Airbnb has revealed a partnership with United Spinal to establish the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy, a program specifically designed to train individuals, including those with mobility needs, in hosting on the Airbnb platform. The initiative is intended to encourage entrepreneurship among diverse and historically underrepresented communities.

In collaboration with United Spinal, Airbnb seeks to empower members of the mobility community by facilitating their entry into the hosting economy. In 2023, Airbnb hosts in the US collectively earned over $24 billion, offering crucial financial support for expenses such as bills and housing. The Entrepreneurship Academy, a key component of this initiative, has already benefited over 4,500 participants globally since its inception in 2017. It provides insights from experienced hosts on achieving success. Furthermore, according to an Airbnb press release, the company's Accessibility Review process ensures that nearly 480,000 accessibility features across approximately 160,000 listings worldwide are accurately vetted.

Suzanne Edwards, head of accessibility hosting standards at Airbnb said in a press release: "Our partnership with United Spinal is a testament to our shared goal of fostering entrepreneurship within the disability community and making travel more accessible for people of all needs. We are excited to work together and help spread the economic benefits of tourism and hosting on Airbnb to new communities."

Echoing Edwards' sentiment was Vincenzo Piscopo, CEO of United Spinal Association who stated: "We are excited to co-host the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy as it will provide interested wheelchair users with the tools and knowledge they need to become successful hosts."

Founded in 2007, Airbnb boasts over five million hosts who have welcomed more than 1.5 billion guest arrivals across almost every country globally. Hosts offer stays and experiences that foster connections between guests and communities worldwide. As of December 31st, 2023, Airbnb had over 7.7 million active listings in 100,000 cities and towns across 220 countries and regions, according to the About webpage provided by Airbnb.