‘Fairbnb’: Alternative Accommodation that Supports Local Causes

It’s no secret travel isn’t always an environmentally or socially friendly activity. From airplane pollution to car rentals to small plastic travel bottles, there’s a lot of room for improvement, but travel companies are beginning to make changes to operations to promote more sustainable practices and give back to local communities. One way travelers can do this is by helping out local causes in the destination they plan to visit, and that’s where Fairbnb comes in.

The site touts itself as an ethical holiday rental website that lets travelers book rooms in city apartments while also giving them the opportunity to support city projects. Fairbnb donates 50 percent of its commission from room rentals to social projects that local residents choose. For example, the Fairbnb arm in Amsterdam donates to a community gardening project in northern areas of the city and an urban agriculture project for migrant women in the southeastern part of the city, both low-income areas.

With a rapidly increasing number of short-term rental apartments in European cities, which have had a negative impact on local communities and housing prices, Fairbnb’s founder collaborated with others who felt the same way and developed an alternative holiday rental platform. Fairbnb has certain restrictions for hosts, such as one home per host, which prevents locals from renting out multiple properties for financial gain, as well as a ban on business-owned properties.

Fairbnb has properties in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Valencia and Venice, with plans to expand to other European cities this year.