Systemwide Procurement
Airbnb for UC
Work Hard and Travel Easy
Time to get onboard with the new ‘Airbnb for UC’ program launched by the UC Central Travel Office in October 2018. Already, thousands of UC travelers – employees, students and guests – have stayed at ‘Airbnb for UC’ lodging throughout the US and global locations. And, they’ve saved the university money while enjoying a unique business travel experience through ‘Airbnb for UC.’
Start by visiting the University of California/Airbnb home page and scroll down to the “Haven’t signed up yet?” box to add your UC email address. From there, you can search the listings tailored to meet the University of California’s travel preferences, with amenities like:
- Properties with 4.8 (or above) star ratings
- Flexible or moderate cancellation policies
- Self check-in
- Complimentary wifi
- Laptop friendly work spaces
- Hotel-like conveniences: shampoo, soap, hair dryers, irons, etc.
- Security features, like smoke and CO2 detectors
- Some ‘Airbnb Plus’ listings with 100+ point quality inspections and star ratings
And, you can feel secure knowing that your ‘Airbnb for UC’ reservation is automatically registered with UC Risk Services travel insurance just like other lodging booked through our easy and convenient Connexxus portal.
Learn everything you need to know in the Airbnb for UC Travel Guide which outlines all the details of signing-up, searching listings, booking, cancellations, and how to get help.
Booking with ‘Airbnb for UC’ also helps save the University money. The average ‘Airbnb for UC’ room rate is $67, compared to UC’s average hotel rate of $188 – a 181% savings, which is considerably higher than Airbnb’s current average global savings of 49%. This is a compelling indicator for future savings for the University through this program.
The word is spreading fast! In the first quarter of 2019, there were 16,900 guest nights booked, equaling $1,300,000 in spend. The University of California is already Airbnb’s largest client within the higher education market sector. UC travelers are happy with the program, too – the average UC client review and rating for ‘Airbnb for UC’ is 4.8. Give it a try – work hard and travel easy with ‘Airbnb for UC.’
By Deborah Almanson - Director, Central Travel