Fairbnb.coop, officially known as Fairbnb Network Società Cooperativa, is a cooperative headquartered in Bologna, Italy, dedicated to reshaping vacation rental experiences into sustainable, community-focused opportunities. Established initially as a movement in 2016 in cities like Venice, Bologna, and Amsterdam, the organization formalized in late 2018 as a cooperative entity. Its primary goal is to offer an alternative to dominant vacation rental platforms by addressing issues such as gentrification and overtourism while funding local projects.
The platform operates on a unique revenue-sharing model: travelers are charged a 15% booking fee, half of which supports the cooperative’s operational costs, and the other half is directly reinvested into community projects in the traveler’s destination. Hosts, in contrast, are not charged. This model enables users to contribute to initiatives like sustainability programs, social housing, and cultural preservation projects. Fairbnb’s local "nodes," consisting of communities, hosts, and organizations, select these projects. For example, in Bologna, the cooperative reported using revenues to fund up to 12 community projects annually.
Fairbnb.coop prioritizes regulation adherence and transparency, requiring hosts to meet local laws, such as the “one host, one house” principle in over-touristed areas. Currently focused on Europe, the cooperative has local operations in countries including Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, and plans to extend globally. By combining technology with social responsibility, Fairbnb.coop fosters a travel model that directly benefits communities.