A while back, Airbnb announced the launch of Airbnb Luxe, their highly anticipated luxury platform with over 2,000 select properties globally, including a $1m private island for those looking for something extra special and want to splash out a little more.
Homes on the platform have to meet strict criteria of quality, and have to be of superior design, contain excellent fixtures and fittings, as well as a kitchen that is kitted out with chef level appliances.
Those who book through the platform will be provided with a dedicated person to ensure a smooth check in and who also organises personalised and bespoke experiences and activities locally where you book. These may include the arranging of childcare and personal chef services and can even arrange in house massage therapists and also organise a personal trainer for those keep fit enthusiasts who don’t want to miss out on their regular exercise routines.
Some examples of the kind of places on offer include The Fleming Villa in Jamaica where Ian Fleming wrote the Bond novels; and Nukutepipi, a private French Polynesian island with its very own time zone that’s curated by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil and Lune Rouge.
As expected these places are not cheap. The five-bedroom Jamaican property starts from £3,500 per night, while staying on your own private island costs upwards of £100,000 a night, or £800,000 for a week (this includes accommodation of 52 guests).
Due to the growth in luxury travel and the appetite that people have now developed for luxury travel market, Airbnb decided this was a viable sector and has seen growth for bookings worth $1,000 per night increase more than 60% in the past year alone.
Carmen of Carmen’s Luxury Travel notes that today’s luxury traveller is looking for more than just top class accommodation. They’re also expecting an experience that goes beyond the usual trip and instead, provides more of a connected and focused experience of the destination.
She also stated that it seems Airbnb Luxe are applying the same proven template used when Airbnb first started out over a decade ago. It was all about creating local, amazing travel moments and a new way of experiencing global travel.
This new platform builds on the Airbnb Plus platform which launched back in 2018 as a booking platform for “regular Airbnb users looking for beautiful homes, exceptional hosts, and added peace of mind since the listed homes are inspected for quality and more importantly, verified in person by a representative of the company to make sure it’s clean, comfortable, and has a good design which follows the quality guidelines the company expects of its property owners.
The brand looks set to dominate the space because it provides something that fits everyone’s pocket and budget.
As for luxury accommodation, it offers the chance for more people to tickle their fancy by trying out some luxury in their travels and the market looks set to continue its growth as travel opens up more and more.
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