Airbnb Mock Interview
Practice 39 Airbnb interview questions covering culture fit, product thinking, and hospitality innovation.
Question 33 of 39
Where did the Air in Airbnb come from?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Brian Chesky and his college roommates were creatively trying to find ways to make money to pay their rent and not get evicted. So, they invested in an air mattress and rented it out on their living room floor. They made some fast cash and continued capitalizing on this idea which evolved into the Airbnb we all know today. The use of "air" in the name is a nod to the company's roots."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Three young college graduates rented out an air mattress, hence "Airbnb," to avoid eviction back in 2008. This has since grown into the multi-billion-dollar corporation we know and love today, which has transformed the travel and tourism industry. Some of their current offerings are just as unusual as that initial air mattress, from a one square meter room on wheels to tree houses, igloos, furnished caves, yachts, lighthouses, castles, and even private islands."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Even though this challenging trivia question tests your company knowledge, it also introduces you to some fun facts. How you answer will inform your interviewer on the extent of your company research and might even offer insights into your work ethic and how deeply you already embrace their culture. When answering this question, try to over-deliver.
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Anonymous Answer
The "Air" in Airbnb stands for "Airbed." The concept for the company originated when the founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, rented out air mattresses in their living room to attendees of a design conference in San Francisco in 2007 because all the hotels were fully booked. They provided these guests with breakfast as well, which covers the "bnb" part, standing for "bed and breakfast". Hence, the company was initially called "AirBed and Breakfast," which was later shortened to Airbnb.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great job demonstrating you've done your research on the organization!
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