Airbnb appoints country manager for Australia and New Zealand

Airbnb has announced the appointment of Sam McDonagh as country manager for Australia and New Zealand, in a move to boost local awareness of the accommodation company.

A native from Perth, McDonagh has over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles at companies including eBay and iiNet. He also co-founded Quickflix in 2003.

McDonagh will also be a tasked with ensuring Airbnb is providing Australian customers with unique travel experiences within Australia and around the world.

“Australia and New Zealand are incredibly important markets for Airbnb both in terms of domestic and international travel,” says Varsha Rao, head of global operations at Airbnb.

“Sam has a deep passion for travel and a great track record growing companies that are focused on strong customer communities, which will make him a great asset to Airbnb.”

According to Airbnb, it is experiencing rapid growth in the region with the number of Australian listings on the platform more than doubling in the last year alone.

Inbound travellers to Australia and New Zealand are also increasingly using the service to secure unique accommodation experiences, with the number of guests booking through Airbnb more than tripling year on year.

McDonagh will be based in Sydney and will be focused on supporting the local team in strategic initiatives and partnerships to further develop and grow Airbnb in the market.

Follow StartupSmart on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.