Airbnb Is Reportedly Launching a Luxury Service for Affluent Customers

It looks like Airbnb is setting its sights on a more extravagant market. As Bloomberg and The Verge report, Airbnb Inc. is planning to launch an “ultra-premium tier” known tentatively as Airbnb Lux. For those wealthy consumers seeking to use Airbnb’s luxury service, lavish penthouses, mansions, and other high-end homes will be available for their choosing. Airbnb will begin testing their “Lux” service in select markets by the end of 2017; if everything goes as planned, Airbnb Lux will see a more widespread rollout in the near future. Via Bloomberg:

“The new tier is fancier — penthouses versus apartments, mansions versus family homes. It’s known internally as “Airbnb Lux,” but an official name has yet to be determined, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss a private matter. Its creation follows Airbnb’s acquisition earlier this year of Luxury Retreats, a Canadian company that before its sale listed more than 4,000 villas and vacation homes. Those listings are not yet featured as a separate section on Airbnb’s website.”

Late last year, Airbnb revealed plans to add to the brand with Airbnb Trips.