Fairbnb.coop is a sustainable community-powered tourism solution that allows travellers to direct
50% of the platform standard commissions to social projects or charities in the community, through
their accommodation and experience platform.
Our people-over-profit concept has attracted many sustainably-minded hosts, local ambassadors
and social projects across the globe, keen to help reinvest and promote regenerative tourism.
Employers and organisations are now requesting partnerships with us, to improve their corporate
social responsibility, as well as to benefit their communities of employees and members, with
rewards such as Fair Club discounts.
The latest research indicates that rural destinations, so-called “workcations” (remote working
vacations), and extended lengths of stay (7 days+) have escalated the consumer agenda. The
change in consumer behaviours is a positive move towards more sustainable choices, including
increased demand for “sustainable” certified accommodation.
Dominating academic research and press, over-tourism and its devastating impacts locally, are
sadly becoming a frequent feature and no longer a surprise, prompting demand for an alternative.
Fairbnb. coop’s presence in the UK will support its national partner, the Big Issue Foundation, as well
as regional and local social and community projects, like East Anglian’s Children’s Hospices and
Gillett Square in Hackney, London.
Still, how do we tackle the existential challenge of over-tourism?
Fairbnb.coop empowers independent hosts and value-driven travellers.
Analysing the impact of tourism in each Local Node, travellers can be reassured that their host
meets the legal and sustainable criteria for the destination. In oversaturated areas like Whitby, North
Yorkshire, rules such as one-host, one-house, and host resident in the local node are implemented.
We support only independent hosts, whose properties have been overshadowed by those investing
in Whitby from afar, motivated solely by mass-market capital gains.
Our partnership with the Big Issue Foundation facilitates the onboarding of scattered hosts all across
the UK, addressing nationwide poverty and homelessness. In established local nodes, the host
supports a social project in their local or regional community via donations made on bookings to their
property. All social projects supported by Fairbnb. coop target the UN Sustainable Development
Goals.
Emanuele Dal Carlo, President & Co-Founder, on UK Activation
Introducing our regenerative tourism model to the UK communities represents a pivotal moment for us. Great Britain is one of the larger, more sustainability-conscious economies and has a long tradition in widespread and locally rooted hospitality. The thousands of Inns and B&Bs here make every trip to the UK a real journey of discovery. Along with Self Catering lets and many other new forms of hospitality including university accommodation, hospitality and experience industry can become a powerful source of resources for all the stakeholders in the hosting communities. We hope that a warm welcome to our model in the UK could work as an inspiration for all the Commonwealth and other English-speaking countries.
by Rebecca Wiles UK Community Coordinator
