Florence, sustainable rents: a new online is born that donates 50% of revenues to projects for the community
Apartments for rent for tourists? Yes, but in a “sustainable” version. This is the formula proposed by Fairbnb.coop, the new online platform for booking accommodation in Florence and in other Italian and European cities that proposes an “ethical” market model with the aim of empowering those who visit the city. The mechanism is based on the practices of social crowdfunding and participatory democracy with online booking: 50 per cent of the commission paid by the traveler for each transaction is donated in his name, non-repayable, to projects in support of the local community evaluated and chosen by local representatives who collaborate with the platform.
What distinguishes Fairbnb.coop from other short-term rental platforms is the suggested rule for the various communities of 1 host = 1 home. Hosts who get at most a second home on the tourism market in the destination in order to promote operators that are accepted only Hosts who have at most a second home on the tourism market in the destination in order to promote operators who are sustainable even in communities under tourist siege. In particularly problematic cities it is also required that the Host is also a resident in order to further promote a type of reception linked to the territory and maximizing the economic benefits for the host community. The rules for isolated hosts or in rural areas are less stringent and do not insist in places at risk of gentrification and speculation.
Today Fairbnb.coop is already present in various cities both in Italy and in Europe and expects further expansions in important cities such as London, Paris, Berlin and many other large and small cities in the coming months. “50 percent of our commissions go to finance a project chosen by the traveler in the community they visit. This is what we call Community Powered Tourism,” explains Manuela Fucigna. “Fairbnb.coop offers travelers and residents the opportunity to participate in a more responsible and regenerative tourism model by supporting environmental, economic and social sustainability projects for host communities. Like other platforms, Fairbnb.coop charges a fee. Unlike the others, sharing with residents. In short, we work to connect responsible travelers with the FairHosts of b & bs, holiday homes and farmhouses, to promote sustainable tourism and stronger and fairer communities around the world “.
Starting in 2016 from Venice, Amsterdam and Bolgna, he soon saw other groups from all over Europe who contributed to the debate and to the creation of our sustainable tourism model. A worker cooperative was founded at the end of 2018: Fair Bnb Network, a cooperative society, an open organization that welcomes those who qualify to participate in the growth of the model.