Last November, Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky walked onto the stage in a classic downtown Los Angeles movie theatre and, in front of a rapturous crowd, announced Trips, the app-based global accommodation provider's newest idea. When Chesky noted that Cape Town was one of just 12 cities chosen to launch Trips - which offers its members "immersive" travel experiences so that they can get to explore a destination almost as if they live there - the cheering almost blew the roof off. The Mother City is, after all, one of the world's coolest destinations. But if you thought Airbnb was just so much hot air leaking out of a backpacker's travel mattress, try this: in 2016, its users generated R2.4-billion worth of economic activity in South Africa alone. Airbnb's South Africa 2016 economic impact report, released this week, contains other startling numbers. Last year, South African Airbnb hosts welcomed 394000 guests into their homes - a tenfold increase on the 38000 guests hosted in 20...
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