Airbnb on the Road to Paris: “Supporting athletes remains at the heart of our partnership”
As the countdown to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 continues, the Worldwide Olympic Partners are preparing to play a fundamental role in making the Games a success. In our Road to Paris series, these Partners talk about some of the essential support they will be providing and reveal their excitement at helping to shape an unforgettable Olympic experience for fans and athletes alike. Here, we speak with Felix Vo, the Paris 2024 Partnership Lead at Airbnb.
What does it mean to you personally to be involved with the Olympic Games?
It was always a childhood dream of mine to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I could not be more excited and honoured to play a small part in supporting the next edition in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and a place I’ve called home for over 10 years – Paris.
I am especially proud to partner with Airbnb’s community of hosts, who can help host the Games in a more sustainable manner by opening their doors to spectators from around the world.
As we look forward to Paris 2024, in less than one year, can you give an insight into the importance of France as a market for Airbnb?
France is one of Airbnb's most popular destination markets in the world and, as a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are committed to making Paris 2024 a success for all. That includes meeting the accommodation needs of visitors, athletes’ families and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, while fostering unique connections between hosts and guests.
A recent study carried out by Deloitte revealed how travel on Airbnb is expected to help spread the benefits of tourism during the Games beyond Paris and typical tourism hotspots to communities throughout the country. Stays on Airbnb during the Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to generate more than EUR 1 billion for the French economy, including Airbnb hosts’ income, guest spending in local restaurants and shops, and indirect impact on various supply chains.
Can you give us an early glimpse of some of Airbnb’s plans for Paris 2024?
With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just around the corner, we’re excited to support visitors from all over the world in experiencing the Games and the beauty and diversity of France in an authentic way.
We recently announced our official partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. Through this unique partnership, Airbnb hosts will participate in the Torch Relay and act as local cultural ambassadors for the towns and villages they call home, celebrating the arrival of the Olympic flame throughout its journey across the country.
To celebrate the one-year countdown to the beginning of Paris 2024, we also created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to stay in the Château de Mirville – the childhood home of Baron Pierre de Coubertin – and immerse themselves in Olympic history for one special night.
How important is supporting athletes to Airbnb?
Supporting athletes lies at the heart of our partnership, and we’re committed to building programmes that offer economic support where needed, through our incredible host community that provides athletes with Stays and Experiences, and by creating economic empowerment opportunities for athletes who are hosts on Airbnb themselves.
As part of this commitment, we are proud to have developed the Airbnb Athlete Travel Grant programme in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Airbnb Athlete Travel Grant, which was launched in 2021, offers a USD 2,000 travel grant to athletes to use on airbnb.com as they travel, train and compete.
On the Road to Paris 2024, and as part of our continued commitment to athletes within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the Travel Grant was extended to up to 1,000 athletes this year. This programme represents over USD 8 million in direct support for athletes across the life of the partnership. We look forward to continuing to find ways to support athletes as they pursue their dreams.