Airbnb Releases An Iconic New Category For Rentals
Airbnb is bringing extraordinary experiences from the world’s greatest icons from music, films, sports to life.
On May 1st, Airbnb announced it’s newest rental category, Icons. Icons, gives guests the chance to stay in some of the world’s most iconic homes to experience places that only existed in their imaginations. Now, there will be more iconic experiences than ever before, available to book right through their app. With 11 new ‘Icons’ coming this season, Airbnb is bringing experiences from the world’s greatest icons to life.
So where did this new idea come from? Ten years ago, the two founders of Airbnb were walking through Ikea when something clicked. They really liked the look of the Ikea bedroom they were in and thought it could be a cool place to list on their site. Stay overnight in an Ikea? Sure, why not?! So they made it happen. They recreated an exact replica of the room that inspired the idea and listed it on Airbnb. When a family actually rented it out, shared it and people started talking, they knew they were on to something.
Fast forward to 2023, they revisited this concept of renting out a really bizarre, fun, unexpected location. Tapping into their own nostalgia, they decided to reach out the owner of the last Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon to see if she was interested in their outrageous idea. Well, as you can imagine, she said yes and then the ball got rolling. And it continued. Next was a Barbie Dreamhouse in Malibu. Then Ted Lasso’s favorite pub in the UK!
People were absolutely loving it, so Airbnb saw a great opportunity. They wanted to give more guests a chance to stay somewhere absolutely iconic. Alas, Icons was born.
Airbnb Officially Launches Icons
The current Icon experiences are listed in the App (or online) and marked with a ‘Live’ icon. You will also see the next release, with a countdown on when the booking requests will become available. The price for these experiences and the Hosts are posted as well.
All of the experiences look amazing, but some stand outs to us are the X-Mansion where you can train at Xavier’s Institute for Higher Learning. Experience a real ’90s sleepover with an unforgettable mutant orientation filled with training, experiments, and secret missions. Hang out in radical dorms, including Wolverine’s and Jubilee’s awesome bedroom. There are over 100 pieces of unique X-Men memorabilia. It’s located in New Castle, New York, and the mansion accommodates 8 guests in 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.
Experience the magic of “Up” by staying in Carl’s iconic house. And yes, it actually levitates! You’ll get the chance to immerse yourself in the whimsical atmosphere of Carl and Ellie’s home, filled with mementos from their adventures. From the cozy interior to the breathtaking views outside, you’ll feel like a part of their unforgettable journey. As part of the experience, you get to embark on your own adventure and create memories that will lift your spirits, just like Carl’s house soaring through the sky.
And the Ferrari Museum where you can enjoy a luxurious stay in Maranello, the home of Ferrari, with VIP treatment curated by Marc Gene. Accommodations include a space for two with access to a bedroom, bathroom, and exclusive experiences. You’ll be greeted by Marc Gene himself at the premier racing event, complete with VIP tickets. You also get to enjoy a gourmet dinner at Cavallino. In the morning, you’ll ride with Marc on the Pista di Fiorano in a Ferrari 296 GTB.
In order to book one of these experiences, you’ll have to request to book it. Once you do so, you’ll be asked to complete a short questionnaire, asking your preference of date and why you want to participate in the experience. (So, if you see something that strikes a chord with you, make sure you add that to your message.) Airbnb will review the entries and send a special invitation to the guests they chose via email and also through a notification in the app. Invitees have 24 hours to respond and confirm their booking.
So which iconic experience are you hoping Airbnb bring around next? We can’t wait to see. If you want to learn more about each of the experiences, you can check out the news release.
