Airbnb said to be ready to launch a premium tier

San Francisco

AIRBNB Inc is close to launching a new service that will match guests with quality-inspected home and apartment rentals. The product is intended to attract higher-paying travellers who have yet to use Airbnb because they prefer the amenities guaranteed by fancy hotels, said three people familiar with the project.

The service, expected to launch as a pilot with a select group of hosts as soon as this week, will send Airbnb inspectors into hosts' homes to ensure they meet a checklist of quality standards designated by the company, said two of the people.