After years of playing the new kid on the block who won’t stop shaking things up, Airbnb raises the ante. Whereas the original platform works with private home owners, the new Airbnb Plus will be working with higher-end accommodations.
Simply put, the new service will work with Airbnb service providers that meet the brand’s specific standardised style of service. Airbnb will provide a ‘verified for quality’ seal for accommodations that offer amenities that usually found in hotels.
“All Airbnb Plus homes will undergo personal inspection to ensure comfort, consistency, and design. They will also be measuring against a list of 100+ things that guests told us they love. This includes must-have amenities to the art on the walls,” states the newly launched website.
The service launches this week and is now live with more than 2,000 listings in 13 cities. This includes the following:
- Austin
- Barcelona
- Cape Town
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- London
- Melbourne
- Milan
- Rome
- San Francisco
- Shanghai
- Sydney
- Toronto
Accommodations on Airbnb Plus will start from an average price of US$200. As most will know, Airbnb prices hover around US$100 per night.
On top of launching Airbnb Plus, the platform will now also recognise hotels. This shift in policy will mostly focus on boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. The move will see these two operations receive proper classification and will allow them to feature on travel sites like Expedia and Priceline.
Of course, it’s all about how Airbnb raises the ante.
Airbnb will be labeling these new entries as vacation homes and B&Bs. Both will join the other categories in the coming months. There will be a new segment as well, called ‘Unique’, featuring mobile homes and off-beat accommodations.
Just because it can, Airbnb is also rolling out Airbnb Beyond. This is the luxury tier for the platform and is the result of the Luxury Retreats acquisition. This offer will feature custom-designed trips at selected luxurious locations that offer world-class hospitality.
If anything, Airbnb is digging deep to set itself up as a true agent of disruption. With many asking what’s next for these shifting paradigms, this is the best answer yet.
