Airbnb's Unexpected Gala Debut
Airbnb's nonprofit, Airbnb.org, held its inaugural gala on Wednesday in Los Angeles, and the internet had a single, baffled reaction: the what gala?
In case you missed it, back in 2020, Airbnb launched a nonprofit that provides free and temporary housing to families impacted by crisis or disaster. A gala for such a cause makes sense, actually—significant charitable efforts often throw splashy events to court big donors.
A New Revenue-Sharing Initiative
In a press release shared with TechCrunch this week, Airbnb noted that the gala marked the launch of a new initiative for the nonprofit. Starting October 28—the day of the gala—Airbnb will donate a portion of its commercial revenue from each stay booked. The cut amounts to 10 cents per booking, to be exact, but Airbnb did make $12.2 billion in revenue last year, so the pennies add up.
This initiative is expected to generate $500 million over the next five years for the nonprofit, helping it provide free housing for 1 million nights each year, per the release. It will also allow the organization to expand its support to families facing displacement due to domestic violence, veterans in need, and those traveling for medical care.
The Glitzy Details
A spokesperson for Airbnb would not disclose how much gala tables went for, saying the night was dedicated to supporters and "marking the next chapter of our work." Airbnb said attendees had the option to donate, but "fundraising wasn't the focus of the evening," and the nonprofit "didn't set a fundraising target." The company did not say whether the gala would become a recurring event.
The evening was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, with a live performance by Charli XCX and food curated by Chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen. The guest list featured Serena Williams, Demi Lovato, Charlize Theron, and Cynthia Erivo. For the celebrities, it was a glamorous night for a good cause, joining the ranks of other Los Angeles events—like the Baby2Baby Gala and the Academy Museum Gala—as a place to be seen.
The Internet's Collective Confusion
Still, people were genuinely perplexed as to why Airbnb was hosting a gala at all—and how it managed to attract top-tier celebrities.
One X user joked, "Realizing I'm the first person in my bloodline to read the words 'Airbnb gala red carpet' one after another... they're just making up events for anything now."
Another wrote, "How the hell does Airbnb have a gala 😭"
A third quipped, "If you told me literally one day ago that A-list celebrities would be attending an Airbnb Gala, I would say what the FUCK are you talking about."
And yet another simply posted, "The concept of an Airbnb gala"—a sentiment that seemed to capture the mood of the entire internet.
via TechCrunch