Feb 16, 2017

Airbnb makes Luxury Retreats deal official

Airbnb

Airbnb has purchased Canadian company Luxury Retreats — talks were rumored earlier this month — in a bid that ties into the company's growth ambitions.

The details:

  • A source close to the discussion said that the price of the deal was somewhere in the $200 million range.
  • Luxury Retreats' roughly 250 employees will go to work for Airbnb, and the company's CEO will be in charge of Airbnb's efforts in the high-end market. The company will keep its Montreal office.
  • Luxury Retreats will stay its own product — for now. "Over time, Luxury Retreats listings will be highlighted and integrated into the Airbnb community," Airbnb said in a release.

Why we're tracking: Luxury Retreats' high-end portfolio and its experience providing services to travelers could be a boost to Airbnb as it starts to think about a public offering.

Go deeper

Dave Lawler, Zachary Basu
24 mins ago - World

Elliott Abrams to replace Brian Hook as Trump's Iran envoy

Brian Hook. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Image

President Trump's Iran envoy, Brian Hook, is stepping down and will be replaced by Elliott Abrams, a noted Iran hawk who currently serves as Trump's envoy for Venezuela, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Thursday. Abrams will continue to serve in his role as Venezuela envoy.

Why it matters: Hook had been tasked with executing Trump's "maximum pressure" policy toward Iran, working closely with Pompeo. That strategy has deepened tensions and thus far failed to force Iran back to the negotiating table, as Trump had hoped.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Zachary Basu, Ursula Perano
Updated 34 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Trump visit

Photo: Justin Merriman/Getty Images

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has tested positive for COVID-19 and plans to quarantine at his home for the next 14 days, his office announced Thursday. He currently has no symptoms.

Why it matters: The 73-year-old DeWine was set to meet President Trump Thursday on the tarmac at an airport in Cleveland and was tested as part of standard protocol. He is the second governor known to have contracted the coronavirus, after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R).

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 38 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12:30 p.m. ET: 18,860,908 — Total deaths: 708,676— Total recoveries — 11,394,821 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12:30 p.m. ET: 4,834,546 — Total deaths: 158,445 — Total recoveries: 1,577,851 — Total tests: 58,920,975 — Map.
  3. Politics: Pelosi rips GOP: "Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn" — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive.
  4. Public health: Fauci says task force will examine aerosolized spread.
  5. Business: July's jobs report could be an inflection point for the recovery — Teladoc and Livongo merge into virtual care giant.
  6. Sports: Where college football's biggest conferences stand on playing.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow