Airbnb, the app-based hospitality bookings company that enables people to lease out part or all of their private homes, will now work with travel agencies worldwide in Airbnb's business travel programme.
The new initiative, Airbnb for Business, aims to provide travelling business people with a 'home away from home'. All the Airbnb business listings available have upgraded their services and amenities to accommodate corporate travel.
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), BCD and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (all of which have a South African presence) will now integrate Airbnb when assisting corporates to book accommodation.
Airbnb says this is the first time travel agencies are offering it as an option to customers.
Each travel agency will incorporate Airbnb for Business differently.
American Express GBT will roll out the partnership in phases. At first, once GBT refers a customer to Airbnb, individual travellers can book accommodation directly on Airbnb.com using a corporate e-mail address. The first phase is expected to go live in the coming weeks and will expand to additional markets later this year.
BCD Travel is working with Airbnb for Business to provide corporate travel clients with data in a new security and risk management offering that can track the location and trip patterns of business travellers who book Airbnb listings.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel will add Airbnb to its business offerings, which it hopes will give travellers more options and flexibility.
Launched in 2008, Airbnb now has over two million homes listed and is available in 34 000 cities around the world.
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