Hunting down the right flat for your next escape is just like finding the right watch on Netflix after you’ve scrolled through every category twice: long and difficult. That said, life might get a little easier for some as Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky, revealed soon opening a temporary new category dubbed Icons.
Promising a curated selection of dreamy getaways typically unattainable, 11 new listings are expected to make their way onto the platform, granting access to some of the world’s most exclusive and extraordinary accommodations. To secure a night at one of these highly sought-after spots, Chesky explained that users will be asked to complete a form detailing their interest. From these submissions, approximately 4,000 winners will be handpicked by the California-based company and handed the opportunity to book whichever lodging they were after at discounted rates.
“Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination– until now. As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth,” Chesky told CNN.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the digital brokering website would have first gotten the idea for this new venture after observing the immense success surrounding a Barbie-themed house in Malibu, California, which was coincidently listed at the same time as the doll’s latest movie. While it remains uncertain whether that property will become available again, reports suggest that selected participants will have the opportunity to spend the night either at the Orsay Museum in Paris, a house owned by Prince, or at the real-life replica of Disney’s Up house (which won’t fly but can be lifted by a crane).
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
“You get the entire museum all to yourself. This is literally night at the museum,” the 42-year-old said. “It gets even better because you step outside the bedroom onto the terrace, you have the single best seat in the house for the opening ceremony” of the forthcoming edition of the Olympic Games, which will take place on the River Seine.
What’s more, it appears that the rental company also plans to enlist a rich slate of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. These include a living room performance by American rapper Doja Cat and an evening with comedian Kevin Hart in his members-only lounge, among many others.
As of now, the company has remained tight-lipped about the financial resources needed to secure rights, refurbish properties, and compensate involved celebrities. Nevertheless, considering Airbnb’s impressive revenue last year, which left them with a hefty cash reserve of $6.9 billion by the end of 2023, they undoubtedly appear well-equipped to proceed with the endeavor and perhaps, who knows, even extend it from temporary to long-term.
