Airbnb, the Internet company which allows users to directly rent out their rooms and accomodation online to guests, is to move to a new location in Dublin.
The company established its customer service and hospitality hub for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in Ringsend, Dublin last year; allowing it to take advantage of Ireland's low corporate tax rate. Airbnb is now believed to be planning to move into the former Facebook headquarters at Hanover Reach, in Dublin's Silicon Docks, according to a report in The Sunday Times. Facebook vacated the premises earlier this year when it moved to Grand Canal Square.
In April, Airbnb announced that it planned to expand its Irish workforce to 200 people, but this move could mean that the company plans to bring the workforce to around 500 people, as the Hanover Reach site is around 65,000 square foot. IDA Ireland, the investment agency, is thought to be assisting Airbnb. IDA Ireland has been successful in encouraging many Internet companies to establish international offices in Dublin.
This latest annoucement is not only good news for the Dublin jobs market, but for the Irish hospitality industry in general. It is quite a coup that an international accomodation facilitator has decided to establish and grow a base here, particularly as an increasing number of people are seeking out alternative forms of accomodation to more traditional hotels, B&Bs and hostels.
