Airbnb has become much more popular than hotels in recent years, mostly due to lower costs. However, many are still looking for hotel-level accommodations.
It’s hard to believe, but Airbnb has been around for nearly a decade. The company began with two lowly inflatable mattresses on the living room floor of a San Francisco flat. Much in the same vein as Couchsurfing (a site that literally matches travelers with couches to sleep on), Airbnb’s ethos seemed indelibly set — the perfect alternative to budget hotel stays.
Today, the company boasts 4.5 million listings in more than 81,000 cities around the world. In many ways, they’ve grown up, and so have their customers who are outgrowing that pared-down, “any-bed’ll-do” style of travel. Many are now seeking all the charm and authenticity of crashing in a local home, but with all the creature comforts and modern conveniences of a traditional hotel. Enter Airbnb Plus and Beyond by Airbnb, two new services designed to, in the company’s words, make “Airbnb for everyone.”
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