As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially opens, Airbnb and its affiliated nonprofit emergency housing initiative Airbnb.org have launched two new collaborative agreements with leading Caribbean disaster and tourism bodies, designed to boost regional emergency response capacity and expand support for local communities impacted by hurricane-related disasters.
At the core of the new partnerships is a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Airbnb.org and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), a regional body that coordinates disaster response across 20 Caribbean member states. Established as an independent nonprofit by Airbnb, Airbnb.org’s core mission is to connect people displaced by crises with free emergency accommodation. This new agreement formalizes a coordinated response framework for the critical early phase of disaster relief operations.
Under the terms of the MOU, CDEMA will work alongside local emergency response teams to quickly identify displaced households in need of temporary shelter after a disaster strikes. Airbnb.org will then tap into available listings on the main Airbnb platform to secure free emergency housing for those affected. Unlike many emergency shelter options, the housing provided through this program offers home-like amenities including full kitchens, in-unit laundry, and pet-friendly options, all covered fully by Airbnb.org with no out-of-pocket costs for guests.
Christoph Gorder, Executive Director of Airbnb.org, noted that the organization already has a track record of emergency housing support in the Caribbean dating back to 2020. To date, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1,500 nights of emergency accommodation following high-impact hurricanes including Melissa, Beryl, and Fiona. Gorder emphasized that the new formal partnership will cut down on response time, allowing the organization to reach more vulnerable people faster when disaster strikes. “We help meet families’ unique needs by providing homes that offer privacy, dignity, and the practical comforts that make it possible to focus on rebuilding – and at no cost to the guest,” Gorder added.
Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of CDEMA, framed the collaboration as a valuable innovative addition to the region’s existing disaster response toolkit. “As we enter the 2026 Hurricane Season, the MOU strengthens our ability to support people affected by disasters through innovative solutions and enhanced regional collaboration. By combining CDEMA’s regional coordination capacity with Airbnb.org’s emergency housing support, we are expanding the resources available to communities when they need them most,” Riley said. She also highlighted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to speeding up recovery by ensuring affected communities can access timely aid after a storm.
Alongside the emergency housing agreement, Airbnb has launched a separate collaborative initiative with CDEMA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to develop a comprehensive hurricane safety guide for regional residents, property hosts, and visitors. The guide delivers actionable, practical guidance covering all stages of hurricane management: pre-season preparation steps, safety protocols during an active storm, and recovery procedures after the event passes. It also compiles key emergency contact information for multiple Caribbean islands to ensure quick access to aid.
Per Airbnb’s announcement, the guide will first be distributed to all property hosts across the Caribbean region, who are encouraged to share the resource with guests staying at their properties throughout the hurricane season. Carlos Muñoz, Airbnb’s Director of Public Policy for the Caribbean and Central America, explained that the guide initiative addresses a critical gap in accessible, reliable hurricane preparedness information. “Safety in the Caribbean is a top priority for Airbnb. By collaborating with expert organizations like CDEMA and the CTO, we are ensuring our hosts and guests have access to vital, locally-sourced resources to prepare for and navigate hurricane season,” Muñoz said.