Airbnb and the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) today announced the launch of their partnership in conjunction with Berlin Fashion Week. The collaboration combines the international appeal of Berlin Fashion Week with the potential of local neighborhoods – specifically aiming to strengthen Berlin's position as a global fashion hub.

Fashion meets hospitality

Berlin Fashion Week attracts designers, buyers, editors, and creatives from all over the world to the German capital every year – last summer, there were around 30,000 guests. Airbnb has been an integral part of this travel movement for years – and hosts in Berlin open their doors during Berlin Fashion Week to guests who are looking for more than just accommodation: a genuine taste of Berlin.

This is precisely where the new partnership comes in: Together, Airbnb and the FCG aim to increase the visibility of local neighborhoods, put hosts in the spotlight, and inspire visitors to discover districts beyond the well-known areas. Because the authentic Berlin often reveals itself off the beaten tourist track – in the outer districts, in backyards, and in the living rooms of the people who live in this city.

The economic significance of this should not be underestimated: According to a study by the Fraunhofer IAO Institute, Airbnb guests in Germany spend an average of €131 per day – in Berlin alone, this resulted in total spending of over one billion euros in 2023. The international visitors to Berlin Fashion Week are an important part of this trend.

“Every year, Fashion Week brings people from all over the world to Berlin’s neighborhoods – people who are open to new impressions, new encounters and new experiences. We are very much looking forward to collaborating with the Fashion Council Germany and to jointly showcasing how vibrant, diverse and welcoming Berlin is – in all its districts,” said Kathrin Anselm, General Manager Central and Eastern Europe at Airbnb.

Fashion Council Germany: Fashion as a social force

Since its founding, the Fashion Council Germany has been committed to strengthening the German fashion industry – as an industry association, as a network and as a platform for dialogue between business, politics and society.

The partnership with Airbnb is another step towards holistic networking for the FCG – and at the same time brings an international audience to the Berlin fashion industry: guests from all over the world who experience the city and its creative scene up close.

“Fashion doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it exists in cities, in communities, between people. The partnership with Airbnb reflects exactly that: We want to make Berlin Fashion Week more tangible, offer visitors an authentic Berlin experience, and show how important the fashion industry is for the local economy,” says Scott Lipinski, CEO of the Fashion Council Germany.

Hidden gems: Airbnb accommodations off the beaten path

About Airbnb : Airbnb was founded in 2007 when the first two hosts welcomed three guests to their homes in San Francisco. Since then, the community has grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed more than 2.5 billion guests in nearly every country in the world. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences, and services that allow guests to connect with other communities in an authentic way.

Photos: Airbnb