Celebrating the end of 2020 in a Times Square crowd is the last thing on people’s minds, but Airbnb is offering up a safe alternative: the best seat in the house to this year’s virtual celebration—for just $21.
The one-night stay for two in the Nasdaq outdoor terrace includes a panoramic view of New Year’s Eve events and concerts broadcast from the plaza, a $5,000 shopping credit, a private chef and a virtual greeting from Mariah Carey. Interested guests can try to snag the stay on Monday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. EST by visiting airbnb.com/happyholidays.

The campaign is a tribute to the resilience of New Yorkers throughout the pandemic, and Airbnb has also pledged to donate to a Covid-19 relief organization that serves frontline workers and their families. The hospitality company maintains the Big Apple pride with dome decor by local artist Jason Douglas Griffin and a slice of Junior’s famous cheesecake for the lucky guests.
Travel brands have found creative ways to survive the lockdown this year, but performance marketing has become less of a priority for Airbnb: The brand is so widely known—like Google, it has even become a verb—that advertising is not really necessary. In its IPO prospectus filed last month, Airbnb stated that in 2020, about 91% of its online traffic has come through the brand’s owned or unpaid channels. In 2019, that figure was 77%. That means it doesn’t rely on performance marketing; travelers seek it out.
Even so, the company has adapted to this unconventional year by launching its “Go Near” campaign, partnering with the National Park Foundation and encouraging travelers to find adventure closer to home. Hotels suffered consistently this year, while Airbnb was able to bounce back after the lockdown by attracting travelers with short-term rentals.
Emmy is an Adweek contributor who is completing her journalism degree at The College of New Jersey with minors in Spanish and broadcast journalism.
https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/airbnb-dome-mariah-carey-new-years-eve-times-square/



