Airbnb Inc.
Airbnb Inc., based out at San Francisco, California, United States, it is an American online marketplace and hospitality service brokerage company. Members use the service to arrange or offer lodging, primarily homestays, or tourism experiences. The company absolutely act as a broker, receiving commissions from each booking.
AirBnb is a shortened version of its original name, AirBedandBreakfast.com. The company was conceived after its founders, roommates and former schoolmates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia put an air mattress in their living room, effectively turning their apartment into a bed and breakfast, in order to offset the high cost of rent in San Francisco;
Initially the goal was just “to make a few bucks” to manage the rent of the place. However, in February 2008, Nathan Blecharczyk, Chesky’s former roommate, joined as the Chief Technology Officer and the third co-founder of the new venture, which they named AirBed & Breakfast. They then put together a website offering short-term living quarters, breakfast, and a unique business networking opportunity for those who were unable to book a hotel in the saturated market.
The site Airbedandbreakfast.com officially launched on August 11, 2008. The founders had their first customers in town in the summer of 2008, during the Industrial Design Conference held by Industrial Designers Society of America, where travelers had a hard time finding lodging in the city.
In February 2011, Airbnb announced its 1,000,000th night booked. And the number went to 10,000,000th night booked in June 2012. Airbnb first became profitable during the second half of 2016 when its revenue grew more than 80% from 2015 to 2016.
The company is in the process of expansion, as the company is considering to launch an airline besides all other ventures.
Airbnb Inc. Official Website → www.airbnb.com