The company, whose early backers included Ashton Kutcher, the actor and serial technology entrepreneur, and Andreessen Horowitz, the venture capital firm, does not disclose its financials.
However, PrivCo, a New York analysis firm which studies private companies, estimated that it took $189m (£113m) in revenues in 2012. Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, predicted in early 2013 that that figure would soon hit $1bn a year.
Airbnb makes its money by taking a 3pc cut every time someone rents through the service. It may not actually own any beds, but a just-completed $450m funding round, led by TPG Capital, values the business at $10bn – more than Intercontinental Hotels.
Airbnb’s three founders are now worth more than $1bn a piece.