Airbnb, Beyonce, and the Super Bowl situation
Beyonce Knowles — the famous singer who performed at Super Bowl 50 on February 7 with Coldplay and Bruno Mars — stayed in an Airbnb home after her performance. This news has caught the attention of the public as well as the media, igniting a firestorm of blog posts about the home she stayed in and the implications of her decision to mention it on social media.
Her Airbnb Cost $10,000 Per Night
After she finished her remarkable performance at the Super Bowl, Beyonce relaxed in an Airbnb house that costs $10,000 per night, according to The Verge. The spacious property features five bedrooms, a bar, a gym, a game room, and a host of other luxurious amenities. It sits on 11 acres in the trendy Los Altos Hills neighborhood of California.
Image via Mashable.com
Of course, most Airbnbs don’t cost $10,000 per night. In fact, many of the listings on the popular website, which promotes the sharing economy, are less expensive than a budget motel room. Some feature single rooms (or even just a couch in the living room), while others are larger and more opulent.
Regardless, Beyonce is apparently a supporter of Airbnb. After her stay, she posted a Facebook status that tagged Airbnb and said “It was a Super weekend.”
Millions of People Looking for Alternative Accommodations
Beyonce isn’t the only person — celebrity or otherwise — to avail themselves of Airbnb. The website connects homeowners and renters with out-of-town guests all over the world. Visitors get the comfort of a home while traveling, and hosts make money off the deal.
Other vacation rental websites have also created ways for people to save money while traveling for personal or business purposes. HomeAway, PandaBed, and others allow people to generate income from their homes without accepting long-term roommates.
The Jury’s Out on Endorsement
The Washington Post reports that Beyonce’s camp hasn’t confirmed or denied an endorsement deal. It’s possible that Beyonce simply wanted a change of pace from hotels and other formal rentals, so she hopped on Airbnb and found the opulent home in which she stayed after the Super Bowl. It’s equally possible that she was compensated for her Facebook mention.
Either way, Airbnb has received a significant amount of exposure following Beyonce’s Facebook post. Celebrity mentions can catapult brands to the top of their fields in a matter of hours as their followers check out those companies — and, of course, make purchases.You might not have a home worthy of $10,000 per night, but it’s clear that more and more people are looking for alternatives to expensive hotels in addition to a more authentic experience when traveling.