Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Airbnb offers Zurich hosts bonuses of up to 500 francs for referrals
Airbnb is offering referral bonuses to attract new hosts in Zurich.
A referral can earn 500 francs if the new host lists a whole home in Höngg, with smaller bonuses in other districts.
The bonus is paid only for a newly listed entire home, not a room.
The number of business apartments in Zurich has doubled since 2017, according to city estimates, amid concerns about housing availability and affordability.
A pending initiative backed by left-wing parties would limit homes across the city to 90 days of short-term rentals per year.
The initiative would tighten rules on short-term rentals, while Airbnb says it has little influence on housing availability and affordability and Zurich’s FDP leader argues the platform accounts for only a small share of homes.
Airbnb is offering referral bonuses of up to 500 francs to attract new hosts in Zurich.
The 500-franc bonus applies when a referred host lists an entire home in Zurich-Höngg.
Lower bonuses are offered for listings in the Industriequartier, Seefeld and Aussersihl.
An Airbnb spokesperson said the company’s bonuses vary by accommodation type, season and location.
Zurich SP president Oliver Heimgartner said the promotion disregards the city’s housing shortage, while Zurich FDP president Perparim Avdili said he saw no problem if Airbnb promotes its business legally.
- Who
- Airbnb is offering the bonuses to people who refer new hosts.
- What
- Referrers can receive up to 500 francs if the person they refer lists an entire home on Airbnb.
- When
- The bonuses are being increased for a limited time. The article was published on 14 November 2026.
- Where
- Zurich, with the highest bonus applying to homes in Zurich-Höngg.
- Why
- Airbnb is seeking to attract new hosts.
Airbnb
Oliver Heimgartner, Zurich SP president
Housing impact
Airbnb
Airbnb said it has no substantial influence on housing availability or affordability.
Oliver Heimgartner, Zurich SP president
Heimgartner said Airbnb had contributed to rising rents and called its promotional emails outrageous.
The number of business apartments in Zurich has doubled, according to estimates by Statistics City of Zurich.
Watson reported that Airbnb was offering increased referral bonuses for a limited time.
An initiative seeking tighter regulation of short-term rentals is pending in Zurich.
- Zurich-Höngg bonus
- 500 francs
- Industriequartier and Seefeld bonus
- 350 francs
- Aussersihl bonus
- 160 francs
- Eligibility
- The referred host must list an entire accommodation, not just a room.
- Proposed rental limit
- Up to 90 days per year under the pending initiative.
What people are saying
We are pleased to inform you that the bonuses for referring hosts in Zurich have been increased for a limited time.
no substantial influence
Such promotional emails about bonuses are an absolute cheek. Airbnb is ignoring the current discussion about the housing shortage in Zurich.
Airbnb apartments make up only a very small proportion of the city.