Airbnb Hires Jim Alderman as Head of Residential DevelopmentAirbnb Hires Jim Alderman as Head of Residential Development Airbnb has appointed Jim Alderman, former CEO of Radisson Hotel Group Americas, as its head of residential development for its real estate team. Alderman will lead the expansion of Airbnb’s for-sale partnership program, which enables condo developers to integrate short-term rentals into their properties. The program, which includes initiatives like West Eleventh Residences and District 225 in Miami, provides dedicated teams to assist residents with renting their units. Airbnb’s global head of real estate, Jesse Stein, commended Alderman’s extensive experience and networking abilities, stating, “We needed someone who could help scale the program.” This partnership program is distinct from Airbnb’s “Airbnb-Friendly” apartment program, which allows renters to sublet their apartments on the platform. According to Stein, the “Airbnb-friendly” program has experienced significant growth in recent months, reflecting Airbnb’s efforts to diversify its offerings. Initially focusing on Miami, Airbnb plans to expand its for-sale partnership model to other U.S. cities with Alderman’s guidance. Airbnb’s presence in the real estate sector underscores its ongoing efforts to establish a multifaceted platform that goes beyond its core short-term rental services.
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US: Airbnb has hired Jim Alderman, former CEO of Radisson Hotel Group Americas and chief development officer at Extended Stay America and Kimpton Hotels, as head of residential development for its real estate team.
Alderman, who has also held leadership roles at Wyndham Worldwide and Starwood Capital Group and was a principal at his own consulting firm, will report to Jesse Stein, Airbnb’s global head of real estate.
In his new role, he will be charged with developing and growing partnerships with condo developers as part of the for-sale partnership program, which launched several years ago in partnership with West Eleventh Residences and District 225 in Miami. The condo buildings in the partnership program will include short-term rentals and an in-house team that will help residents list their units and sort through turnovers between stays.
Stein said of Alderman’s appointment: “We needed someone who could help scale the program. He’s just a solid human being with a great Rolodex and probably one of the few people I know who can sell better than I can.”
The partnership with developers of for-sale apartments is separate from Airbnb’s “Airbnb-Friendly” apartment program, a listing service that launched in late 2022. The program works with apartment owners and allows renters to find a place to live and sublet it on Airbnb part-time when they’re not home.
According to Stein, the “Airbnb-friendly” apartment program has grown “exponentially” over the past 12 months and is part of the company’s effort to “normalize hosting across asset classes” and expand beyond its core offering.
For its latest partnership program, Airbnb is initially focusing on the Miami market, but will later expand the model to other U.S. cities with Alderman’s help.
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