Airbnb is set to launch a new service that will match high-paying guests with a luxe selection of apartments.
The eponymous holiday rental site wants to attract the kind of jet-setters who would normally be drawn to the amenities guaranteed by a decadent hotel, according to a report in Bloomberg.
The concept will launch as a pilot this week, several people close to the project say.
Airbnb will select a small group of top-ranking hosts who meet the criteria for luxurious apartments.
They'll send in inspectors to check the homes meet standards for the proposed high-end service, which include amenities such as matching bed linen to towels, and single use toiletries.
Hosts featured in the luxe edit will also be expected to provide coffee and tea-making facilities, of the kind commonly found in hotels.
Airbnb hosts who agree to participate in the scheme will benefit from perks such as free professional photography and a free interior design appraisal from Airbnb consultants.
The project has yet to be confirmed by Airbnb, but sources say it may be officially rolled out by the end of this year.
Featured apartments will appear in their own section of Airbnb's site and mobile app.
The brand is hoping that the development will lure a more lucrative type of client, who traditionally still eschew Airbnb for the quality guaranteed by world-famous hotel groups.
"The company has been encouraging hosts to behave more like hoteliers, but this is the first time premium rooms will be packaged into a distinct product with official inspections and incentives for participants," says Bloomberg.
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