Airbnb Eyes Premium Service
Airbnb is planning to launch a new premium service that could potentially position it to better compete with the hotel industry.
Citing sources familiar with the project, Bloomberg reported the home-sharing platform will list quality-inspected homes and apartments in a separate section on its website.
It's all aimed at attracting higher-paying travelers who are likely to be more comfortable with a hotel stay and perhaps unsure about Airbnb.
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According to CNN Tech, the company will utilize the expertise and reach of luxury vacation rental service Luxury Retreats, which it acquired earlier this year.
Sources say Airbnb inspectors will assess the quality of multiple aspects of a listing, including the furniture, Wi-Fi, television, mattress, linens, towels and toiletries before deeming a rental "premium." The team will also seek out other important amenities, including a refrigerator stocked with water and other basics as well as a clean and clutter-free sink.
The new service, which is being called "Select" (but still doesn't have an official name), could launch as a pilot program as early as this month, according to the sources.
Hosts who participate will get access to a professional photographer and an interior decorator who can help them maximize their space and enhance their listing.
Despite having called out Airbnb on numerous occasions and even devising a plan to combat the home-sharing industry's rise, the hotel sector doesn't appear to be fazed by Airbnb's latest venture.
"We're not concerned about competition. We're concerned about following the law," the American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AHLA) vice president of state and local government affairs Troy Flanagan told CNN Tech in a statement. "Competition is the hallmark of the hospitality industry."
Charging higher rates for premium rentals could mean a boost to Airbnb's revenue. The company was recently valued at $31 billion.
Source: Travel Pulse
