Airbnb and Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced on Wednesday an initiative to help “drive tourism to the island and support the region as it builds back after Hurricane Maria.”
Airbnb will donate booking fees to Head of Community, a nonprofit that helps communities recover from natural disasters, for Puerto Rico relief for the next three months.
The company will also offer a new “experiences” feature to help “guests enjoy the authentic Puerto Rico through unique, handcrafted activities hosted by locals.” Airbnb reports to have 50 “experiences” at the time of launch.
“Puerto Rico has long been a top destination for travelers looking to experience its rich culture, beautiful scenery, and incredible hospitality,” said Airbnb Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community Brian Chesky.
“[Puerto Rico’s] determination in the face of such daunting challenges has amazed and inspired us, and we look forward to working with these important partners to unlock the magic of the island for more travelers from around the world, and empower Puerto Rico’s businesses and people to build an even stronger travel industry than before the hurricane,” he added.
Puerto Rico was destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. About 23,000 people are still without electricity, The Hill reported. (RELATED: Puerto Rico To Receive $589 Million More In Federal Aid 6 Months After Devastating Hurricanes)
Elon Musk’s Tesla company has been working on installing Tesla batteries for Puerto Rico.
“Tesla batteries are currently live and delivering power at 662 locations in Puerto Rico. Team is working 24/7 to activate several hundred more,” Musk said in a tweet on April 18.
Puerto Rican officials said that the entire island is set to have restored electricity by late May, according to the SF Gate.
“It’s important to encourage people to continue to visit Puerto Rico,” Chesky said during a press event at the company’s San Francisco headquarters. “This is a superpower that Airbnb has.”
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