Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky has opened his San Francisco house to guests who wish to stay in a private room with “panoramic views,” but there are no available dates.
Mr. Chesky, who established the firm in 2008 and has an estimated net worth of almost $12 billion, recently advertised his “thoughtfully furnished suite” as part of a push to encourage more individuals to rent out their spare rooms on the platform to make additional income during an economic downturn.
“Stay with me, the co-founder of Airbnb and the company’s first host. In the past, my roommate Joe and I inflated air beds and welcomed Michael, Kat, and Amol as guests,” he stated in the listing.
“I’ve upgraded from airbeds to a guest room in my home this time. You’ll spend time with me and my golden retriever, Sophie, while I share stories from the early days of Airbnb, or you may rest in your room, which is furnished with my favorite pieces of Airbnb history.”
The “thoughtfully crafted suite” of Brian Chesky is unavailable on Airbnb.
Airbnb
Guests will have access to a complete bathroom with a huge shower, a “spacious chef’s kitchen,” and a “sunny living area with floor-to-ceiling windows,” according to him.
However, he has subsequently been ridiculed for the PR gimmick, as it has been determined that there are no available days until October 2024, when the stay period expires.
“Another PR ploy by Brian, no inventory with a zero price tag. “Once again, you’ve made something unreachable,” a Twitter user said.
“No openings till 2024,” stated another.
However, the 41-year-old was quick to respond, stating on Instagram that he had “several weekends in January, February, and March, but they were already booked before I posted this.”
“However, I will continue to add weekends throughout the year,” he stated.
While some praised the listing as “amazing” and thanked the host for offering his house to strangers, others were disappointed to have missed out on the opportunity since all available slots looked to be filled.
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“Sounds amazing, but it appears there is no availability for 2023 and beyond?” Mr. Chesky responded to a tweet by saying he will “add more weekends shortly.”
Some individuals are so eager to remain at the property of the tech millionaire that they are prepared to purchase it.
“Is anyone willing to sell a slot?” one individual asked.
If you have any, please let me know since I would be willing to pay even 69x for it.
Mr. Chesky indicated that guests will receive “Chesky Chip Cookies” when they arrive at his San Francisco house.
He tweeted, “You’ll be given six cups of coffee before midday (just like me)”.
Alongside a photo of a gym, he wrote, “We will work out together and train till total muscular breakdown (after eating tons of cookies).”
He added that his residence is in close proximity to the Mission, Castro, and Noe Valley areas, which have “enough of fantastic stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.”
You will be within walking distance to Dolores Park, Bi-Rite ice cream, and the world-renowned Tartine bakery for fresh bread and pastries. Guests must also enjoy dogs. Or at the very least Sophie.”
The San Francisco suite by Brian Shesky has “panoramic vistas.”
Fast Company photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
Meanwhile, even hip hop superstar and shoe aficionado DJ Khaled will rent out a reproduction of his viral, legendary sneaker closet for $10.62 per night.
The booking period begins on November 29 at 1:00 p.m. EST.
“Sneakers have always played an IMPORTANT role in my life. Now, in celebration of the approaching release of my We The Best Air Jordan 5 line, I’m GRATEFUL for the opportunity to invite visitors to kick it in my sneaker kingdom,” DJ Khaled wrote in his ad.
He stated that guests will be able to sleep in his “famous” collection of sneakers.
“During their stay, tourists will have the opportunity to experience Miami like I do — epically. I’m pulling out all the stops, including a unique pair of We The Best Air Jordan 5s, a handmade welcome message, and the keys to the ultimate sneaker kingdom, where you’ll sleep among some of my most valued sneakers.”
Both postings are part of the firm’s winter promotions, as the company announced on Wednesday that it had a “disproportionate” 31 percent increase in single-room listings in the third quarter, as more individuals sought supplemental income in response to the rising cost of living.
According to Reuters, the firm reported an increase in property listings across all areas, without providing precise statistics, and it released an app update on Wednesday to facilitate the surge.
“We have observed an increase in the number of people interested in hosting to offset their living expenses,” Mr. Chesky added, as rising inflation caused by the Ukraine conflict strains household finances.
Reuters reported that almost 46 percent of Airbnb hosts said they used the additional money to pay for food and other necessities, while 10 percent claimed it helped them escape eviction or foreclosure, according to Airbnb.
Some prominent tourist locations, however, have accused Airbnb for worsening housing shortages, as landlords increasingly rent units to vacationers rather than long-term renters in response to a tourism boom. In an interview with Reuters, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk blamed rising borrowing rates for the scarcity of new properties, adding that it has been difficult for the business to adjust to consumers increasingly seeking homes outside of major cities.
Despite economic difficulties, the business predicts that extended visitor stays owing to remote working will continue to increase profitability, as travel demand shows no signs of abating.