Airbnb has announced a major expansion to their experiences portfolio with Icons, interactive hosting journeys that will allow fans to step inside a world of film, television, music, sports and more.
The company, known for helping customers find comfortable places to stay during their vacation, aims to introduce something new and exciting. The first eleven Icon experiences were announced this morning in Los Angeles. “Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.”
Most of the Icon experiences will be available for free, and the ones that will be priced will always be available for booking for less than $100 (USD). Starting today, users can submit their booking requests for the Icon experiences. If selected from the entire request pool, they will receive a digital golden ticket. 4,000 digital golden tickets will be handed out by Airbnb this year alone, allowing their broad customer base to create unforgettable memories in an Icon experience. The selection system, designed to add an element of surprise, will allow luck to decide when a party can enter a world of entertainment with the Icons, offering unique vacations for free or at a low cost.
Three of the first eleven Icon experiences presented this morning in Los Angeles were based on the following stories: Up, X-Men ‘97 and Inside Out 2. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in Carl Fredricksen’s (Ed Asner) house, which will feature more than 8,000 balloons and will be located in Abiquiu, New Mexico. When it comes to the Marvel Studios animated series that has been taking over Disney+ for the past few weeks, guests will be able to book a stay at a 2D animated re-creation of the X-Mansion in Westchester, New York, where they’ll discover their mutant abilities and even train in the Danger Room. Finally, another icon experience will invite users to stay in the headquarters, as seen in the Inside Out movies, where Joy (Amy Poehler) and the rest of the emotions are seen helping Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) with her daily life.
But Icons also goes beyond film and television, offering experiences worldwide focused on different aspects of the entertainment industry. Other experiences presented today include a night inside the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, where guests can take a lap with Scuderia Ferrari ambassador driver Marc Gené and head to Emilia-Romagna’s premier race as a VIP. A different Icon will open up the possibility of joining Kevin Hart at the Coramino Live Lounge for an A-list evening featuring other notable names from comedy. And suppose users are in the mood for a romantic night in France. In that case, the Musée d’Orsay Icon will offer a spot to witness the historic Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along the River Seine, with the lucky winners staying in the museum’s iconic clock room after it’s transformed by Mathieu Lehanneur, designer of the Paris 2024 Games torch and cauldron.
Icons will also be bold and tap into the music industry, with an experience introducing the winners to Doja Cat for a private concert where the artist will perform some of her biggest hits and tunes from her latest album. For the first time, the Minneapolis featured in Purple Rain will be open to the public, where guests will experience a private studio session. Icons will offer something for everyone, so TikTok sensation Khaby Lame invites gamers to play Fortnite Battle Royal with him in Milan, Italy. An entire week with Fied during his FERXXOCALIPSIS World Tour is also on the table, and a visit to Bollywood’s Janhvi Kapoor’s house could also become a reality for the fortunate digital golden ticket holders.
Icons are just a fragment of what Airbnb has prepared for their 2024 Summer Release, which will introduce new features for groups that travel together. Shared wishlists will allow users of the same group to share rental options and ideas and write notes, making it easier for everyone to organize their trip. A new message tab will also keep the entire party in touch with their Airbnb host. And finally, trip invitations can be sent out to other travelling party members, which will feature the full address, Wi-Fi password, and check-in instructions for their current experience.
Icons will appear on the Airbnb homepage starting today, and to summarize, here are the first eleven experiences that were announced this morning:
- A Night at the Ferrari Museum
- VIP with Kevin Hart
- The X-Mansion From X-Men ’97
- Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games from the Musée d’Orsay
- Living Room Session with Doja Cat
- Prince’s Purple Rain House
- Gaming with Khaby Lame
- On Tour with Feid
- Live like Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor
- The Headquarters From Inside Out 2
- The House From Up