Airbnb announces OMG! Fund Recipients
Key Takeaways
- Recipients from 20 countries have been chosen to bring their ideas to life with $100,000.
- Creations will be guest-ready by summer 2023, and will be a part of Airbnb's OMG! Category.
From tens of thousands of entries from around the world, 100 aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers hailing from more than 20 countries/regions have been chosen to bring their crazy space ideas to life as part of the $10,000,000 OMG! Fund.
The winning ideas stood out for their unique and inspiring design, sustainable consideration, and novel ways of offering immersive guest experiences. Recipients will each receive up to $100,000 USD to make their fantastical creations possible, and over the course of the next ten months, will design, construct and outfit their spaces to be guest-ready by summer 2023 – when you may find them available as part of Airbnb’s OMG! Category.
Selected by the OMG! Fund judging panel, including design and style icon Iris Apfel, architectural expert Koichi Takada, Airbnb Superhost Kristie Wolfe, and Airbnb VP of Experiential Bruce Vaughn, these elaborate ideas are expected to make the OMG! Category of homes 100 times more extraordinary once they’re made bookable on the platform.
“What an incredible journey it has been to be a part of the OMG! Fund judging process. There were so many inspiring stories and destinations that I had never heard of before that I’m now eager to visit,” said Kristie Wolfe. “As a builder myself, I can’t wait to watch these ideas come to life. These are more than just places to spend the night – each one offers an entire experience!”
The OMG! Fund recipients have an opportunity to experience the powerful economic benefits of hosting on Airbnb – and many are already familiar, as over 50 percentare already Hosts. In 2021, the typical Host in the US earned over $13,800, an increase of 85 percent over 2019. Additionally, nights booked at unique properties increased globally by over 49 percent from 2019 to 2021. OMG! Fund judging panelist Kristie Wolfe experienced this firsthand when she invested $32,000 to create her unique listing, the Big Idaho Potato Hotel, and saw $208,000** in earnings in less than three years.
The tens of thousands of entries drew inspiration from the depths of the sea to sci-fi novels, but certain natural elements and architectural features proved popular:
- 400 ideas offered spectacular stargazing experiences
- 961 ideas marched to the beat of their own drum, incorporating music in some way
- 777 juicy designs were inspired by fruit
- 680 ideas were wine-inspired
- 7,931 entrants proposed using solar panels for sustainable energy
- High in the sky, 1,214 ideas involved treehouses and 389 featured suspended structures
- 509 mushroom-inspired listings were ready to sprout from the earth
From a lighthouse in Sweden accessible only by boat, to an adobe fossilized dinosaur skull in the desert, the winning 100 expand the idea of what an Airbnb stay can be, and are fueled by the entrants’ passions. “The inspiration came from the works of many science fiction movies,” said OMG! Fund recipient Pablo C. from Mexico. “The idea was to do something out of the ordinary, never seen before, something rare and beautiful that would impress any human being. The result is an organic form spaceship – a six-meter high pillar, embraced at 360 degrees by trees.”
Others drew on local wildlife and tradition, like OMG! Fund recipient Ignacio R. from Chile, who stated his Floating Avocado House idea “is all about the connection with nature. I have spent most of my life on our family farm – the happiest memories of my childhood come from there. It has something so special that just resonates with me. That’s why I have this dream, this calling, of sharing it with more people.”
Some also expressed devotion to the environment as their main drive to creating something unique. “We want to remind guests of our connection and responsibility to the natural world,” said OMG! Fund recipient Kimberly S. from the US on her Giant Tire-Shaped House idea. “The structure will be fashioned by repurposing 1,000 old junkyard tires and other recycled materials. The effect will be a stunning, unique and unforgettable experience—a creative environmental solution to a deflating tire problem!”
