Some well-meaning people who try to help people in Ukraine find that their efforts don’t necessarily accomplish what they hoped for.
People who do not intend to stay have made efforts to rent rooms, apartments and houses in Ukraine through Airbnb. They just encourage tenants in the country to benefit from the registration fees.
But because Airbnb doesn’t easily identify who the host is on its booking site, some people actually rent from companies or agencies that have lots of listings and may not even have their own. headquarters in the war-torn country.
Airbnb made a huge effort to help during the conflict in Ukraine, providing free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 refugees fleeing the country.
The society is working with leaders in Poland, Germany, Hungary, Romania and other European countries, urging them to accept refugees and set up free housing in those countries.
“We know Airbnb hosts and guests around the world are eager to stand up and support this massive effort to help those fleeing Ukraine,” the company said.
The company is pleased with the efforts of users to rent from Ukrainians.
“In 48 hours, 61,406 nights were booked in Ukraine. That’s $1.9 million for hosts in need,” CEO Brian Chesky wrote on his Twitter account Last week. “Such a cool idea from our community.”
But how much of that $1.9 million goes to individuals is unknown. There may be clues when using the site to figure this out.
When booking on Airbnb, most listings list a single name or person as the unit host. A little deep dive, however, can offer clues if it is indeed an individual or a group.
If you click on the host’s photo, you’ll get more information about them, including how many properties they manage. Those with multiple units are most likely a business, which could be a warning that your well-meaning efforts aren’t actually helping.
Airbnb hasn’t responded to Skift’s inquiries about the situation and why the site isn’t more transparent about the identity of the actual host.
Another important note is that Airbnb hosts are not paid before 24 hours after the guest “checks in”, so those wishing to donate should research the nearest available dates.
“We are so touched by the inspiring generosity of our community at this time of crisis,” a spokesperson said. says Skift. “Airbnb is temporarily waiving guest and host fees on bookings in Ukraine at this time.”
The spokesperson also noted that he has a special website set up for anyone interested in his efforts to help Ukraine.
Airbnb is just one of many companies and organizations working to help resolve the situation in Ukraine. Check out this list for others who make a difference.
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