Popular international rental service Airbnb Inc., is said to be in the planning stages for a premium “Airbnb Lux” version of its well established platform.
An official name has yet to be confirmed, but sources close to Bloomberg have advised that a new rental service for luxury mansions, mega-homes and penthouses will launch in some markets towards the end of the year.
This comes after Airbnb’s acquisition of Luxury Retreats, a Canadian company that before its sale hosted over 4000 properties in its portfolio. These luxury listings, as well as Airbnb’s new additions, will be held to a monitored standard, with regular inspections ensuring the houses meet the required “Lux” criteria.
When established, the luxury service will provide a generous revenue stream for the $31 billion USD company, as it pockets a percentage cost from each booking it brokers.
This service has been in the making for some time, with Airbnb hosting celebrities like Beyoncé and Selena Gomez at luxury Californian villas and homes for up to $10,000 USD per night, for them to then post about on social media.
