In the last year alone, there are more than 1.5 million travellers aged 60 and above travelled to APAC with Airbnb, highlighting how the older generation are embracing technology and the sharing economy to enjoy more unique and authentic experiences.
Bangkok, Thailand – We celebrated the UN’s International Day of Older Persons, a valuable opportunity each year to celebrate the older people in our lives, and to acknowledge the impact they have on our families, communities and societies.
This year, the theme for International Day of Older Persons was “Stepping into the Future“, which is exactly what Airbnb is seeing senior people do all over APAC. It is not just millennials who want to see the world through the eyes of a local; the number of 60-90 year olds joining the Airbnb community is growing every year, with older guests saying they love the opportunity to travel in a different way than they have ever done before.
In the last year alone, there are more than 1.5 million travellers aged 60 and above travelled to APAC with Airbnb, highlighting how the older generation are embracing technology and the sharing economy to enjoy more unique and authentic experiences.
Seniors are also showing a real passion for hosting on Airbnb, opening up their homes and welcoming travellers from around the globe. APAC is no exception, with seniors making up nearly 10% of the region’s host community. By hosting international travellers, it is their way of seeing the world without leaving their doorstep.
In Thailand, 60-90 is a fastest-growing age bracket among Airbnb hosts, having grown by nearly over 40% year on year. They are also the second highest earners (behind 50-59 year olds), bringing in an average of USD 2667 in annual supplementary income. This is considerably higher than the annual income earned by 18-24 and 25-29 year old hosts, who earn an annual average of USD 1370 and USD 1659 from hosting, respectively. We know this is a huge boost for our senior hosts, with many saying that the additional revenue is a big help when paying their monthly bills.
Even more notable than the obvious economic benefits, is the social element of hosting on Airbnb. Many senior hosts comment on how hosting has allowed them to stay alert, sociable and happy, and how meeting so many different people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds has given them a new perspective, allowing them to experience the world from their own home.
Senior hosts are consistently the best rated Airbnb hosts in Thailand – and across Southeast Asia – and receive better reviews than any other host demographic.
They also receive a higher percentage of five star reviews than any other age group, with a massive 81% of trips hosted by seniors resulting in a five-star review.
Robin Kwok, Airbnb Country Manager for SEA, Hong Kong and Taiwan, added:
“The most important thing to us at Airbnb is our community, and we’re incredibly proud that senior hosts make up such a significant – and growing – proportion of that community in this region.
“We know that people all over the world want a new kind of travel, and to experience new cities through the eyes of the locals who live there. Senior hosts are perfectly placed to provide these truly authentic experiences. They have seen their neighbourhoods evolve around them, and can give unique insights into the culture, history and personality of a place.”
Meet some of Airbnb’s senior host community below, and check out their top-rated listings and unique city Experiences around the region:
THAILAND
Grandma, Host, Kanchanaburi
At nearly 91 years old, Grandma – as she affectionately calls herself – is the oldest Airbnb host in APAC and is loved by her family, community and the many Airbnb guests who have stayed with her.
Grandma has lived in the Thai/Myanmar border town of Kanchanaburi for 20 years, and is a proud member of her community. She describes herself as loving ‘gardening, caring for people, and sharing experiences about life and interests’. On hosting, Grandma says ‘it makes me happy to provide a homely atmosphere for residents, and to make our community feel like a family’.
Nuanchan, Superhost, Chiangmai
Superhost Nuanchan first joined the Airbnb community as a guest when traveling to Japan. Nuanchan and her husband Dan had such a great experience with their host in Japan that they decided they would become Airbnb hosts themselves.
On sharing their home, Nuanchan says:
“Since we’ve started hosting, we’ve met so many different guests, and had the opportunity to learn more about cultures and traditions from all over the world. We feel very lucky to have made to many new friendships through hosting.”
Host couple Suparb and Pavinee, Krabi
Suparb and Pavinee are a host couple who rent their vacation rental in Krabi, a beautiful house called the Hillside of Krabi.
Describing their experience with Airbnb, Suparb says:
“My wife and I started on Airbnb in 2013 because we built a house to live in when we retire. I learned about Airbnb through a TED talk by Rachel Botsman who refers to Airbnb as an example of a sharing economy that builds on “trust.” I like the idea of sharing one’s resource based on trust. I have a house which I will not use until I retire. I am now 67. As soon as we host on Airbnb, we find that there are more hosts out there. We’ve made friends with fellow hosts and guests from around the world. Sometimes my wife offers an authentic, home-cooked meal to our guests. Guests’ reviews are the best reward for us. Trust and Airbnb also help pay the loan we took to build the house.”
SINGAPORE
Mummy Soh, Host of One Kind House Experience
The One Kind House Experience is a true family affair, of which 74-year-old Mummy Soh, the matriarch, sits firmly at the top.
One Kind House is described as a 21st Century Kampong, which is working to preserve old traditional values and kampong spirit with new urban farming technologies. Experience guests meet the whole family, who receive a tour of the house, forage for herbs in the backyard and learn how to use them in traditional cooking.
On being an Airbnb Experience host, Mummy Soh said:
“Our guests love One Kind House because it provides that family and kampung experience. Many tell me that the experience brings back memories of their grandmother’s cooking and makes them miss home-cooked food. Our house is almost like a community centre, and the family is all about planting and cooking together. My son thought of conducting Airbnb Experiences to encourage Singaporeans to revive traditional home-cooked dishes with home-grown ingredients.”
Aunty Chwee Lian, Host of Where Gods Are Born Experience
Aunty Chwee Lian is the incredible 87-year-old great-grandma who runs Singapore’s last Taoist deity shop, the backdrop for Airbnb Experience Where Gods Are Born.
Aunty Chwee Lian has worked at the shop for 70 years, during which time she has raised 7 children and become a fixture of the 121-year-old shop, which is packed from floor to ceiling with Taoist effigy statues. She does not speak English, so her grandsons lead the Experience with her to translate while Aunty Chwee Lian tells the stories of these ancient deities, and demonstrates the art of effigy making. Guests who have participated describe the Experience as ‘one of the few places that defy Singapore’s stereotype- it’s about Taoist Gods, craft and history, but also about one family’s story of migration and resilience’, explaining that ‘the family of this amazing historical shop are all exceptionally hospitable, friendly and insightful’. Another referred to the best moment of the Experience: ‘watching an 87 year old lady draw a filigree dragon freehand, without referring to any template. We then got to watch as she used dough created from incense ash to create the filigree dragon on the robes of a deity. Fascinating and amazing!’
MALAYSIA
PP Chan, Host, Sandakan
PP Chan is a retired tour guide with a passion for travel and exploring the world, who loves welcoming guests from all over the world.
His guests love him too, commenting: ‘PP Chan is an amazing host! Very friendly and passionate. You can ask him anything about Sandakan’ and describing him as ‘very hospitable, going out of his way to make the stay comfortable’.
INDONESIA
Adrian, host, West Nusa Tenggara
Adrian is an Australian host living in Indonesia. Together with his wife who comes from Lombok, Adrian manages homestays, welcoming travellers from all over the world. Adrian has travelled all of the world and is a big music fan – he plays the tenor saxophone and has a music studio full of guitars, keyboards and drums.
On being an Airbnb host, Adrian says: “Over the years, I’ve lived and travelled all over the world, and have been fortunate enough to meet many fantastic and interesting people, who have helped and supported me. I want to reciprocate this kindness for people travelling in this beautiful part of the world, which is why I love hosting with Airbnb.”
Tatiana is the news co-ordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
