Airbnb operates in 191 countries (Image: GETTY)
The move by the holiday accommodation and activities giant is one of its first steps towards a multibillion dollar stock market flotation, which is likely to generate huge bonanzas for its staff and shareholders.
Sources familiar with the situation say the process is in its infancy and that the company, which is valued at more than £22billion, is trying to determine who should get shares and how many.
The San Francisco-based firm wants to give shares to its longest serving hosts, people that use Airbnb to generate extra income, but cannot as US regulations state that it can only issue new shares to employees and investors.
To that end Airbnb has written to the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to ask it to change the rules.
“Airbnb is a community-based company and we would be nothing without our hosts. We would like our most loyal hosts to be shareholders, but need these policies to change in order to make that happen,” said Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky.
“We are excited to have the chance to work with the SEC to consider reforms that could make more economic opportunities available to more people.
There are a number of issues we would need to address before this becomes a reality, but asking the SEC to modify their rules is an important first step.”
Airbnb operates in 191 countries and has more than five million listings, with around two million people staying in accommodation it has arranged each night. Although it does not disclose how many hosts it has, it is thought that globally Airbnb has at least 600,000.
The firm offers 15,000 “experiences” or excursions and activities around the world to its users and even though the business was launched only last year, it has grown so rapidly that executives believe it could generate as much money as its main room booking business within two years.
Air bnb is valued at more than £22billion (Image: GETTY)
VitHit heading Down Under
Soft drinks producer VitHit, which produces low calorie vitamin drinks, has secured a distribution deal with Coles, Australia’s second biggest supermarket, ahead of its launch Down Under.
Founder Gary Lavin, who played professional rugby for Leinster, is moving with his family to Australia to oversee the launch.
The firm is looking to enter the Scandinavian and Swiss markets next year, as well as expand its presence on the eastern coast of the United States.
VitHit believes it can build upon the 64 per cent sales growth it saw last year in the UK, by signing up Asda and an unnamed major convenience chain.
Available in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Boots and others, it sold six million bottles last year and is aiming to hit 20million within two years.
Founded in 2000 with its signature fruit, tea and water blended drink, VitHit was developed as an alternative to the sugary drinks consumed by athletes after exercise.
VitHit was developed as an alternative to the sugary drinks (Image: NA)
More studios for Green Rock
Content agency Green Rock is looking to open production studios in partnership with serviced offices firm The Office Group across the UK and overseas.
Back in July the two teamed up to launch TOG Studios, a full service production studio at the shared office space group’s building near Oxford Street, central London.
Green Rock chief operating officer Tim Plyming said that it is keen to partner with TOG again to build more production studios at its sites across the UK, as well as the ones it is planning to open overseas.
TOG Studios is primarily aimed at small to medium sized businesses that want to produce video content for third-party clients, external use or internal communications.
AFTER nearly two years of uncertainty, Sky is set to fall into the hands of Comcast, to the detriment of both its shareholders and Britain.
Comcast won the blind auction for Sky, after trumping a rival 27billion offer for media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his partner Disney.
However, the key thing to note is that the British firm is surrendering 28 years of independence unnecessarily.
Sky suffered serious growing pains during its early days but it went on to become a world class company that has delivered healthy returns for its patient long-term shareholders.
The firm has raised broadcasting standards and delivered technological innovations.
Sky Sports transformed the fortunes of football and other sports in Britain.
Sky is set to fall into the hands of Comcast, (Image: GETTY)
Its move into the telecoms and broadband markets brought lower prices to consumers.
Its socially responsible policies resulted in more trees being planted and greater public awareness of the need to reduce plastic waste.
However the future profits and accomplishments of Sky, which operates in the UK and throughout Europe, will now benefit its new American owner and not the shareholders that kept it alive during its dark, heavily loss making early years.
British companies, even world beating ones, are often sold to foreign predators without the chance to realise their full potential and I fear that Sky is another example of this sad, awful tradition.