Analysts believe that the luxury travel market is worth more than US $200 billion and poised to grow in the years ahead, so it’s no surprise to hear that Airbnb has tapped into this market with the launch of Airbnb Luxe. The company’s research shows increasing demand among Airbnb guests for luxury properties and experiences: in 2018, the number of Airbnb bookings for listings worth at least $1,000 per night increased more than 60 per cent.
The Airbnb Luxe concept is also set to land in the Middle East, although no listings have been revealed yet. The Middle East would certainly be a potential revenue-generator for this luxury tier of properties, especially given that, according to Airbnb’s data, Dubai is the only GCC city trending as a wedding destination.
With homes that are destinations in themselves, travellers can stay at incredible places, including award-winning homes in New Zealand and South Africa, castles in France (such as the one pictured above) and historic villas in Tuscany. Literary fans can seek inspiration at The Fleming Villa in Jamaica, where Ian Fleming wrote his famous spy novels. Others may prefer complete privacy by booking their own French Polynesian island, owned by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil.
Airbnb Luxe is built on the expertise in luxury travel Airbnb gained from its acquisition of Luxury Retreats in 2017. This new tier launches with more than 2,000 handpicked homes around the world, each one passing strict evaluation across more than 300 criteria to meet standards in both design and function.
www.airbnb.com