Airbnb sign on to provide disaster relief in Auckland
Airbnb has signed a deal with Auckland Council to provide free accommodation to residents in the event of a natural disaster. Airbnb’s disaster response tool will make all bookings in disaster affected areas fee-free, connect guests to hosts who have a safe place to offer and mobilise the Airbnb host community by asking hosts if they are able to help.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the agreement highlighted the need for Aucklanders to look after each other in the event of an emergency.
“The experience following the Christchurch earthquakes shows New Zealanders will open up their homes to those who require help, whether they be displaced families or emergency service workers,” Len said.
“The agreement with Airbnb helps to make this process easier.”
Airbnb Asia Pacific regional director Julian Persaud said the agreement will help displaced residents in their time of need.
“While disasters of scale are thankfully rare, we are proud to have an opportunity to partner with the Auckland Council and our host community in Auckland to play a pivotal role in supporting disaster relief efforts if and when needed,” Persaud said.
In the past year, Airbnb listings in New Zealand have doubled to more than 16,000 nationwide and 4000 in Auckland.
The agreement is another example of the city working together to prepare for emergency situations, Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency management director John Dragicevich said.
Since the launch of the disaster response tool in 2013, it has been deployed to various capacities including the Nepalese earthquake, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano eruption, and various flooding scenarios in southern France, Liguria, the Balkans, London, Sardinia, and Colorado.
Airbnb has signed similar agreements in Australia and Canada.