Supporting and growing our community of veteran Hosts

As the US prepares to recognize Veterans Day later this week, Airbnb is proud to play a role in the lives of veterans, active military members and military families across the US, who have sacrificed so much for our country — and who now open their doors to guests from around the world.

Most of our Hosts are everyday people sharing the homes in which they live. According to a survey of the global Airbnb Host community, one in five Hosts who are employed are either teachers or healthcare workers – and nearly 10 percent of US Hosts report that they are veterans or actively serving in the military*.

As is the case for so many, hosting provides meaningful economic benefits to our community of veteran and active military Hosts. New Hosts on Airbnb since the pandemic began have earned $6 billion in income, with the typical Airbnb Host earning $9,600. From January through September 2021, Hosts who have self-reported to be veterans or active service members in the US have earned more than $40 million. 

Recognizing the important role that hosting already plays in the lives of so many veterans and active service members, Airbnb is committed to creating new pathways for members of the military community to access the economic opportunity of home sharing. Airbnb is partnering with Boots2Roots – which supports transition planning for active duty military members in Maine – and Live and Work in Maine to assist Boots2Roots members across Vacationland in becoming Airbnb Hosts. 

“When Airbnb approached us to offer vouchers we could use to help people give Maine a try as they consider relocating here, we thought immediately of our partners at Boots2Roots. Live and Work in Maine has been working with Boots2Roots whose efforts to attract transitioning military members, their families, as well as veterans to Maine, aligns perfectly with our work to bring more professionals to the state, and we knew the vouchers from Airbnb would greatly benefit them and their constituents.” 

Nate Wildes, Executive Director of Live and Work in Maine

Airbnb and Boots2Roots will provide educational materials and training to recently transitioned former active duty military as they pursue hosting. Airbnb will also provide members who are exploring new work opportunities in Maine with gift cards to “try before they buy”, as part of its larger efforts with Live and Work in Maine. Members who are interested in hosting and participating in this program can learn more here.

“We are grateful to Live and Work in Maine for connecting us with Airbnb, and for all their efforts to partner with us as we work to help veterans transition from the military to civilian life. Our goal is to attract veterans to Maine, and this program will make us more competitive, as it removes a barrier for out- of-state workers to come to Maine and look for a home, explore communities where they might want to settle and make important connections for themselves and their families.”

Bill Benson, Executive Director of Boots2Roots

After 30 years in the Army, Boots2Roots members Bo and Kim Balcavage recently retired to their modern farmhouse in the centuries-old lobster fishing village of Cape Porpoise in Kennebunkport, Maine. This past summer, they began to share their home on Airbnb. 

“We built our home in a place that we believe is one of the prettiest places on earth. It’s quaint and quiet and nature surrounds us…and, it’s also a popular destination for tourists. After years of hosting Soldiers and their families, we knew that we would enjoy sharing our home on Airbnb,” said Bo and Kim. “Besides creating an additional income stream, we really enjoy meeting new people and sharing what we know about Cape Porpoise with others. We love everything about the area we live — from the history and the lobster fishing culture to the eateries and the nature trails. We hope to instill a desire in our guests to return to our area year after year.”

Along with creating new ways for current and former military members to leverage the opportunity of hosting, Airbnb is also working to empower the military community within our own workforce. This year, Airbnb will be partnering with Shift, a veteran-founded small business that helps past and present military members to embark on new job experiences at companies around the world. Airbnb will be working with Shift to offer internships to their pipeline of diverse talent, enabling their candidates to discover careers and grow their skillset.

From all of us at Airbnb, thank you to all of our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country.

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About Live and Work in Maine

Live and Work in Maine’s mission is to market Maine as a career destination. Through our marketing efforts, we show the world that when it comes to quality of life and career opportunities, you can have the best of both by choosing to live and work in Maine.

LiveandWorkinMaine.com is a robust resource for potential and current Mainers, which enables searching for employers and jobs based on lifestyle and/or geographic region within Maine. The site also includes “success story” testimonials from professionals who have relocated to Maine, details on internships and first career options for college students and new graduates, and information on the lifestyle offered by each of Maine’s eight geographic regions.