Airbnb has reported a significant jump in the number
boutique hotel and bed-and-breakfast accommodations available on its platform.
Since ramping up efforts to grow its hotels listings a year
ago, the company has reported a 152% increase in listings categorized as
boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels.
Airbnb also claims that nearly 90% of guests who use Airbnb
to book a hotel room have returned to the platform to book a hotel room or an
entire home rental for a subsequent trip. Hotels booked on the platform have
received an average guest rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Airbnb said that the expanded hotel inventory has made it "easier
for consumers to use Airbnb to find last-minute accommodations when home hosts
are already booked."
Airbnb's push into the hotels sector comes as industry
analysts question the company's ability to maintain rapid inventory growth
ahead of its expected IPO later this year.