Airbnb is calling on Brooklyn, its top destination, to be a guinea pig for a global plan to encourage visitors to put money into the local economy. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is joining forces with the room-sharing service to connect hosts with area small-business owners.
Basically, Airbnb hosts will direct their guests toward local businesses, and those businesses will learn to cater to Airbnb tourists. The idea behind the revolutionary project is to get visitors to experience the neighborhoods they are staying in by going to events like block parties and gallery walks.
Areas of focus will be less-traveled neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights. If the program works, Airbnb will expand it worldwide. [Crain's]
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