Barcelona, 7 November 2023. – Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Airbnb, met this morning with representatives of Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem, convened by Tech Barcelona. With the backing of the association and in front of an audience that included entrepreneurs linked to the city’s technology sector, Blecharczyk reinforced his commitment to Barcelona, expressed his gratitude for serving as an inspiration for many local entrepreneurs and highlighted the most immediate challenges facing the company.

The Airbnb co-founder has highlighted the importance that the new European regulation on short-term rentals – which under the Spanish EU presidency is about to be approved by the European Parliament – will have on the company’s relations with local governments. “This regulation will mark a turning point as, for the first time, platforms and local authorities will have clear guidelines on how to share data, enforce rules and make the rules work for everyone. This new EU framework is a great opportunity to re-establish and rebuild our conversation with authorities at local and regional level in Spain, including Barcelona”.

Airbnb began operations in Spain in 2012, just four years after launching in San Francisco. “We chose Barcelona because it is not only a place of incredible history and culture, but also a centre of innovation and technological progress where we can find talent; we are proud to be part of this community,” said Blecharczyk. Airbnb, which has been part of Tech Barcelona since 2016, made one of its first acquisitions in Barcelona: in 2017 it bought Trip4real, a Barcelona-based startup that was a foundational part of the platform’s experience business.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona: “Airbnb’s arrival in Barcelona in 2012 had a very important impact on the city’s self-recognition as an entrepreneurial and technological city. Since then, the company has played a very important role both at the ecosystem level (with the acquisition of the startup Trip4real), as well as for the firm and constant commitment of Barcelona as a global tourist destination. Nathan Blecharczyk’s visit and the meeting with Tech Barcelona’s partners and associates reinforces this ongoing commitment and support for the local entrepreneurial community. We at Tech Barcelona look forward to continuing to work closely with Airbnb and taking advantage of the opportunities that the new European regulation will bring for the benefit of all”.

Airbnb believes it has a lot to offer cities like Barcelona that receive millions of visitors a year, both tourists and people who want to settle in the city to work.

In addition, Tech Barcelona accompanied Blecharczyk to the Smart City Expo, where he took part in the opening session with Mar Galtés, the association’s director of corporate development, in which they discussed topics such as the dispersion of tourism. 2023 marks the record for travel dispersal on the Airbnb platform, a year in which guests have stayed in more than 100,000 cities and towns around the world, a record number. “We believe our platform helps provide a solution by dispersing travel, helping guests discover unique new destinations and communities beyond the usual tourist hotspots. And we are constantly investing in new technologies to support this work,” remarked Blecharczyk during his speech.

Blecharczyk, who had not visited Spain since 2017, pointed out the importance of creating projects that bring value to the local community. “The biggest impact Airbnb is having is on the hosts. Being a host in Spain has been an economic lifeline for many,” added Blecharczyk, who pointed out that, in Spain, almost 8 out of 10 hosts only have one listing on the platform. The company highlights that this is an indicator that, for the most part, these hosts are individuals or families who share their residence on an occasional basis, or also a private room or a second residence when they are not using it.