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Are Business Travelers Using Airbnb?

This article is more than 6 years old.

While you might think that Airbnb is only for finding a place to stay for personal travel, the house-sharing network has gradually crept into the business travel arena since 2014. In fact, Airbnb has made a strong push in 2017. And, their efforts just might be paying off.

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Popularity of Airbnb Business Has Skyrocketed

Over 250,000 companies use Airbnb for business. In 2015, only 250 companies traveled with Airbnb. That's an extremely sharp increase in only two years! Even some of the largest companies including Alphabet, Inc. (Google) and Domino's Pizza.

Fortune 500 companies are on board with Airbnb travel and this is a very encouraging sign for Airbnb. While individual, self-employed business travelers have been using Airbnb for travel since their inception, attracting the interest of the largest companies means somebody can use Airbnb every week of the month. Not only when they take a weekend trip or go on vacation.

While 90% of Airbnb revenue stems from personal stays and tourism activities, over $296 billion is spent on corporate travel within the United States alone. Business travel is Airbnb's "next frontier" as they try to provide reasonably priced accommodations with a personal touch.

In fact, Airbnb has become such a popular travel option, Airbnb is more valuable than many longtime hotel brands.

It's true it's a negative that you can't earn hotel status or rewards points on stays, but it's still possible to earn and redeem rewards points on Airbnb stays.

Airbnb's Business Travel Ready

Airbnb has become a popular option for business travel for a few reasons:

  • You don't have to stay in a stale hotel room
  • Rates can be cheaper than a hotel stay
  • Easier to extend stay for personal travel for an extended weekend

Now, Airbnb lets you search for properties that are "Business Travel Ready" and will only show houses and apartments with internet, a laptop-ready workspace, 24/7 self-check-in, and travel essentials like hair dryers, shampoo, and an iron.

Airbnb also requires Business Travel Ready properties to be allergen-friendly. It's recommended that properties do not have pets and are smoke-free.

Finally, business-ready listings must also be an entire home or apartment. Business listings also require a specific number of positive reviews from established hosts.

A business trip might be the first time many people have stayed at an Airbnb property and they want to make sure they have everything they need for corporate travel which can be much different than casual personal travel for tourism.

Rent an Entire House For You or Your Team

As a tourist, you might use Airbnb to share a spare bedroom in a host's house. Business travelers using Airbnb can book an entire house or apartment just for themselves or to have multiple rooms for the rest of the team as well.

This allows the entire team to sleep under one roof which can be cheaper than separate hotel rooms. And, it also provides the opportunity to work in a common area work or have fun together.

For long-term projects, Airbnb business homes can also be more effective than extended stay hotels as you get an entire kitchen and a more home-like atmosphere. In short, business travelers prefer Airbnb for business travel because the accommodations can be more relaxing.

Once again, these houses are pet-free and smoke-free and provide the basic travel essentials you would find at a hotel. Experienced Airbnb guests and first-time Airbnb guest can come to expect hotel amenities with the Airbnb level of comfort.

Check-In Whenever You Arrive

If you travel after finishing work for the day, you might arrive at the Airbnb property at a late hour. As some hosts meet personal travelers at check-in, this could have been a deterrent for business travelers in the past.

Now, business travelers using Airbnb can check-in whenever they arrive because Business Travel Ready Listings are self-check-in. You can enter just by using a keypad, lock box, or a doorman that is on the premises at all times.

One-Click Expensing

Airbnb has also made it easier for business travelers that need to bill lodging expenses directly to the company instead of being reimbursed on their personal card. While some companies will still continue to contract with lodging companies that only work with hotels, other companies are more flexible as the corporate environment changes as millennial and Generation X workers climb the ladder and travel for business.

One-click expensing is another reason that over 250,000 companies have partnered with Airbnb for business travel.

Airbnb Has a Corporate Dashboard

For corporate clients, Airbnb also has rolled out a travel database that allows a travel manager to schedule travel reservations, pay invoices, and reimburse employees for their Airbnb stays. Airbnb knows that to attract business travelers, they have to make it easy for companies to pay for stays if they have policies prohibiting individual employees from booking a reservation.

Airbnb is Offering a Business Travel Credit

Airbnb

To sweeten the pot, Airbnb is also offering a travel credit after confirming your work email address and take your first business trip. After that, you will get a travel credit that can be used on your next Airbnb stay.

If you're responsible for booking your own travel on Airbnb, this is one of the very few ways you can get "free" money from Airbnb.

Booking a Business Trip on Airbnb

To book a business trip on Airbnb, you first need to register your work email address if your company has registered with Airbnb. After that, you can search properties that are Business Travel Ready to find a property that will provide the necessary work amenities and privacy without sacrificing the Airbnb experience.

As a first-time business traveler, you will receive a travel credit that will save you money on your next trip.

If you don't have a work address, perhaps you are self-employed, you can book a trip as usual. Booking it on a business credit card can make it easier to track your travel expenses for tax-time.

Summary

As more companies continue to join Airbnb to provide more travel options, it's inevitable that more business travelers will use Airbnb. While you might not be able to earn hotel rewards, the atmosphere that comes from staying at an actual house or apartment can be a worthy tradeoff. And, Airbnb is adding an extra incentive for business travelers with their travel credit promotions. Plus, it's still possible to earn and redeem rewards points on Airbnb stays.