Founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia transformed the holiday rental market with the launch of Airbnb by offering travellers affordable overnight stays in homes around the world. Eleven years later, the tech start-up extends the same innovative approach to luxury travel with the launch of Airbnb Luxe, its highest-end offering yet.
With more than 2,000 handpicked homes around the world, Airbnb Luxe provides access to properties that are destinations in themselves, along with add-on services, elevated amenities and a 24/7 dedicated trip designer to elevate the luxury travel experience. Currently, available listings include The Fleming Villa in Jamaica where writer Ian Fleming penned his famous Bond novels, and Nukutepipi, an exclusive French Polynesian island with its own self-declared time-zone curated by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil and Lune Rouge.
The extension of Luxe follows Airbnb’s acquisition of Luxury Rentals in 2017, a company with expertise in luxury travel. Each luxury listing passes strict evaluation across 300+ criteria to meet standards in both design and function. Additionally, homes are evaluated by the overall experience they provide such as the medieval farm-to-table lifestyle offered at Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany.
If chateaux and chalets aren’t what you’re looking for, Airbnb Luxe also opens the door to unique homes in cities like London and Los Angeles with plans to add 12 more cities – including Milan, Paris and Austin – this year.
