Airbnb, Northwest Arkansas Council partner to help potential residents ‘try before they buy’

The Northwest Arkansas Council is partnering with Airbnb to let people thinking of relocating to the region try the area out before fully committing to the move.

Through the “Try Before You Buy” program, Airbnb is partnering with remote working initiatives across the country to help remote workers discover everything that life in a new town could offer.

It’s an expansion of Airbnb’s initial partnership announced earlier this year with Tulsa Remote, an organization working to attract remote workers to Oklahoma.

Airbnb will provide members with coupons to visit Northwest Arkansas and collaborate on Airbnb Online Experiences to introduce the region to anyone considering relocating.

Last year, the Northwest Arkansas Council announced an initiative called Life Works Here to attract remote workers — with a $10,000 cash incentive and other benefits — to Northwest Arkansas. It will invest more than $1 million over six months for the initiative, made possible by philanthropic support from the Walton Family Foundation at the recommendation of brothers Steuart Walton and Tom Walton.

To date, the Life Works Here relocation incentive has generated more than 29,000 applications from candidates in more than 115 countries and all 50 states eager to move to Northwest Arkansas. The Northwest Arkansas Council touts the region’s low cost of living, plentiful outdoor lifestyle perks, nationally ranked arts, culture and cuisine scenes, a rapidly growing economy, and per capita income that’s 14% higher than the national average as incentives.

“Northwest Arkansas consistently ranks as one of best places to live in the country due to its fast-growing economy and unique quality of life. The collaboration with Airbnb will give potential residents a taste of our thriving community, and we’re certain they will experience how perfectly Life Works Here,” Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, said in a statement.

As some consumers think through relocating, they are looking to Airbnb to consider their options. In a new Airbnb survey, 44% of consumers across five countries are interested in trying out a new city before buying a home there, including 47% of Americans.

Specifically, 62% of US survey respondents who identify as Latinx and 50% who identify as Black — as well as 50% of Californians — are open to the idea of “try before you buy.”

Airbnb is partnering with nine U.S. organizations to support remote working initiatives. The company said it would continue to work with other organizations to support them in tapping into the remote working trend and promoting their communities.