Airbnb Plus is Here and it is Everything We Hoped For
The world's largest homestay company, Airbnb, has launched a new tier of property to their network and it may change the way you holiday forever.
The brand recently unveiled, Airbnb Plus, including higher-end accommodations that will offer reassurance to travelers who shy away from the risk of renting a stranger's home.
Airbnb Plus requires hosts to meet a 100-point quality checklist that also guarantees standard amenities one might typically find in a hotel. Travelers will no longer have to wonder about basic essentials such as if the kitchen will be fully stocked or if there will be clean sheets on the bed. Not to mention, the bathrooms will be stocked with toilet paper, two plush towels and toiletries such as shampoo as well as void of any personal items or any lingering cracks or mildew on the tiles and floors.
Plus brings forth a standardized style of service that is verified for quality and cleanliness, which is dedicated to cater to certain travelers that want predictability and certain comforts.
The consistent appeal of booking accommodation through Airbnb has been the idea that no single stay is the same- each home boasts it's own personality and vibe. However, within it's large and dispersed network- there has been a lack of quality control and challenges in maintaining levels of standardization within the company.
With the launch of Airbnb Plus, the company hopes to reach an untapped segment of travelers who have neglected to use Airbnb due to the surprise element of this individualized approach of booking through Airbnb's platform. “Every Airbnb Plus home is one-of-a-kind, thoughtfully designed, and equipped with a standard set of amenities — whether you’re in a private room or have the entire place to yourself,” reads the company’s website for Airbnb Plus. The quality standards were set in place after a team of employees conducted several hundred interviews of Airbnb's top-rated hosts thus discovering that these high ratings were earned by having well-stocked homes along with creating a consistent environment for their guests.
More than 2000 Airbnb Plus rentals were recently debuted as part of the company's 10th anniversary. The listings are live across 13 cities including Los Angeles, Toronto, Milan, Austin, Barcelona, London, Cape Town, Chicago, Milan, Rome, Sydney, Toronto, Melbourne, San Francisco and Shanghai. In comparison, the website's main platform has over 4.5 million listings in 81,000 cities. However, the luxury in comfort means higher prices of course- the average nightly rate of an Airbnb Plus rental is around $200, whereas a standard listing goes for an average rate of $100 per night.
Flat in Shanghai
Not every host qualifies to be Airbnb Plus certified. Airbnb says hosts of these upmarket properties must have a 4.8 out of 5-star rating or higher. And there's a process- aspiring Plus hosts must apply to be part of the program and pay a $149 application to have their homes accepted into the higher tier.
Once accepted, Airbnb Plus homes are visited and inspected in person to ensure comfort, consistency, and design. An Airbnb-hired photographer will capture professional-quality photos of the home and an inspector will determine if the home meets the required standards of the 100-point checklist.
Beachfront Apartment Malibu
In addition to the three main property types Airbnb already has, which includes shared spaces, private rooms and entire homes- the company's site has also vastly improved the guest experience by unveiling four new property types- vacation homes, boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, as well as distinctive properties such as tree houses, campers and yurts.
AIRBNB
Poolside home in Rome
Later this Spring, the homestay powerhouse plans to introduce Beyond by Airbnb, which offers a variety of high-end homes for travelers that prefer a more luxury experience. Airbnb Beyond will also include “custom-designed trips of a lifetime” at the “world’s finest homes, custom experiences, and world-class hospitality.”
Additionally, they plan to launch Airbnb Collections which will showcase homes for particular occasions or events. Whether it be a dinner party, honeymoon, group getaway, or wedding venue- Collections will have you covered so you can find that ideal destination by specifying the occasion through a refined search engine.