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Airbnb ramps up 2020 IPO plans amid management reshuffle
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Airbnb has undergone another management reshuffle in preparation for the revival of its initial public offering [IPO] plans later this year. CEO and co-founder, Brian Chesky, this week confirmed in an internal meeting that Greg Greeley, head of Airbnb’s core rental accommodation business Homes, would be stepping down. In addition, head of Experiences, Catherine […]
Chesky shares vision for post-pandemic travel “redistribution”
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has this week reiterated that the global travel industry will “never be the same again” as it was pre-pandemic, and that not only will tourists travel more within their countries but they will also look to visit and explore less-publicised tourist destinations. While initially hesitant to make any concrete predictions […]
World Travel and Tourism Council unveils rental protocols
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: The World Travel and Tourism Council [WTTC] has unveiled a new set of safe travelling protocols, covering attractions, car hires, and short-term rentals. This third phase of measures is part of the council’s ‘Safe Travels’ initiative, hoping to reduce risk and bolster consumer confidence. The WTTC, which represents the travel industry private sector, held […]
Airbnb adds further virtual experiences
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Following the launch of its Online Experiences program in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb is adding a further set of immersive, virtual experiences for members to learn a new activity during the ongoing lockdown period. Airbnb initially launched the program to offer more than 400 activities for guests to try something new […]
Airbnb refuses to rule out IPO this year after rebound
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Airbnb is refusing to rule out the possibility of moving ahead with its initial public offering [IPO] by the end of the year, after the process was initially scheduled to begin on 31 March. It comes as the company reports a recent surge in bookings for listings across the United States between 17 May […]
My take on Chesky: Handling of layoffs proves empathy belongs anywhere
Reading Time: 11 minutesUS: Three months ago, Airbnb had more than three million hosts and seven million listings worldwide. CEO and co-founder, Brian Chesky, stood on the cusp of taking the company public. The San Francisco-based startup that launched in 2008 as a “couch surfing” letting service [AirBed and Breakfast] has since expanded into a travel behemoth that […]
Airbnb appoints Bunch as global head of operations
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb has announced the appointment of Tara Bunch as its new global head of operations, a role which has been left vacant since previous COO Belinda Johnson stepped down to join the company’s board in March. In her new role, Bunch will oversee Airbnb’s customer service, trust and safety and payments teams, and will […]
Airbnb to trim workforce by 25 per cent
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Airbnb is laying off 1,900 team members – or 25 per cent of its global workforce – and slashing its investment in hotels and its luxury business ventures in a move to help the travel behemoth survive the coronavirus crisis. In addition, it will put a “pause” for the time being at least on […]
Chesky: Airbnb to improve host relations by facilitating “human connections”
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: In an interview with Skift CEO and founder, Rafat Ali, Airbnb co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky, has outlined how he intends to forge better relations with its hosts to become a facilitator of “human connections”, as well as how the platform will incorporate more extended stays in the future post-pandemic. Speaking on The Long […]
Airbnb secures further $1 billion loan
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Just one week after raising $1 billion in funding from the likes of Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners, Airbnb has secured a further $1 billion loan in senior debt, reportedly through the same private equity firms, as well as Apollo Global Management, Oaktree Capital Management and Owl Rock. The emergency finance injection, coming […]