Skift Take

A new loyalty program coming from Airbnb may be the final straw that gets business travelers to switch to the service.

Series: Business of Loyalty

Travel Loyalty News

The Skift Business of Loyalty covers the world of hotel, airline, and other consumer loyalty programs in the travel industry. Read more coverage of loyalty here.

Buried among the flurry of announcements at Airbnb’s event in San Francisco last week was some good news for frequent travelers: The home and tours and activities company plans to launch a loyalty program this summer.

News of the upcoming Superguest program should be a godsend for some frequent travelers who prefer the boutique experience of home rentals but can’t pry themselves away from the rich rewards offered by Starwood Preferred Guest, World of Hyatt, or Hilton Honors.

As to whether the perks of Airbnb’s Superguest program will be similar to those of a hotel chain, it’s still unclear. One thing Airbnb said is that Superguest members will get priority access to Airbnb concerts.

According to reporting from Skift’s Deanna Ting, most of the program perks aren’t yet public but will potentially include “discounts, last-minute bookings, and access to exclusive listings.”

The good news is that Airbnb is finally starting to take hardcore business travelers seriously.

— Grant Martin

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Air Canada Introduces Basic Economy Fares: Unlike with American and United, Air Canada isn’t restricting carry-on limits for basic economy passengers. Furthermore, with the exception of not being eligible for upgrades, all other elite benefits apply, including the ability to select economy seats at no charge.

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Tags: airbnb, loyalty

Photo credit: An Airbnb host (left) greeting a guest. The company plans to introduce its first loyalty program in a few months. Airbnb / Airbnb

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