|
Airbnb Inc. is among potential suitors for Wyndham Worldwide Corp.’s European vacation-rental business, people familiar with the matter said. First-round bids are due this month for the travel company’s European home unit, which could fetch more than $1 billion, said the people, asking not to be identified as the details aren’t public. Airbnb is in the early stages of considering acquiring the business, which may also attract interest from private equity firms, the people said. The home-rental upstart could also team up with a buyout firm to make a bid, one of the people said. Acquiring Wyndham’s European inventory, which boasts tens of thousands of properties in ritzy vacation towns like Dalmatia, Croatia, and Santorini, Greece, would help Airbnb expand its luxury supply and attract higher paying travelers as it battles Expedia Inc. and Priceline Group Inc. In recent years, the three travel companies have increased their focus on vacation-home rentals, which are more lucrative than collecting a fee on transactions for small apartments and hotel rooms. In February, Airbnb acquired Montreal-based Luxury Retreats, which specializes in high-end villa rentals and concierge services in the Caribbean. Read original article |
