Flight Centre, Airbnb pact

FLIGHT Centre and Airbnb today announced a new alliance ( TD breaking news) which will see FCTG corporate clients offered Airbnb accommodation options.

The formal agreement follows a successful trial conducted by Flight Centre with one of its clients over the last few months, in which travellers rated the Airbnb experience 4.76 out of 5 stars, with an average daily rate of just $80.

Airbnb listings will be available to Campus Travel and Stage and Screen in the next few weeks, and will then roll out progressively to Corporate Traveller and FCM Travel Solutions.

Flight Centre executive gm of corporate travel, Andrew Flannery, said the deal would bolster the company’s offering, providing interesting new options which would appeal to a section of the Flight Centre customer base.

“It will also benefit our corporate customers who are travelling to locations where there may currently be an under- supply of suitable hotel rooms,” Flannery added.

Under the agreement Flight Centre consultants will have access to Airbnb’s third party booking tool, while the travel manager and the employee taking the trip will be able to view details, make changes to the reservation and message the Airbnb host directly with questions about the listing or neighbourhood.

Airbnb estimates about 10% of its clients are travelling on business, with corporate bookings tripling during 2016.