Airbnb has highlighted the contributions of Indian women hosts and travelers as part of its recognition of International Women’s Day. According to the company, nearly 30% of Airbnb’s host community in India are women. In 2024, these hosts collectively earned about INR 2.6 billion through their listings. More than half of these women received five-star reviews from guests, and almost 35% of “Guest Favourite” listings in India are managed by women.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, stated, “At Airbnb, we’re committed to accelerating action for gender equality by creating a platform where women can thrive and our strong community of women hosts & guests is a testament to that. Our data shows that women hosts are delivering exceptional hospitality while achieving financial independence, and women travelers are increasingly exploring the world with confidence. This International Women’s Day, we recognize that we must collectively accelerate our efforts. By empowering women hosts and travelers, we’re committed to creating a more equitable future for the generations to come.”
Data provided by Airbnb also shows an increase in female travelers using its platform. Millennial women lead bookings among Indian users, followed by Gen Z travelers. Most female guests prefer traveling in pairs or groups for trips lasting between two and six nights.
Goa was the most popular domestic destination for Indian women travelers last year, with Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Jaipur also seeing significant numbers. Varanasi experienced over a 75% rise in bookings compared to the previous year, making it the top trending destination domestically for women users.
For international travel in 2024, London was the leading outbound destination among Indian women on Airbnb’s platform. Other popular destinations included Dubai, Bangkok, Paris, and Rome. Tbilisi saw nearly a 145% increase in bookings compared to 2023.
Airbnb says it remains committed to supporting economic empowerment and entrepreneurship among Indian women in hospitality through its platform.