Airbnb mulling direct listing instead of traditional IPO
Airbnb Inc is still planning to go public next year but could take a different route than a traditional IPO.
The San Francisco-based home sharing unicorn could opt for a direct listing rather than an initial public offering, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company has so far made no comment on the issue.
For a company under no pressure to raise extra funds, a direct listing has several advantages.
It removes the need to open its books to investors and the large fees demanded from firms to underwrite a IPO.
A direct listing doesn’t issue new shares so gives employees and early investors a chance to cash out.
Other tech firms which have gone for a direct listing include Slack Technologies and Spotify.
The experiences of newly public Uber, Lyft and the current travails of WeWork show that there is still massive scepticism in traditional IPOs for loss making Silicon Valley firms even though Airbnb is in much better shape financially.
"Given the struggles so many tech companies have had in the past year and a half, it’s not shocking they might want to try something different," former Uber political adviser Bradley Tusk said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11