00:00:18: Hi everyone, welcome to the ITB Travel Hero podcast.

00:00:21: I'm Leah Jordan member of the Board of Experts for The ITB Building Convention coming up in March and today... We're spending three hundred seconds with Katrin Anselm, who leads Airbnb across Germany Austria Switzerland and Central and Eastern Europe.

00:00:33: And she will be joining me for an executive fireside chat on stage next week.

00:00:38: Airbnb joins ITP Berlin in two thousand twenty six as official co-host.

00:00:42: a special year as it people in celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.

00:00:45: Katrin thank you so much being here again!

00:00:49: Yes Thank You Leia.

00:00:50: It's great to And what a good time to be here.

00:00:54: It's ITB Berlin's sixth year anniversary, and it is such a milestone for the global travel industry that we couldn't be more excited about being here.

00:01:02: Absolutely!

00:01:03: As I said, Airbnb is the official co-host of the ITB-Berlin convention in June of this year.

00:01:09: Katrin, what does the role mean?

00:01:11: What perspective do you hope Airbnb brings to the global industry conversation at ITB?

00:01:15: Yeah, good one.

00:01:17: For us ITB has always been a place where the future of travel really comes into focus and as Airbnb we think we can bring a lot to the table because we see firsthand how traveler behavior is shifting And what's especially exciting right now Is how travel trends evolve towards nature-based travel and rural destinations.

00:01:39: And these insights we want to bring to ITB, the conversations at ITB... At The Convention itself.

00:01:47: I'm really looking forward to discussing how our industry can work together in shape travel in the future.

00:01:54: And of course, I'm very excited and very much looking forward to our fireside chat on stage which is a tradition.

00:02:00: when

00:02:00: you look at travel and how it has evolved over the years what do you feel?

00:02:04: Is fundamentally changing and different about this moment for industry?

00:02:08: now

00:02:08: there's a fundamental difference and that's the direction off the travel demand.

00:02:13: let me tell him when Airbnb began The majority of guests stayed in cities city breaks.

00:02:19: City Travel was Airbnb.

00:02:20: Today, younger travelers and especially Gen Z are looking to disconnect.

00:02:26: To be in nature an opt for digital detox getaways And not necessarily far from where they live.

00:02:32: People literally ask a different question Where can I truly switch off?

00:02:38: Where can i connect with people at nature?

00:02:41: At the same time We see this very clearly on our data On Airbnb.

00:02:45: in Germany, sixty-one percent of nights booked by Germans last year were outside of cities.

00:02:51: And searches for nature trips have grown by thirty five per cent in just two years.

00:02:57: Wow!

00:02:57: Yeah I mean data doesn't lie right and we can feel it.

00:02:59: definitely there's a shift.

00:03:02: We're proud Airbnb contributes across the ITB Berlin Convention programme with several leaders on stage.

00:03:07: What can attendees expect from your broader presence at ITB this year?

00:03:10: They can definitely expect strong presence across their program.

00:03:14: We have several Airbnb leaders, including myself who will be sharing insights on travel trends.

00:03:19: On tourism in balance the big motto this year and how supply and our offering to users evolves.

00:03:27: I'd say our focus would be on how platforms can help spread tourism more evenly support rural communities And respond to changing traveler expectations especially among younger generations.

00:03:40: My personal highlight, our co-founder and chief strategy officer Nathan Vacharsik will be on stage as well.

00:03:47: We'll talk about many of these topics.

00:03:49: I mean we are going to be onstage shaping balance travel from travel trends to responsible tourism.

00:03:54: that's the theme in our fireside chat.

00:03:56: you're joining me for let us not give away too much but Maybe we can share one idea or question.

00:04:01: You hope the audience leaves your session thinking about...

00:04:04: Yeah, nature-based and rural travel will be at the center of our panel in our talk And if there's an idea I could call out as a great thought starter It is really that travel trend towards nature Can ultimately represent massive opportunity for tourism to grow.

00:04:21: Grow differently More responsibly more sustainably.

00:04:25: Why?

00:04:26: Because NATO tourism benefits small communities the most and means spreading economic benefits from tourism more broadly across villages and destinations.

00:04:36: To make this a little bit more specific, let's look at our typical host on Airbnb in rural Germany.

00:04:42: they earn an average four thousand three hundred euros uh in additional income uh year great addition And I think this idea is very much

00:04:54: Beyond the convention stages, how should people engage with Airbnb on site?

00:04:58: We know that you have a beautiful booth every year.

00:05:00: So we're excited for this here.

00:05:02: what can they expect when they visit you in hall

00:05:03: nine?".

00:05:04: The booth is nothing short of awesome.

00:05:07: it really reflects our commitment to nature.

00:05:10: travel has a beautiful design lots of lush greenery.

00:05:13: just think about small plant sanctuary or botanical garden right in the middle of ITV.

00:05:19: We are actually inviting all of you just to stop by, in the atmosphere.

00:05:24: To take a deep breath and breathe and reconnect with nature.

00:05:27: Just ride here at ITV.

00:05:30: but more importantly it's really about space-to-exchange ideas.

00:05:34: ITB has always been about dialogue.

00:05:37: we're looking forward those in person conversations over what many say the best coffee at the entire fair.

00:05:45: So join us in hall nine.

00:05:47: thank you so much country for joining me again and we see as next week,

00:05:51: thank you very much Leah.

00:05:52: it was a pleasure

00:05:53: everyone listening in meet Airbnb across the ITB Berlin convention.

00:05:56: two thousand twenty six on stage an at their booth meeting team.

00:06:00: talk to them.

00:06:01: don't miss Katrin Anselm session as part of the ITV marketing distribution track.

00:06:05: Wednesday fourth March in Hall seven one eight.

00:06:07: I personally can't wait.