Airbnb has quickly become a favourite destination for travellers looking for somewhere to stay on vacation. Now the home-sharing start-up is interested in doing the same for people who want to find a place to live. Airbnb is considering expansion in the long-term rental business and has asked McKinsey to research the market, said two people familiar with the matter. The consulting firm's work involves conducting competitive analysis of Craigslist, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.Although Craigslist dominates rental markets in many cities with its "sublets/temporary" section, Airbnb believes there may be an opportunity to offer a safer, identity-verified alternative, the sources said. McKinsey is expected to present its findings to senior management at the San Francisco company next month. Nick Papas, a spokesman for Airbnb, declined to comment on the project. He said that at any given time, Airbnb was considering dozens of initi...
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