Airbnb Estancias Médicas program in Mexico, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Airbnb has provided 1,500 free nights of lodging to patients and family members who must travel to Mexico City for specialized medical treatment during the first year of its Estancias Médicas program in the country.
The initiative aims to reduce lodging costs for families who need to stay near hospitals and medical care centers, particularly those facing prolonged treatments or illnesses such as cancer.
The program currently works with about 25 partner organizations, which identify patients and caregivers who need support and connect them with the platform to access temporary stays at no cost. Organizations that have recently joined include Fundación Scalabrini, ChildFund México and Banco de Tapitas, which help arrange accommodations in available spaces near the city’s main medical centers.
As part of its expansion strategy, Airbnb.org announced in May an investment of 20 million pesos to strengthen the program over the next three years. The funds will allow the program to offer free lodging to more families traveling to Mexico City for cancer treatments and other specialized medical procedures.
During the celebration of the first anniversary of Estancias Médicas, Christoph Gorder, chief executive of Airbnb.org, highlighted the importance of partnerships with local organizations in expanding access to temporary lodging.
“Our goal is to keep strengthening this network so that no family in Mexico has to choose between paying for lodging or affording a medical treatment that could save their life,” he said.
The impact of the program is also reflected in the experience of the Meraz Velázquez family, beneficiaries through Vuela Fundación, who received lodging while one of their members was undergoing cancer treatment. The family said having a safe and comfortable space allowed them to focus on their son’s care and recovery without the added worry of finding a place to stay.
As part of the anniversary, the organization launched the official Estancias Médicas en México website, where information about the program can be found.
Internationally, Airbnb announced a new funding model under which, starting October 28, it will allocate a portion of its revenue from each stay to Airbnb.org. Under this model, the company expects to contribute 500 million dollars over the next five years, aiming to strengthen the organization’s free lodging programs.
The strategy seeks to reach a capacity of one million free lodging nights per year, while expanding support for families who must travel for medical reasons and for people facing domestic violence, exploitation or other crises.
Under this scheme, beneficiaries receive lodging at no cost, while hosts receive payment for their stays. Guests can also contribute through discounts or donations of a portion of their earnings.
According to the organization, Airbnb covers the operating costs of Airbnb.org, so 100% of public donations go toward funding free lodging.
Since 2020, Airbnb has provided 1.6 million nights of free temporary lodging in nearly 140 countries.
Ahead of its second year of operations in Mexico, Estancias Médicas plans to add new partner organizations and expand support for patients and caregivers who must travel to the capital to receive specialized medical services.
