Airbnb becomes a mainstream corporate option as Qantas adds it to its FFP partners

On 4-Oct-2016, Qantas announced it had concluded a partnership with Airbnb, the world leader in the sharing economy's accommodation revolution. According to Qantas this represents "the first time Airbnb has worked with an airline in this way to reward Frequent Flyer members when booking accommodation through Qantas' website - and is the next step in Qantas' partnerships with innovative digital and technology businesses".

The partnership, along with deals with the major global TMCs and growing adoption among corporate travellers, has moved Airbnb from the realm of couch-surfing to an accepted corporate travel option, forcing travel managers to adapt or risk alienating their staff.