Joining The Valuable 500, a Commitment to Disability Inclusion

• While we have made progress in our work to make travel more accessible, we know there is more to be done. That is why we’ve joined The Valuable 500, committing to placing disability inclusion on our leadership agenda. 
• The Valuable 500 is a global movement working to get 500 of the world’s largest businesses to make a public commitment to advance disability inclusion in their organization.

Today, as people around the world celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Airbnb is pleased to announce we are joining The Valuable 500 and reaffirming our commitment to disability inclusion for our community of guests, hosts, and employees.

The Valuable 500 is a global movement working to get 500 of the world’s largest businesses to make a public commitment to advance disability inclusion in their organization. The movement’s goal is to create a tipping point within business that unlocks the business, social and economic value of the more than one billion people living with disabilities around the world, with the belief that if business takes a lead, society and government will follow—and truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.  

Airbnb is working to make travel inclusive for all, and our ongoing efforts include:

• Implementing accessibility filters across the platform that make it easier for guests with disabilities to find travel accommodations which fit their needs
• Requiring hosts to upload photos of any accessibility features they select for their listing to help make accessibility information for guests as accurate as possible 
• Experiences designed by hosts with accessibility in mind
• Teams focused on increasing the availability and accuracy of homes with accessibility features highlighted by hosts, improving the booking experience of these homes by travelers with disabilities, and improving the digital accessibility of our platform and app
• Trainings and policies for Airbnb employees designed to improve our accessibility and strengthen disability allyship 
• Conducting research with people with disabilities to help inform product decisions

Airbnb continues working to improve accessibility across our platform with insights from experts, such as advocates from the National Council on Independent Living. We also host quarterly Disability Advisory Roundtables with a number of national and regional organizations, activists, advocates and leaders, and are a Worldwide Paralympic Partner in a nine-year, five-Games partnership.

Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere and this, of course, includes people with disabilities. We are working hard to make sure our products and services are widely accessible, especially for hosts and guests with disabilities. Airbnb is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community, and we are delighted to join Valuable 500.

Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community of Airbnb

While we have made progress in our work to make travel more accessible, we know there is more to be done. That is why we’ve joined The Valuable 500, committing to placing disability inclusion on our leadership agenda. 

We are so excited to welcome a global brand like Airbnb joining The Valuable 500 community today and are proud of its demonstrative commitment to acting on the importance of disability inclusion during this global public health crisis. As people globally are implored to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, we are now entering a world where vast swathes of society can personally relate to what it is like to be socially excluded. It has awoken a collective empathy, both in society and business more broadly, that this is often the norm for people with disabilities. We are confident that Airbnb will be at the forefront of the businesses capitalising on this collective awakening of empathy to ensure disability inclusion is firmly integrated into the business landscape.

Caroline Casey, Founder of The Valuable 500