Airbnb Launches a New Service for the Superrich
Airbnb, the Silicon Valley unicorn created in 2008 to disrupt the hotel industry and provide affordable lodging, is getting into the luxury travel space. Yesterday, the company announced the launch of Airbnb Luxe, a new portfolio of more than 2,000 ultra high-end homes and villas in places like French Polynesia, Indonesia, Cape Town, New Zealand, and Morocco. (The move into the one percent tier was somewhat expected-back in 2017, Airbnb acquired vacation rental company Luxury Retreats.)
And it's not just breathtaking properties that Airbnb Luxe is offering. There will also be 24/7 concierge and VIP support, and the services of well-trained trip designers to coordinate all aspects of your stay, from seamless check-in to bespoke experiences. Fancy a private chef, personal trainer, or an in-house masseuse? They can all be arranged, too. More than 300 criteria must be met for a home to be listed on Airbnb Luxe. Great design is one (premium materials and unique features, for example), along with chef-grade appliances and spaces to accommodate groups (girls trip, anyone?).
“With Airbnb Luxe we are applying the same approach we’ve used since we launched Airbnb more than 11 years ago-creating local, authentic, and magical travel moments now in amazing places to stay-to reimagine the way people think and experience luxury travel,” said CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky.
In French Polynesia, for $142,426 per night (that's nearly $1 million for the week), you get your own private island, plus a robust staff that includes a chef, a massage therapist, a captain, activity coordinators, and a doctor. In Jamaica, for a slightly more affordable $4,455 per night, you can stay in the five-bedroom villa where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels. There are also homes to be found under $1,000. A few villas in Tuscany, for example, can be rented for around $700 per night.
And here's another perk of Airbnb Luxe: the vetting process is so high you'll never run the risk of having a less than stellar experience.
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