US: Airbnb and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) have partnered to encourage more members of the Latino community to become short-term rental hosts.
The initiative is with Latinx women especially in mind through LULAC’s Mujeres Poderosas programme. The non-gendered term ‘Latinx’ depicts both men and women from the Hispanic community, i.e. ‘Latinos’ and ‘Latinas’.
The move comes as the city of Milwaukee prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Latinx women fit into an emerging group of entrepreneurs and the initiative is set to present them with the opportunity to earn money as hosts. At the same time, guests can learn from their hosts about the Latinx culture, according to LULAC CEO Sindy Benavides.
Benavides told Milwaukee Business Journal: “At a time when Latinos are under attack, home sharing affords people the opportunity to break down barriers and get to know one another, learning about each other’s cultures as they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.”
The Mujeres Poderosas programme is designed to increase outreach to the Latina community to not only become hosts, but to take an active part in Airbnb’s Experiences program, which debuted in 2017.
Airbnb Experiences diversity and inclusion lead, Maria Cuba, said: “We really want to make sure that as we experience economic opportunities, we do it in a way that’s inclusive of all communities. I really believe that this partnership is going to empower us.”
