing design authorities, an architectural expert, and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost:

The $10,000,000 OMG! Fund opens today for a period of 30 days, through July 23 at 1:59 pm AEST. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/omgfund.

Most Wishlisted Unique Airbnb listings in Australia in 2021:

*Host payout of total earnings according to Airbnb data in 2021

Host earnings vary widely depending on many factors, including availability, price, acceptance and cancellation rates, occupancy rate and the demand in the listing location. Globally, the median earnings for an OMG! Category Host active between Jan 2018 and May 2022 was just over $69,000 AUD.

New Zealand

Whether it’s the next boot, UFO house or a 6-ton potato, the first-of-its-size $10,000,000 OMG! Fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers from around the globe. The fund’s $10 million will help finance 100 of the craziest ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings, which are Airbnb’s collection of the most unique homes.

Starting today, anyone with an out-of-this-world idea can submit an application at airbnb.com/omgfund. One hundred people with the 100 craziest ideas will receive USD $100,000* each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability.

The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. As part of this shift, Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves, and Airbnb Categories, which launched last month, provide a new way to search for these spaces. More than 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to Airbnb in 2021 and the OMG! Category – which since introduced has been clicked on 2.5M times – showcases the craziest amongst them, making it easy for guests to discover these listings in places they wouldn’t have otherwise looked. 

Hosting on Airbnb provides powerful economic benefits to Hosts and their communities. In 2021, the typical Host in New Zealand earned over NZD $6,100. Additionally, nights booked at unique properties increased globally by over 49 percent from 2019 to 2021. 

Otago-based unique stay Host, Emma Tyler, says listing her Kiwi Chalet in Lake Hayes, allowed her to share the beautiful rural lifestyle she experiences with her family, with local and international travelers.

I listed my place on Airbnb because I wanted to give guests a chance to escape the day to day and immerse themselves in a uniquely Kiwi experience. From the breathtaking surrounding natural landscapes, fresh air and open outdoor spaces, all easily enjoyed from our architecturally designed chalet – I like to think I offer guests a glimpse of what my family loves about the lifestyle here.

Listing on Airbnb has also given my family and I more financial freedom to enjoy and experience the things we love, like skiing, tramping and biking in the incredible outdoors around us. It also allows me to be a stay-at-home-mum and be present in my children’s lives, which is really important to us as a family.

Emma Tyler, Host of Kiwi Chalet

Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundary-pushing design authorities, an architectural expert, and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost:

The $10,000,000 OMG! OMG! Fund opens today for a period of 30 days, through July 23 at 3:59 pm NZT. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/omgfund.

Most Wishlisted Unique Airbnb listings in New Zealand in 2021:

*Host payout of total earnings according to Airbnb data in 2021

Host earnings vary widely depending on many factors, including availability, price, acceptance and cancellation rates, occupancy rate and the demand in the listing location. Globally, the median earnings for an OMG! Category Host active between Jan 2018 and May 2022 was just over AUD $69,000.

*For more information, including a list of eligible countries, see the Official Rules.

Unique listings are defined by Hosts, these include but are not limited to; treehouse, yurt, barn, boat, castle, campsite, hut, island, plane, shepherds hut, train, treehouse, windmill, yurt, etc.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million Hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

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