Hosting is Empowering – Chronicles of Five Women Hosts
#Airbnb #InternationalWomensDay #HostingIsEmpowering
Hosting is Empowering – Chronicles of Five Women Hosts
#Airbnb #InternationalWomensDay #HostingIsEmpowering
At Airbnb, we take immense pride in our community of women Hosts who make up over half of all Hosts globally. Our data reveals the remarkable fact that 91% of these women Hosts have received five-star reviews, a testament to their exceptional hosting abilities and dedication.This International Women's Day, Airbnb is shining a spotlight on the inspiring stories of women Hosts who have found empowerment through hosting on our platform. We have curated and published a special interview collection titled 'Hosting is Empowering — Chronicles of Five Women Hosts.’ These women Hosts are decidedly using Airbnb as a launchpad to enrich their lives beyond economic independence.The series spans diverse age groups and walks of life — from young women in their 20s juggling study commitments with hosting, to vibrant women in their 70s who share their artistic worldviews through their hosting experiences. This collection captures the essence of women's solidarity, reflecting how Airbnb hosting can be a transformative force in the lives of women, regardless of their age or background. Here, we introduce you to the stories of these extraordinary women Hosts.
Airbnb listing steeped in the artistic world of a painter
Young-hee Yu, Host of Lemon House in Gwangju, Gyeonggi
“As I learned of the core philosophy of sharing life and space, I realized that through this house, I could share my life experiences and paintings."Painter and Host, Young-hee, began hosting on Airbnb about 10 years ago, encouraged by her daughter's experience with Airbnb during a trip to Mexico. Her listing, affectionately known as the 'Lemon House' due to its unique lemon-shaped window, is popular among guests. By opening up a space where her family's life and her own artworks blend, Young-hee says, "Through hosting, I can maintain my physical and emotional health.""I remember someone saying that the only consolation we can have in time destined for extinction is the encounters we have. I equally cherish my encounters with guests," Young-hee shares. She lovingly recalls a German couple who visited Lemon House twice. The husband, an artist and art teacher, and his wife had an adopted son from Korea. As their son grew up and started working in Korea, the couple would visit the country and always choose to stay at Lemon House. "We became good friends. We traveled around Seoul, cooked German food together, and even had a party with the entire family. To her, an encounter is "the only consolation we can have in time destined for extinction." In this sense, hosting, to Young-hee, goes beyond a simple job - it's a significant comfort in life."Before hosting, Lemon House was only our family space. But now, it is an art space that we create together with people. I think it's like a multimedia work in itself."
Sharing joy and blossoms in the second act of life with her guests
In-hui Hwang, Host of Hyeonam-ri Stone Wall House in Buyeo, Chungnam
“As a woman and as a professional Host, I'm thankful for the ability to continue working in this capacity as I age. Above all, this job provides me the joy of seeing people find happiness.”In-hui, who had been a nurse caring for blood dialysis patients for 35 years, had taken a sabbatical for a year. As she was about to return to work, she suddenly realized that she wanted to "continue staying in this house where I had spent my sabbatical." Surrounded by chestnut trees that allowed her to feel the rustic charm of the countryside, she remodeled one room of the house, added a bed, and prepared a small cooking counter. She then named it 'Hyunam-ri Stone Wall House'. The living room, equipped with a large window, is a place where every guest leaves a commemorative photo.She shares, "A new chapter in life as an Airbnb Host began... With the flowers fully blooming in spring, more people came to visit. I've always loved gardening. If the goal was to make a lot of money, I wouldn't have planted so many flowers. With sincere care, flowers bloom beautifully. The same goes for treating guests."Every day, Young-hee captures a slice of life here in photos or videos and posts them on Instagram. She says her goal for this year is to learn to operate a drone because she believes, "it would feel different to see this house from a drone's perspective." Airbnb is a force for good for her, who had long pondered life and death while caring for dialysis patients. It helps her realize the value of each living moment and allows her to see people being happy.
