As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, Airbnb and Airbnb.org have announced new partnerships with regional disaster management organisations aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and improving support for Caribbean communities affected by natural disasters.
According to a joint announcement, Airbnb.org has entered into a partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to help speed up access to temporary housing for people displaced by disasters across the agency’s 20 participating Caribbean states.
Airbnb.org is an independent nonprofit established by Airbnb to provide emergency accommodation for people impacted by crises.
A press release explained that the partnership is formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which outlines how both organisations will coordinate during the critical early stages of a disaster response.
Under the agreement, CDEMA will work with local emergency responders to identify people in need of temporary accommodation following disasters, while Airbnb.org will help provide free emergency housing using available listings on the Airbnb platform.
The organisation said the programme allows displaced families to stay in homes that offer amenities such as kitchens, laundry facilities and pet-friendly accommodations. All stays are funded by Airbnb.org; guests are not charged for the accommodation.
Christoph Gorder, Executive Director of Airbnb.org, said the organisation has already supported emergency housing efforts in the Caribbean and expects the new agreement to strengthen future responses.
“Since 2020, we’ve provided 1,500 nights of emergency housing across the Caribbean after disasters, including hurricanes Melissa, Beryl and Fiona. This agreement with CDEMA will allow us to mobilize faster to help provide more people a free place to stay when they need it most,” he said. “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.”
CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley described the partnership as another important tool to support disaster response throughout the region.
“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. “It also reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that affected populations can access timely assistance and recover more quickly following disasters.”
The release further said that in a separate initiative, Airbnb has also partnered with CDEMA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to develop a hurricane safety guide for residents, hosts, and visitors across the region.
Reportedly, the guide provides practical information on preparing for hurricanes, staying safe during a storm, and recovering in its aftermath. It also includes emergency contact information for several Caribbean islands.
According to Airbnb, the guide will be shared with hosts throughout the region, who can then provide it to guests staying at their properties during the hurricane season.
Carlos Muñoz, Airbnb’s Director of Public Policy for the Caribbean and Central America, said the initiative is intended to improve preparedness by making reliable information more readily available.
“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,” stated Muñoz.
