Airbnb Follows Microsoft Again, Hires T. Dallas Smith For Atlanta Office Search
The man who helped bring Microsoft to Atlanta has been tasked with finding Airbnb a metro-area office as well.
T. Dallas Smith & Co. CEO Dallas Smith has been tapped by Airbnb to search for space for the short-term rental platform. Dallas also represented Microsoft in its headline-making purchase of 90 acres next to Westside Park from former Major League Baseball All-Star Mark Teixeira, where the tech giant plans to develop a corporate campus over the next 10 years.
Last month, Airbnb announced that it planned to establish its Atlanta Technical Hub in the city, which would be a regional base for hundreds of technical and non-tech jobs.
“From our first meeting, we were impressed by the T. Dallas Smith & Company team’s insights, experience and passion for the City of Atlanta,” an Airbnb press release stated. “We share an interest in strengthening communities, and supporting entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses, and we are thrilled to work together with T. Dallas Smith & Company to find a physical home for Airbnb in Atlanta.”
Calls to Smith weren't returned as of press time.
Airbnb and Microsoft are two of the latest companies that have announced large new projects in Metro Atlanta. Papa John's is spending upward of $20M to move its headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Cobb County. Zillow picked Atlanta in 2019 for a regional operations hub. Norfolk Southern moved its headquarters from Virginia to Atlanta in 2018. BlackRock, Anthem, Honeywell and Deluxe Corp. have all opened tech innovation centers in Atlanta over the past few years.
Most recently, Swiss human resources giant Adecco announced plans to move its headquarters from Jacksonville to Atlanta.
In its release, Airbnb did not reveal where it is looking for office space nor how many square feet. Airbnb did indicate its initial choice for an office may not be a permanent one.
“We intend to establish a physical space in Atlanta later this year where we can begin to build our team while we work to identify a location for our long-term home,” the company's release read. “As part of our search, we will evaluate locations in Atlanta which will be convenient to the talent we hope to attract and where our presence will make a positive impact on the surrounding community.”
