Airbnb to open NZ office as local listings gather pace

Airbnb has 1.2 million listings around the world. It has 6000 listings in New Zealand, double the number it had a year ago.

Airbnb has doubled the number of private accommodation places it has listed in New Zealand during the past year and is opening an office here to help service rapid growth.

Head of Airbnb NZ Sam McDonagh said establishing a base here was a vote of confidence in the market.

"When we go in to plant the flag it's a really important decision for us and that's really recognition by the group of the take-up by New Zealanders."

The seven-year-old company had 1.2 million listings around the world. It has 6000 listings in New Zealand, double the number it had a year ago.

Founded in 2008, with headquarters in San Francisco, Airbnb has listings in more than 191 countries and 34,000 cities.

New Zealanders were among the highest users of Airbnb, booking half a million nights in the past year.

The company was not trying to put hotels out of business, said McDonagh.

"Not at all. The demand for hotel rooms has never been higher - we've created commerce where there once wasn't. We think it's a very happy co-existence with the hotel industry."

Simon Milne, Professor of Tourism at AUT said Airbnb was another dimension of the tourism industry.

"That's the idea of linking community and a sense of place. What they've really tapped into is the desire of some visitors to link into local neighbourhoods and communities."

Those staying in Airbnb properties spend money in parts of cities that do not usually benefit from visitor spending.

Traditional hotels regarded Airbnb as another competitor although not directly pitted against them, Milne said. "I don't think the business traveller is going to be heavily tempted by the Airbnb option."

The Kiwi connection

Biggest Airbnb visitors to NZ by country:

1. US

2. Australia

3. UK

4. Germany

5. Canada

Biggest centres for Airbnb in NZ:
1. Auckland
2. Christchurch
3. Wellington
4. Queenstown
5. Dunedin