So, there’s a good chance you missed the company’s latest, more trivial update. But hotel owners sure didn’t.
What happened?
Yesterday Airbnb announced a partnership with three travel management companies -American Express Global Business Travel, BCD Travel, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
Those companies will now funnel their clients (which include IBM, McKinsey, and Microsoft) to Airbnb’s new corporate-focused platform, Airbnb for Business.
Uh-oh, hotels…
Last year Carlson Wagonlit Travel handled $24.2 billion in sales, with 92% coming from corporate bookings. AmEx GBT did $30 billion. BCD did $23.8 billion.
That’s Airbnb’s money now.
Growing up
On top of that, this signals that the “typical” Airbnb customer has changed. Just a few years ago Airbnb was for casual vacationers, college students abroad, and honeymooners.
Now, it’s for men and women on business trips, leaving the hotel industry with, well, I’m not sure…Division III soccer teams playing away games?
This article originally appeared at: http://thehustle.co/daily?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hero