Airbnb.org expands its Medical Stays Program in Mexico with $20M MXN pesos

At an event today, Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky, announced a MXN 20 million investment to expand Airbnb.org's Medical Stays program across Mexico. Over the next three years, the program will provide free housing in Airbnb listings for families traveling to Mexico City to obtain lifesaving cancer care and other specialized treatments.

Through partnerships with civil-society organizations, the Medical Stays program pairs families who need medical support with Airbnb hosts, and pays for stays, easing the financial and emotional strain of traveling for medical care. The initiative is run by Airbnb.org, the independent nonprofit founded by Airbnb, to provide free, temporary housing in times of crisis.

"When a family travels far so their child can receive medical treatment, the last thing they should worry about is where they'll sleep," said Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. "Airbnb.org's superpower is using our platform and community of hosts to quickly connect people to housing when they need it most. This investment is a commitment to helping as many families across Mexico as possible." said Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb.

As part of this expansion, three new organizations-Fundación IMSS, Ayúdame a sonreír ante el cáncer and Aquí nadie se rinde-are joining the program, strengthening a network of partners that already includes Fundación Vuela, Casa de la Amistad, Fundación Ronald McDonald México, and Fundación Lilo México. These partners help identify families in greatest need and connect them to Airbnb.org, as part of the comprehensive support provided throughout their treatment. Since the inception of the Medical Stays Program at the end of 2025, Airbnb.org has provided more than 300 nights of free, temporary housing to families in need in Mexico.

"Families traveling to Mexico City for specialized medical care face a double burden: the demands of treatment and the cost of being far from home. Through the partnership between Fundación Vuela and Airbnb.org, they gain not only an affordable place to stay near the hospital but also a caring support network that allows parents like Blanca Asunción Aparicio Zárate, who now reaches her son Leonardo's appointments in just ten minutes instead of four hours, to focus on what matters most: their children's well-being." said Diego Parada, Co-founder and CEO of Vuela.

The event also featured Ana Lía de Fátima García Gracía, General Director of Fundación IMSS, who emphasized the importance of multi-sector collaboration and highlighted the need for programs like Medical Stays.

"Every day, Mexico City receives families from across the country seeking specialized medical care. Initiatives like Airbnb.org's Medical Stays program help provide a more comprehensive response, where medical care is complemented by dignified accommodation. This collaboration between Airbnb.org, and Fundación IMSS is key to building a more supportive ecosystem," the General Director mentioned.

"Helping someone with a specific need, especially accommodation during such a difficult moment in their lives, is incredibly rewarding," said Erik Álvarez, an Airbnb host in Mexico City who has opened his home through the program. "I discovered that I truly want to help and support people during difficult times-and that's something that's changed the way I see myself."

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico City concentrates more than 40 percent of specialized healthcare institutions¹, forcing thousands of families from other states to travel for oncology treatments, transplants, or complex surgeries. For many of these families, the cost of accommodation and transportation can represent up to 60 percent² of their total expenses, even exceeding the cost of the treatment itself.

With this investment and the expansion of its partner network, Airbnb.org aims to consolidate the Medical Stays program as a collaborative model that helps reduce barriers to healthcare access and provides support to Mexican families during critical moments.