Airbnb Open LA

CLIENT

Airbnb, CIVIC Entertainment

SERVICES

Activation | Fabrication

TYPOLOGY

Branded Space

LOCATION | STATUS

Los Angeles, California | Completed 2016

a memory is only as good as people you share it with

Airbnb Open landed in LA with a mission: to continue to shake up hospitality and celebrate new ways of traveling and hosting that make us see the world with fresh eyes. For three days, 16,000 of the best Superhosts from over 100 countries came together, not to follow a script, but to rewrite it. They roamed LA like locals, experiencing the city’s backstreets, hidden corners, and beating heart. But this was about more than festival—it was about learning, dreaming up wild new ideas, and sharing what it means to host with real soul. WOW atelier took over a 99-year-old Beaux-Arts building at the city’s core, transforming it into the main gathering point. The space had history in its bones but was reimagined as an experiential epicenter. A place where hosts could come together to share stories, swap ideas, and stir up the future of travel—a space where hospitality got reinvented, one idea at a time.

video courtesy: Airbnb .

. video courtesy: Airbnb

programmatic passive activities:

learn from the best

At Airbnb Open, festivalgoers kicked back at the Theatre at Ace Hotel for an advance screening of La La Land, with Gosling and Stone lighting up the screen. The night kept rolling with James Corden emceeing the Bélo Awards, where 2,000 strong came together to celebrate Airbnb’s most stirring hosting tales. Maroon 5 lit up the stage, only to have Lady Gaga surprise the crowd, brought in by Airbnb’s CEO Brian Chesky himself. Ashton Kutcher joined Chesky to talk about Airbnb’s mission to put power back in the hands of community, while Elizabeth Gilbert shared how wandering the world helped her tap into hidden strength. Later, Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia opened the floor, fielding questions from hosts who had plenty to say. Gwyneth Paltrow closed the session, talking about how she shaped her tastes into brands, sparking ideas for those looking to blend travel with passion. It was a festival of stories, ideas, and bold dreams about the future of hospitality.

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4 unique experiences

At Airbnb Open, hosts can leave their mark on a mural inspired by hospitality and wabi-sabi, celebrating beauty in the imperfect. Attendees can paint a postcard designed by ALE, writing their personal wabi-sabi story on the back to be mailed to them after the event—a little reminder to find the good in life’s rough edges.

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In Fenweh, hosts will sink into cozy tents, daydreaming about past travels and future adventures with Airbnb. Scattered journals, filled with prompts, await their stories and thoughts for others to discover, creating a space for connection and inspiration. In Hygge, hosts will sip teas from around the world, write notes on a special sleeve, and mix loose-leaf teas to keep or share.

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Finally, A’vantade invites them to record memories, solo or with a friend, in a welcoming recording booth—each set to evoke comfort, from bean bags to zen gardens. Together, these spaces encourage hosts to connect, reflect, and take a piece of the experience home.

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social drumbeat activities

Each space at Airbnb Open was thoughtfully crafted to amplify the host experience, both in the moment and long after, leaving them with the festival’s magic. Hosts can add their touch to a mural and create postcards with artist Anne-Louise Ewen, who believes art is a beacon of freedom, joy, and dignity.

In partnership with Michelle Blade, we’re crafting an environment inspired by her richly symbolic paintings—dreamy landscapes where hosts can write their stories in custom journals she designed. Blade’s work captures quiet moments of reflection, balancing between revelation and tranquility in a mysterious world. For those seeking a more personal touch, intimate video and audio booths provide a quiet setting to share stories.