Airbnb CEO offers property hosts bigger role in company

San Francisco

AIRBNB, the leading online marketplace for short-term lodging, on Tuesday invited some of the owners of properties listed on its service, known as hosts, to attend executive board meetings and offered them more direct contact with its chief executive, in an attempt to give the people vital to the company's success a greater say in how it is run.

Airbnb depends on the loyalty and advocacy of its hosts…