SUCCESS & LEADERSHIP SERIES: Disruptive Economy - Airbnb - Sam McDonagh

Disruptive Economy: Airbnb - connecting people with experiences

More than 80 million guests have used Airbnb since it was founded in San Francisco in 2008. The unique accommodation offering now operates in more than 34,000 cities and 191 countries.

The business was valued at around $US25 billion last year, making it a serious competitor for the established hotel and accommodation players worldwide.

Brought up in Western Australia, Sam McDonagh is no stranger to innovative businesses that challenge the incumbents in traditional markets.   

Airbnb Australia and NZ head Sam McDonough has 20 years' management experience across Australia, Asia and the US, and will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the company in Western Australia, as the state targets tourism as a growth sector in an otherwise sluggish economy.