Here is the full list of the 100 OMG! Fund recipients:
23m Tower with 360 Degree, 40 Mile Views
Matthew G., United Kingdom
A-Frame on Top of a Norman House Surrounded by Nature
Anne T., France
Acorn Library With Treehouse Outdoor Acorn Bath
Peter C., United Kingdom
Adobe Fossilized Dinosaur Skull in Desert
Haylee M., United States
Ancestral Lava Cave in a Volcano
Fernando B., Chile
Atomic Oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert
Cari B., United States
Bauhaus Bao House in the LA Mountains
Rei W., United States
Big Foot’s Cabin: Big Everything, Big Fun
Alexis D., United States
Board Game Haven in Huge Stacked Dice
Olivia S., United States
Building That Blossoms Like a Flower
Pol G., Ireland
Bunch of Bedrooms in the Shape of Himalayan Fruit
Arun M., India
Bush Plane in Alaska Ghost Town
Lisa B., United States
Cactus Cabin With Natural Hot Springs
Alie L., United States
Campsite With Caves as Rooms Built Into the Earth
Joanne C., Taiwan
Cloud 9: Livable Cloud Overlooking Lake Michigan
Emily A., United States
Coconut Drifting in the Sea
Muhammad-Hakim A., Malaysia
Concrete Shelled Dome, Sustainable Off-Grid in Joshua Tree
Michael O.l, United States
Contemporary Pyramid in Epic Pine Forest
Jose L., Mexico
Cozy Giant Teapot and Cup Studio
Martinique B., United Kingdom
“Crash Landed” Retro Luxury Airliner Fuselage and Cockpit
Jennifer C., United States
Desert Flower Opening to Star-Filled Sky
Abraham V., South Africa
DJ Booth Tower Mini Duplex
Jérémie, M., Thailand
Dome-House Floating in a Koi Fish Pond
Iacopo T., Japan
Dragon Egg in the Forest
Martín J., Argentina
Dragons Den Cave: Life-Sized Dragon Statue Atop Entrance
Julia N., United States
Eco Pyramid Bedroom Set at the Belly Button of the Land
Dominic H., Portugal
Eco-Igloo
Catherine W., Australia
Floating Avocado in an Avocado Farm
Ignacio M., Chile
Floating Terrarium in the City
Mia P., United Kingdom
Full Airplane House in Wonder Valley
Richard C., United States
Galactic Glacier
Laura N., United States
Geodesic Planetarium and Observatory Dome
Nick M., United States
Ghost Town Gondola Town at 12,000 Feet
Ben C., United States
Giant Camera Atop a Georgia Mountain
Matthew F., United States
Giant Clog-Cabin in a Dutch Open Field
Jantine D., Netherlands
Giant Coyote Head Casita on the Rim of the Rio Grande
Johnny D., United States
Giant Fallen Redwood Tree in the Forest
Frank C., United States
Giant Flower Pot on a Farm in Small Town Idaho
Whitney H., United States
Giant Mirrored Disco Ball Glamping House on Wheels
Jeffrey H., United States
Giant Pig in Meadow at Pig Sanctuary
Tracey S., United States
Giant Pony Pad in the New Forest National Park
Jordan C., United Kingdom
Giant Tortoise Glass Shell for Stargazing
Reeyna D., United States
Giant Vintage TV Perched Next to a Lake
Melissa W., Canada
Grass-Roofed, Glass-Fronted Forest Adventure House
Kate C., Canada
Habitable Human Size Skep (Beehive)
Pam W., United States
Hansel and Gretel’s Chocolate House
Maria D., Argentina
Il Pino, the Pine-Shaped Cabin in the Alps
Luca B., Italy
Invisible Farmhouse in a Mango Orchard
Ankur A., India
Jungle Eco Tree House With a Leaf Petal Shape
Elisa O., Mexico
Kangaroom – Floating Pod Style
Matt D., Australia
Kiwi Bird Nest With a Chicken-Eye View
Jacqueline Y., New Zealand
Koi Fish-Shaped House
Linda F., United States
Land-Locked Cargo Ship House in Veracruz
Álvaro M., Mexico
Helicopter on Ten Wooded Acres With a Creek
Emily L., United States
Lighthouse in the Ocean Outside a Swedish Summer Island
Martin R., Sweden
Abhi A., Thailand
Livable Giant Fallen Tree in the Woods
J.R. S., United States
Livable Giant Fossilized Snail in the Desert
Diego Z., Mexico
Pablo B., Mexico
