The Brief
As Airbnb expanded its core services beyond home rentals, the brand aimed to revamp its Experiences platform as a hub for culture and connection. The initial challenge: Create intimate, one-of-a-kind celebrity-led events that tapped into celebs’ niche interests and communities, ultimately showcasing Airbnb as more than just a booking platform. These activations would test the potential for scalable, recurring experiences with broad cultural resonance.

The Final Product
Megan Thee Stallion invited guests to “Become an Otaku Hottie,” Kevin Hart hosted a live performance at his pop-up Coramino Live Lounge, and Doja Cat led a one-night-only Living Room Session. Each event was designed for small, intimate audiences, blending cultural fandom with personal connection.

The success of these activations revealed a new opportunity: guests craved repeatable, highly curated experiences with star power. Building on this insight, Airbnb evolved these one-off activations into Airbnb Originals, a new series of branded, bookable experiences that combined cultural storytelling, community, and celebrity-driven programming.

By evolving from one-off celebrity events to a curated, recurring series, Airbnb demonstrated how experiences could become a core part of its brand identity — blending fandom, culture, and travel into a unique platform differentiator.