Airbnb:

Airbnb, founded in August 2008 and based in San Francisco, was a two-sided online marketplace
that connected people who owned real estate properties with the people who wanted to rent
short-term lodging. The start-up was formed to capitalize on the resulting lack of hotel space.
Airbnb was a cheaper alternative to a standard hotel and its growth is attributed to the fact that
they created what people asked them they wanted. Unique factors to their success were:

 Airbnb created their site to post the rental listings with detailed descriptions as they
thought craigslist was more impersonal.
 They focused on creating a user experience. Airbnb was promising more than just a place
to sleep. It was an experience of staying with a friendly local who could guide you to
restaurants and stores you never knew. Airbnb improved its rental listings with
professional, attention-grabbing photographs to better the user experience and inspired
trust by ensuring that they did not offer low-end accommodations.
 Airbnb implemented Craigslist platform integration to gain its massive user base. This
made a sheer volume of potential users accessible and made them switch to Airbnb.
 They offered a feature “Wish Lists” for maximum engagement.