Livable Giant Troll Nestled in the Woods
Victoria G., United States
Livable Pop-Art Painting-Inspired Stay in Llano Desert
Jesse Y., United States
Luxury Live-In Bear With Epic Woodland Views
Bianca C., United States
“Mind the Gap” – An Up-Cycled London Underground Tube Carriage
Eloise S., United Kingdom
Mischievous Mango Mansion
Rajan J., India
Modern African Earth Retreat in the Bush
Juane V., South Africa
Modern Cereal Lover’s Paradise
Trey P., United States
Monocoque Cabin, Organic Architecture at Peace With its Rural Site
Peter M., United Kingdom
Mushroom Mansion: A Farm to Nightstand B&B
Lenée G., United States
Orion Constellation: 10 Elevated Rooms in Oaxaca
Edmundo Z., Mexico
Ozark Glass Dome Planetarium Treehouse
Natalie J., United States
Portable Cheese Wedge-Shaped Cabins in Wisconsin
Etienne W., United States
Redwood Stump Tiny House in the Forest
Melanie S., United States
Rock Candyland Cottages
Justin M., United States
Salt Cave and Forest Dwelling With Glass Bottle
Liezel M., South Africa
Sculpture in the Woods
Julio N., Mexico
Solve a Mystery in a Restored 40s Railcar
Winston W., United States
Space Treehouse: A Futuristic Home for Sustainable Living
Daniel T., United States
Spend a Night With Your Honey… and Some Honey Bees
Jacob K., United States
Sprout House – The Incredible Farm Stay!
Milind S., India
Stargazing Sphere Suspended in the Rocks
Orien R., United States
Stargazing Stone Igloos
Jaco B., South Africa
Starhouse on Top of a Cliff
Andres C., Mexico
Stay in a Volcano On the Big Island of Hawaii
Cassandra R., United States
Sustainable and Habitable Giant Molar Tooth, Deep Within a Tropical Forest
Pewly D., India
Sustainable Beehive House in the Rainforest
Esteban C., Costa Rica
Jonathan R., United States
The Big Smoking Volcano and the Sky-Perched Nest
Fabian D., Mexico
The First Bubble House in Mars: A Space Experience
Jorge C., Spain
The Golden Egg
Jennifer W., Ireland
The Nuthouse: Suspended, Hanging Giant Acorn Back in the Woods
Ty G., United States
The Ultimate Music Lover’s Hideaway
Madeleine T., United Kingdom
Tire-Shaped House Made of Junkyard Tires
Kimberly S., United States
Titan II Missile on Former USAF Base
GT H., United States
“Top Secret” Underground Atlas Missile Base, Abandoned by the Air Force
Matthew F., United States
Luxury Bubble On Top Of A Mountain
Timothy H., Australia
Two Wooden Round Nests, Surrounded by Dreamy Blue Gardens
Nicolette T., United Kingdom
Ultimate Airbnb on Plane at an Airfield
Mary C., Australia
US-Skoolie as Mobile Airbnb in Germany
Marcus H., Germany
Viking Ship in the Northwoods of Minnesota
Elena M., United States
What It Feels Like to Live on Cloud 9
Tia B., United States
Interested in becoming an OMG! Host? Learn more at airbnb.com/host/homes.
*Jungle Eco Treehouse With a Leaf Petal Shape, Elisa O., Mexico
** Host earnings vary widely depending on many factors, including availability, price, acceptance and cancellation rates, occupancy rate and the demand in the listing location. Globally, the median earnings for Hosts in the OMG Category who were active on Airbnb between Jan 2018 and May 2022 was just over $48,000 USD.
Unique listings are defined by Hosts, these include but are not limited to; treehouse, yurt, barn, boat, castle, campsite, hut, island, plane, shepherds hut, train, treehouse, windmill, yurt, etc.
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million Hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
About Airbnb.org
Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.'s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org's charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.
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