Airbnb is on the hunt for the world’s craziest spaces — and will help you foot the bill to build one of them. Airbnb’s OMG! Fund is $10 million that will be split among one hundred winners who have a crazy idea for an offbeat build. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability.
Airbnb’s OMG! Category
Airbnb is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers from around the globe. The fund’s $10 million will help finance 100 of the craziest ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb listing that will be found in their OMG! Category.
The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves. Over 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to Airbnb in 2021. The OMG! Category—which since introduced has been clicked on 2.5M times—showcases the craziest amongst them, making it easy for guests to discover these listings in places they wouldn’t have otherwise looked.
Airbnb Contest rules
Anyone with an out-of-this-world idea can submit an application. One hundred people with the craziest ideas will receive $100,000 each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable.
Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundary-pushing design authorities, an architectural expert, and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost:
Judges:
Here is what the judges will look for:
- Originality: A winning design will be more than just different. It should be surprising, one-of-a-kind, and inspire people to reimagine what a home can be.
- Feasibility: Your entry should be achievable and able to pass building inspections and the like. It will also need to be completed by August 2023.
- Experience: The interior should be as memorable as the exterior, striking a perfect balance between oddball concept and comfortable home.
- Sustainability: Think green. Consider using clean energy and recycled materials. Your home should have a big impact on guests and a small one on the planet.
Airbnb’s Most-Loved OMG! Spots
Need some inspiration? Here are some of Airbnb’s most popular OMG! listings:
Big Idaho Potato Hotel
When the Idaho Potato Commission retired a six-ton prop spud, Kristie took it off their hands and transformed it into one of Airbnb’s most famous listings. Since then she’s made five times her initial investment, which helped her create four more Airbnbs—all in the OMG! Category.
Yellow Submarine
This nautical oasis began when Keith and Jen purchased an old grain silo for just $1. Incorporating materials such as recycled radar dishes and helmets, they spent the next year converting and furnishing their yellow retreat. Today, the extra income from hosting helps the couple live comfortably in retirement.
Retro Camping Bus
This comfy double-decker was a labor of love for Ricardo and his family—from the welding to carpentry and decorating, they restored the retired bus entirely by themselves. It’s been such a success they’ve already invested some of their profits into a second bus.
Got an idea that can help put Tampa Bay on the map? Click here to apply!
