Airbnb Ireland sees operating profits jump 24% to $151m

Airbnb’s European headquarters are based in Dublin

Airbnb Ireland UC, the Irish unit which serves as European headquarters for the global accommodation rental giant, has reported operating profits grew 24% to $151m (€130m) in 2024. Picture: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Airbnb Ireland UC, the Irish-based unit which serves as European headquarters for the global accommodation rental giant, has reported operating profits grew 24% to $151m (€130m) in 2024. 

The company said it had experienced “continued strong travel demand” for its markets outside the US. Revenues climbed 15% to $5.85bn (€5.07bn) from $5.1bn (€4.42bn) a year previous. Airbnb Ireland UC generates substantially all of its revenue from guest stays at accommodations for users outside of the US. Airbnb’s European headquarters are in Dublin.

Net profits from Airbnb Ireland UC stood at $110.7m (€95.9m) and the company paid $26,4m (€22.8m) in corporation tax.

Wages and salaries stood at $43.5m, with the company employing around 388 workers.

Earlier this month, the San Francisco-based parent company Airbnb forecast upbeat quarterly revenue after posting higher third-quarter results, aided by strong bookings in markets such as Latin America and Asia Pacific.

It has customized its platform for regional audiences, adding payment options and launching local marketing campaigns. Airbnb said bookings in its expansion markets have grown twice as fast as in its core markets of U|S, Australia, Canada, UK, and France, over the past year.

The company posted third-quarter revenue of $4.10bn (€3.5bn), up 9.7% from a year earlier. Gross bookings jumped about 14% to $22.9bn (€19.8bn).

During the quarter, the travel firm saw the fastest growth in "nights and seats booked" — a metric that combines stays and activities reserved on Airbnb — in Latin America, helped by the launch of an interest-free payment plan in Brazil.

The reported period was also buoyed by a 27% rise in quarterly bookings for domestic travel in Japan, and a 50% increase in first-time users in India.

Meanwhile, nights booked in North America rose in the mid-single digits, slightly higher than the prior quarter, aided by the launch of "Reserve Now, Pay Later" option in the U.S, which was prompting travelers to book their stays further in advance.

This year Airbnb launched its "services" section, which offers options such as catering, photography sessions, and spa treatments.

Additional reporting by Reuters