Airbnb beware: Marriott reportedly will launch its own home rental service

The hotel chain might unveil its plans next month, reports The Wall Street Journal.

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Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.

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Shelby Brown

April 29, 2019 7:58 a.m. PT

2 min read

Marriott is looking to get in on the home-sharing business. The hotel chain plans to start a home-rental business to compete with Airbnb and similar services, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Marriott didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Journal reported that the company could unveil the first phase of its plan early next month. The move would make Marriott, the world's biggest hotel operator, the first major hotel company to create a US home rental platform.

Airbnb, which has over 6 million listings worldwide, has progressively moved into the hotel business over the past couple of years, including acquiring Hotel Tonight Inc. in March.

It's also increasingly working with landlords on profit-sharing deals. The company announced partnerships with major landlords in Florida and in San Francisco in 2017. And on Monday, Airbnb announced that it's partnering with RXR Realty, one of New York City's largest real estate owners, to convert 10 stories of an iconic Rockefeller Plaza building into Airbnb rentals.

On Monday, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky was on CBS This Morning to talk about the company's future and its new documentary, Gay Chorus Deep South, which is premiering at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. (Editors' note: CNET is owned by CBS.)

"I think you'll think of Airbnb to plan your entire vacation at all price points and all geographies in the world," Chesky said. "So, we're going to combine where to go, what to do and how to get there all in one place. The whole end-to-end trip. Not just housing, not just homes."

Originally published April 29, 6:57 a.m. PT
Update, 7:08 a.m.: Adds details; 7:58 a.m.: Adds Chesky's comments from CBS This Morning interview; 3:29 p.m.: Adds information on Airbnb's partnership with RXR Realty.