100,000

... Roughly the number of people on a waiting list for membership of Globe, a short-term accommodation rental platform.

A sort of “whirlwind Airbnb”, Globe lists apartments that can only be rented for a few hours. Since June 2019 it’s been inviting people to “use Globe instead of noisy cafés when you need privacy in between meetings or after a redeye“. Since lockdown, however, the New

York Times reports the platform has seen a surge in popularity — primarily among people who need a getaway from their quarantine mates. For privacy, to concentrate while working, for nicer Zoom backdrops for business calls and just some plain old alone time are all reasons people have listed for using the service.

No overnight stays are allowed, and guests must send a photo of a current thermometer reading before check-in. Globe currently has 5,500 hosts and 10,000 guests who have access to the listings.

See globeliving.com.