Cover Airbnb’s new literary experiences let you chat with bestselling authors. (Photo: Courtesy of Fabiola Peñalba via Unsplash)

The book-inspired experiences will also include literary cocktails and children’s book readings

Despite the fact that it’s not exactly feasible to book an Airbnb stay in a far flung destination at the moment, the travel hospitality brand is still brainstorming creative ways to offer a little culture and comfort from home.

In honor of World Book Day on April 23, Airbnb is launching a collection of literary-inspired virtual experiences created for all ages and literary tastes, from children’s crafts to therapeutic book clubs and cocktail classes.

Particularly noteworthy events include the “Tequila Mockingbird Cocktail Making Class” where participants will learn to make classic literary-inspired cocktails, including the Gin Austen and Treasure Island: Pirates & Rum. Always wanted to start a novel? Romantic suspense novelist Katy Lee will be sharing a career’s worth of tips and tricks in “Novel Writing with a Bestselling Author.”

The new literary experiences will range from US$7 to $50 with proceeds from select experiences going toward supporting small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as non-profit organisations committed to literary arts.

This isn’t the first time Airbnb released online entertaining content for the quarantine. The company recently launched Online Experiences, which allows would-be travelers to book a virtual adventure on Zoom with hosts from around the world, including cooking with a family in Morocco or meditating with Buddhist monks.

“Human connection is at the core of what we do,” says Catherine Powell, Head of Airbnb Experiences, in a press release. “With so many people needing to stay indoors to protect their health, we want to provide an opportunity for our hosts to connect with our global community of guests in the only way possible right now, online.”

Airbnb has also partnered with local organisations around the world to help provide similar experiences for particularly vulnerable communities around the world, including SAGE, the world’s largest organisation committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people and Amigos de los Mayores, an organization that combats loneliness and social isolation among the elderly in Spain, to name a few.

The Airbnb Online Experience for World Book Day launches on April 23. More information and a full list of experiences is available at Airbnb.com.

See also: Where To Get Books Delivered To Your Home In Hong Kong