PROBLEM
Loneliness has become an epidemic for the Gen-Z demographic despite how hyper-connected they are digitally. Airbnb wants to create a digital integration to its existing platform that will help Gen-Zs create meaningful in real life connections.
INSIGHT
In the past few years, as work and school moved online, it has become harder for Gen-Zs to find third spaces—public spots like cafes, libraries, gyms—to naturally meet people. Most third spaces cost money and with rising costs, Gen-Zs are trying to cut down on expenses. Additionally, despite having a harder time making connections, this generation is characterized to be community minded and eager to make positive change and donate their time to social issues.
SOLUTION
Create a volunteering integration, Airbnb Thrive, that will not only provide Gen Z-ers a free third space to make in-person connections, but also do social good while earning points that they can use to do other things they value such as travel and gain new experiences.
Airbnb Thrive
As a generation that is still trying to figure out who they are, personality type quizzes are popular amongst Gen-Zs. Airbnb Thrive can tap into this existing behavior and help Gen-Zs get a sense of what volunteer causes they could be interested in with a short quiz upfront
Airbnb Thrive Quiz
The quiz will ask a few simple questions that will help users figure out what volunteering opportunities best align with the goals and impact they want to make. At the end of the quiz, users will see what volunteer archetype they, which will also shape their volunteer opportunity algorithm
Thrive Home Page
This is where users can search for opportunities or scroll through ones curated by their quiz results and algorithm according to their usage. Each listing will have the number of points earned per hour listed
Volunteer Scheduling
Once a user selects a volunteer listing, he/she can pick their dates as they would with Airbnb Stays
User Profiles & Connecting with Others
It can be a bit awkward to go into a new environment without knowing anyone. Thrive solves this by allowing users to connect with other volunteers listed in the calendar event detail. Once the user clicks on a fellow volunteer’s thumbnail, he/she is brought to the other volunteer’s profile. In their profile, a user can share a small bio about themselves, list some of their interests, and display photos to introduce themselves to other users
Keeping it Airbnb
Example of how points earned from volunteering are used toward other Airbnb products such as Airbnb Stays
