Airbnb is launching a new tier of properties - Airbnb Luxe - with 2,000 high-end properties around the world that come with the services of a dedicated concierge.
The launch of Airbnb Luxe is built on the company’s acquisition of Montreal-based Luxury Retreats in February 2017 and is an evolution of what had been called “Beyond by Airbnb.”
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced Beyond by Airbnb in February 2018 as the home of the platform’s luxury properties that came with custom trip-planning services.
But then rather than moving ahead with Beyond by Airbnb, the company says it decided to capitalize on its two existing brands - Airbnb and Luxury Retreats - and rename the luxury tier Airbnb Luxe.
On Airbnb Luxe, travelers will find a curated subset of Luxury Retreat’s 5,000 properties, selected after being evaluated on more than 300 criteria for both design and function, such as premium materials and finishes, rare and unique features, chef-grade appliances and the ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms.
Guests booking a Luxe property also will have access to what Airbnb is calling a “trip designer," an employee of Luxury Retreats available to book everything from airport transfers and car rentals to childcare, chef and spa services and activities and experiences - including ones not offered on Airbnb's Experiences platform.
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