#HTE
Airbnb is starting up an experimental design group to work on odd new hospitality projects that could one day become major company initiatives. The group is called Samara, and its first project is to build “community centers” to draw tourists to small, little-traveled towns.
FastCo Design has a preview of Samara’s first community center, which is being built for Yoshino, Japan. Samara’s hope is that the center will draw new people to the town, serve as a meeting place for residents and visitors alike, and encourage residents to open up their spare rooms to Airbnb. It’s supposed to be a win-win for both the town it’s placed in, by boosting tourism, and Airbnb, by drawing more travelers.
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