Northwest Arkansas recognized as a go-to destination for remote workers

Airbnb today announced the launch of the Northwest Arkansas remote working hub, a one-stop shop for aspiring remote workers created in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Council. The hub provides anyone looking to live and work in Northwest Arkansas with information on local remote-work-friendly venues, as well as Airbnb listings in the area.

The hub is part of our Live and Work Anywhere initiative launched in 2022 to identify some of the most remote-worker-friendly destinations in the world, and support governments and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to help revive tourism and open up new economic opportunities for communities following the pandemic.

Surrounded by the Ozark mountains, Northwest Arkansas offers something special for everyone, from world-class art at Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, to plentiful outdoor recreation activities with over 500 miles of mountain biking trails and paved paths, plus several distinct downtowns with quaint town squares and award-winning restaurants. 

It has also become a go-to destination for living and working with a growing remote work infrastructure. Since Northwest Arkansas launched its Life Works Here program in 2020, more than 67,000 people from all 50 states and across the world have applied for the relocation incentive, and the area has welcomed more than 100 professionals and their families.

Together, Airbnb and the Northwest Arkansas Council will collaborate on various initiatives to promote the region to remote workers looking for longer stays.

The more people find out about Northwest Arkansas, the more they see why this region is a sought-after place to live and work. Remote work has redefined how — and where — people live, and has allowed them to consider community, access to the outdoors and affordability more than ever before. This partnership with Airbnb will enable and encourage remote workers seeking a great place to work, live and play to explore all Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

—Nelson Peacock, President and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council

Airbnb has played an important role in spreading travel beyond traditional tourism destinations. By offering unique, affordable stays in thousands of cities and towns across the US, Airbnb Hosts have empowered guests to discover new destinations, especially in natural locations. Across Arkansas, Hosts on Airbnb are often the primary providers of local accommodations and drivers of local tourism. Neighborhoods in Arkansas without hotels welcomed over 450,000 guest arrivals in 2022.¹

This in turn has opened up new destinations for remote workers and helped more communities reap the benefits of tourism. At the end of 2022, we released Airbnb’s Guide to Live and Work Anywhere: How Communities Can Benefit from Remote Workers, which showcases how remote workers represent a huge socio-economic opportunity for places like Northwest Arkansas that are embracing the potential of remote work.