ONCE merely a
platform linking
travellers to home
owners keen to rent out
their accommodation to
holiday-makers, Airbnb has
just moved one step closer
to establishing itself as an
end-to-end travel platform.
The company has
appointed an aviation
industry heavyweight, Fred
Reid, as global head of
transportation.
“We are focused on
reimagining travel by
building an end-to-end
travel platform that
combines where you stay,
what you do, and how you
get there, all in one place,”
the company said in a
February statement.
While the company hasn’t
given details of its future
plans, flights are on the
horizon.
“There was a time when
getting on a plane was a
magical trip of its own, but
over the years, how you
get to where you’re going
has become an experience
we endure, not enjoy.
We believe that needs
to change,” said Airbnb
co-founder, Brian Chesky.
Fred commented:
“Whether in the air or
on the ground, there are
tremendous opportunities
to create products and
forge partnerships with
other companies that
make travel easier and
even fun.”
Last year, senior
industry manager
Hospitality at Google,
Paul Godman, said at the
Deloitte European Hotel
Investment Conference in
London that Airbnb was
the most searched-for
accommodations brand
online, replacing Booking.
com.
While this development
could help position Airbnb
as an OTA with an end-toend travel offering, it is
not a new threat to travel
agents, who already face
competition on the OTA
space, says XL Travel ceo,
Marco Ciocchetti.
“It might be additional
competition, but it won’t
concern agents more
than the likes of Expedia
or Trivago,” he says.
Moreover, Marco expects
that there will be a limited
market attracted to the
new offering, largely from
people already using the
platform.
