The Airbnb Story

This is the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of the creation and growth of Airbnb, the online hotel platform that has become, in under a decade, the largest provider of accommodations in the world. At first just the whacky idea of co-founder CEO Brian Chesky, Airbnb has disrupted the $500 billion hotel industry, its $25.5 billion valuation is now equal to Hilton and larger than Marriott. Airbnb is beloved by the 80,000 million members of its host community and the travelers they shelter every night. And yet, even as it has blazed such an unexpected path, this is the first book solely dedicated to the phenomenon of Airbnb.

Fortune editor Leigh Gallagher explores the success of Airbnb along with the darker side of the story. Regulators want to shut it down; hotel industry leaders wrestle with copying or killing it; residents resent the constant parade of travelers; some hosts see property damage; and some analysts feel Airbnb is dangerously overvalued. This is also the first in depth study of Airbnb's leader, Brian Chesky, the quirky and curious young CEO, as he steers the company through increasingly uncharted waters.