Airbnb says women hosts in the Philippines earned over Php 2.5 billion in 2022. At the inaugural Women in Travel industry dialogue last Tuesday, the platform celebrated Pinay power with discussions on how travel is challenging stereotypes, breaking boundaries, and empowering Filipinas. The platform also lets everyone in on interesting statistics about Airbnb hosts in the Philippines such as:

The Philippines is the second-largest women-powered Host community in the world

According to Airbnb data, the Philippines is second only to New Zealand with its number of women hosts. Women make up two-thirds of all Airbnb Hosts in the Philippines — proof that Filipinas are powering the local tourism industry now more than ever.

Filipina Hosts collectively earned over Php 2.5 billion in 2022

Hosting has become a viable income stream option for Filipinas. By being great hosts and welcoming travelers into their homes, they contribute to the country’s tourism economy. They also employ fellow women to support them in their daily operations.

Women comprise 55% of all Hosts globally

Airbnb says “women are a cornerstone in Airbnb’s guest and Host community.” In fact, they comprise more than half of hosts globally. They also make up 40% of Airbnb’s 1 million Superhosts, providing guests with outstanding hospitality in more than 200 countries and territories.

Women booked 56% of all solo traveler nights in 2022 in the Philippines

It looks like solo travel is gaining momentum in the Philippines. Airbnb found that women solo travelers love to book stays in the country. And because Airbnb is committed to creating a safe community and empowering women to experience the world, they beefed up their safety measures.

How Airbnb keeps its users and hosts safe

When asked how they keep travelers — specifically women — safe, Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said that providing peace of mind is Airbnb’s top priority.

“We do a whole range of things,” says Goh. “For example, we rescore every single reservation that happens on our platform and we use machine learning to try and spot things that may happen as a means of keeping all travelers safe on the platform. If something happens on the trip as well, we have a 24/7 safety hotline that is available for travelers.”

“We need to do as much as we can to make sure that every stay on Airbnb is safe,” she adds.

Empowering women to take the world by storm

Airbnb’s Women in Travel discourse is timed to this year’s International Women’s Month and lets the brand celebrate the growing role of women in driving greater equity in the Philippines’ travel and tourism industry.

Fellow women panelists joined Goh at the inaugural Women in Travel industry dialogue. Speakers included Honorable Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City; Anne Jeaneth Casalme, Philippine Commission on Women Gender and Development representative; Noelle Wenceslao, Philippine Coast Guard officer, mountaineer, and the first Filipina to summit Mount Everest; and Colleen Vidal, tourism entrepreneur, Airbnb Host, and Filipina content creator.

Belmonte said that the Quezon City government is committed to providing a safe space for women to be “recognized, empowered, and celebrated through various initiatives that promote economic empowerment.” She also added that Airbnb could help support the government’s goal to make Quezon City a go-to destination in the Philippines with women at the forefront of tourism development.

Casalme echoes the need to drive more visibility of Filipinas in the tourism industry and says that the “Philippine Commission on Women fully supports initiatives to empower Filipinas in the tourism sector.”

Meanwhile, Filipina mountaineer Wenceslao encouraged fellow Pinays to go out there and experience the world. She shared how journeying far and wide and conquering literal mountains has helped her gain confidence in herself as a woman.

As for Vidal, woman empowerment looked a little different. She went from content creator to travel entrepreneur who shared useful tips to guide her followers on how to best plan their vacations. Vidal currently resides in Siargao where she has a travel agency that not only gives locals economic opportunities but also helps tourists experience what the island has to offer

For more information, visit https://news.airbnb.com/philippines.

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