
This Airbnb guest house in Santa Monica lists for $160 a night. (Image: Airbnb)
Do you hesitate to book an Airbnb stay because you’re not sure that it will provide all the comforts and amenities that you know you’ll get at a hotel? Airbnb is working on a way to change your mind.
According to a Bloomberg News report, Airbnb is planning a pilot program that would create a new category of luxury properties. The new category could give the home-sharing netowrk a way to attract affluent consumers and business travelers who haven’t yet tried Airbnb.
The company would use a team of property inspectors armed with a checklist of all the special touches that an upscale customer might reasonably expect. Properties that pass the inspection would be eligible for inclusion in the new luxury category, with priority placement on its website and its app.
The company is using the name Airbnb Select for the test program, although a permanent identity hasn’t yet been firmed up.
Airbnb will pick potential Select properties based on the quality reviews they have received from customers. Hosts will have the option of whether or not to subject themselves to the inspection.
If they agree and are approved for inclusion in the luxury category after a property inspection, hosts would be eligible for special benefits from their Airbnb membership, like having a professional photographer take pictures of the property for the Airbnb website, and having access to a consultation with an interior decorator provided by Airbnb.
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