PATA welcomes Airbnb as its newest hospitality member
Separator

PATA welcomes Airbnb as its newest hospitality member

Separator
PATA welcomes Airbnb as its newest hospitality member

CEO Insights Team

Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, is the latest hospitality sector organisation to join the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 25 international airlines and airports, 108 hospitality organisations, 72 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Airbnb to the PATA family. With more than four million Airbnb listings worldwide it impossible to ignore the impact that the sharing economy is having upon the travel and tourism industry. It is important that we are able to add this voice to our discussions in the development of a responsible travel and tourism industry, especially when we examine the role of the sharing economy in the dispersal of tourists to lesser-known and emerging destinations.”

Founded in 2008, Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where people can belong when they travel by being connected to local cultures and having unique travel experiences. Its community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations from apartments and villas to castles and treehouses in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.

“Over the next few months, PATA and Airbnb will be working together to bring greater insights on topics related to the sharing economy – including its economic impact and the issue of over tourism,” added Dr. Hardy.

“Home sharing has become an important economic engine for communities around the world,” said Thao Nguyen, APAC head of strategic partnerships at Airbnb. “We’re excited to join the PATA family and play our part in promoting healthy and sustainable tourism that directly benefits local communities.”