Airbnb hosting and the creation of a new family and brand
Sunhwa Lee, Host of Hado Guesthouse in Hado-ri, Jeju
"Since we came to Hado-ri, only good things have happened. Being a Host has made us economically independent, we've had a child, and met amazing people. In the hope that these times continue for a long time, we're putting our full sincerity into every single guest."Sunhwa started her new life in Jeju through Airbnb. Sunhwa and her husband, Youngchul, who worked together at a department store in Cheonan, settled in Jeju and listed their home as 'Hado Guesthouse'. They renovated the house to move the bathroom and kitchen that were outside to the inside, lowered the stone wall that looked stuffy because it was too high, and made a barbecue place using the stones. Sunhwa says, "We decorated every fabric and window in the bedroom so carefully that there is nothing our hands didn't touch."She also created a new brand called 'Chwi-hado' with the concept of 'getting drunk in this atmosphere', and opened 'Hado Supermarket' along with 'Hado Guesthouse'. Initially, she started to fill the void of supermarkets in the area for the convenience of locals; now, it's one of the hottest social media spots."Women, even housewives with children, can host on Airbnb. Because we do non-face-to-face check-ins, you can be free from having to be somewhere at a fixed time. You can also clean at a time that works for you before the guest checks in, so it's flexible. Of course, it's easier if there's even one person who can do it with you than hosting by yourself. I hope many women can become economically independent and rediscover the value of life through hosting on Airbnb.”
A journey of scholarly pursuits meets a Hanok hosting adventure
Suya, Host of Tongin 1939 in Tongin-dong, Seoul
“As you might guess from the name ‘Tongin 1939’, this Hanok was built in 1939. The name combines Tongin-dong, the place where it’s located, and the year it was built. This is the house my grandparents lived in from the 1970s. After they passed away, the house was vacant. I have memories of my grandparents cherishing and taking care of this house, so I wanted to preserve its essence when I started hosting on Airbnb.”As the Host of a Hanok inherited from her grandparents, Suya has gradually become more enamored with the charm of Airbnb hosting. She says "Airbnb allows me freedom in managing my time. I'm currently a graduate student, but I also host this Hanok. I highly recommend becoming an Airbnb Host, especially for young people." “If the initial setup is done well, the only tasks left would include cleaning and managing reviews, making the process reasonably seamless and accessible,” she explains."Our Hanok, architecturally designed in a distinctive 'ㄷ' shape, cradles an enduring magnolia tree that peeks over the rooftop. This tree, standing tall and steadfast since the house was first built in 1939, lends a certain invaluable charm to our home. Over 80 years of existence in one single place makes this house not just a building, but a storyteller of time. This space feels like a legacy passed down from my grandmother. As a woman myself, I feel a responsibility to preserve this heritage. My vision is to carefully nurture this precious space, allowing many to partake in its rich history and experience its unique charm," Suya concludes.
Embodiment of self and community values through Airbnb
Moa, Host of Morning of Mount Moak in Jeonju, Jeonbuk
“I started hosting in 2018. It was once a residence for my entire family, but as everyone, including my mother, moved out, the home lay vacant. I found myself thrust into managing it on my mother's recommendation in my early twenties.”Moa, who hosts a zero-waste listing called 'Morning of Moak' in Jeonju, says she wasn't particularly concerned about the environment when she first started hosting. She expands, “when I started managing it, the gravity of the situation struck me. If eight people stayed and departed in a single night, we'd be left with a hundred-liter bag full of trash. Upon seeing the excessive amount of disposable waste from the process of sitting for an hour peeling labels and cleaning containers, I thought about how to prevent such waste. I stocked the house with plenty of dishes, provided eco-friendly dish scrubbers, and also prepared eco-friendly solid shampoo and soap.” She adds “it's just natural. With climate crises causing floods and making life unviable, there were no reasons or excuses to not reduce waste in the world we'll continue to inhabit."The small leaps initiated by Moa continue to evolve. Recently, Moa shared on her blog about transitioning to Korean organic muslins in place of towels. “ It might be uncomfortable for those expecting fluffy towels, but they dry quickly and attract less dust. I hope many people will experience this slight discomfort,” she says."I got a good opportunity in my early twenties. I started to earn a regular income through Airbnb hosting. In the future, I want to live by sharing values and messages that help society using the space.”
