Airbnb joins WeWork to attract business travelers

Are you booking a room at Airbnb? You will soon have the option of using a desk or conference room at the nearest WeWork location.

Two of the world's most valuable technology startups will join forces in hopes of persuading young business travelers not to come to hotels. Airbnb Inc. plans to begin a pilot program with WeWork Cos on Thursday. to provide services commonly found in hotels' business centers, such as a work desk, wireless internet connection, printers and meeting rooms, sources familiar with the project said.

The companies will start in cities including Chicago, New York, Washington, London and Sydney, sources said, requesting that their name not be disclosed by talking about a program that has yet to be revealed. By renting a room on the Airbnb website, corporate customers can book a place in the nearest WeWork office where they are staying. Airbnb and WeWork confirmed the alliance, but did not want to disclose specific program details or future plans.

Business travel could be a lucrative opportunity for both companies. In April, Airbnb launched a search tool for "business-ready" homes that have a desktop and high-speed Internet connection. The fast-growing San Francisco firm said it expects corporate travel on its site to quadruple this year. However, it may have difficulty persuading executives to choose to refuse services and conference rooms in the same building for shared office space several blocks away.

WeWork, valued at about $ 20 billion, is the world's largest provider of shared workspaces, which rents desks for self-employed, startups and large companies that do not want to sign an office lease. Airbnb, with a valuation of $ 31 billion, is the largest provider of rental housing. Both companies cater to a wave of younger consumers who appreciate modern design and who feel comfortable staying in the home of strangers or working alongside them.