Airbnb Unveils New Lineup of Movie-Inspired ‘Icon’ Homes
By Movieguide® Contributor
Airbnb revealed its new “Icons” initiative to offer users unique overnight locations and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
The headlining location was a perfect recreation of the iconic house from UP, including thousands of helium balloons attached to the roof. Other attentions to detail include an exact match of the Pantone colors used in the movie, the chairs sat in by Carl and Ellie and the “adventure book” the couple made in the movie.
“No detail in the house went unnoticed,” said Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky. “[And] just like in the movie, this house goes up. [It is a] 40,000 pound house with 8,000 balloons attached to it and it’s suspended 50 feet above the ground.”
Because the house is so iconic, Airbnb expects to be flooded with booking requests. Rather than follow its normal first-come-first-serve booking method, guests wanting to stay in the UP house will be hand-picked by the company after writing a note as to why they want to book a stay.
“We expect to get a lot of request,” Chesky said. “We’re going to choose guests based on what they write. We’ll contact everyone who’s selected a few days before the booking window.”
The UP house is just one of numerous experiences the company unveiled. Other movie-inspired stays include the emotional control center from INSIDE OUT as well as the X-Men school from X-MEN ’97, which is made to look like a cartoon from the inside.
The experiences don’t stop with movie recreations, however, as the Icons lineup also offers guests the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite celebrities. The VIP with Kevin Hart experience allows guests to stay with Kevin Hart at the members-only Coramino Live Lounge. During the experience, Hart will host a tequila tasting and perform a comedy set with his friends.
Users can book a similar experience with Doja Cat who will host a living room session with her guests. Gen Z won’t miss out either, as TikTok star Khaby Lame hosts guests in a custom-made gaming loft where they can team up or face off in Fortnite.
The company has launched 11 Icon locations and experiences, all of which are now available for booking. Airbnb plans to add more throughout the year.
Movieguide® previously reported on wacky Airbnb bookings:
Airbnb has announced that guests can stay in a replica of Shrek’s Swamp in Scotland.
In an official statement released by Airbnb, Donkey gave his thoughts on the swamp house:
“Shrek’s Swamp is lovely. Just beautiful. The perfect place to entertain guests. You know what I like about it? Everything. The overgrown landscaping, the modest interiors, the nice boulders, all of it. I can’t wait for guests to experience this muddy slice of paradise for themselves.”
“The living quarters are located in the hills of the Scottish Highlands. Airbnb said in its press release that ‘this spectacularly secluded swamp-scape’ includes ‘earwax candlelight,’ a place to gather with friends to ‘swap stories around the fire,’ fresh waffles in the morning and ‘the ultimate privacy of Shrek’s trusted outhouse,’” TODAY wrote.
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