Replica flying cottage from classic kids’ film Up becomes Airbnb stay

Buckle up, Pixar* film fans, because Airbnb is bringing the iconic* house from the 2009 film Up to life and lifting it into the air, balloons and all.

Following the success of previous themed properties like the Barbie Malibu DreamHouse, the short stay site is introducing a permanent category called “Icons,” featuring partnerships with brands and celebrities that promise unforgettable experiences.

Suspended over the New Mexico desert in the US, this whimsical* home is set to make childhood dreams a reality for lucky guests — primarily thanks to its hovering over the desert terrain*, via the aid of a colossal* crane, according to The Post.

Curiosity has naturally been sparked regarding the practicalities of such an unconventional stay.

When queried about plumbing and electricity, Airbnb assured sceptics* that the house is “fully functional,” connected to generators and utilities that will be seamlessly* managed before and after its “flight”.

Other Airbnb listings include a two-dimensional replica* of the mansion from the X-Men ’97 cartoon, a stay at the Ferrari Museum in Italy and the Minneapolis house immortalised* in the late pop icon Prince’s classic 1984 film Purple Rain.

While previous fantastical* listings were exclusive and rare, Airbnb is aiming for broader appeal this time around, with an expected 4000 bookings for these Icons listings in 2024 alone.

All of the listings are priced under $100 per guest and will be booked using a lottery* system.

For Airbnb, these extravagant stays are part of a deliberate move to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive holiday rental market, while drawing attention away from negative issues like hidden costs and community disruption.

“Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination — until now,” Airbnb chief executive officer (CEO) Brian Chesky said in a statement.

“As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world … we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.

“Most people only ever open our app once or twice a year, and we’ve got to battle to make sure they think of us every single year. So this keeps us top of mind and culturally relevant,” Mr Chesky later added in a separate interview with the New York Times.

This story was originally published by the Herald Sun and REA Group and is republished with permission.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• Pixar: leading American animation studio
• iconic: very famous, important or impressive because it seems to be a symbol of something
• whimsical: person or idea that unusual, playful, and unpredictable
• terrain: an area of land or a type of land when considering its natural features
• colossal: huge, massive, gigantic
• sceptics: doubters, cynics, those who doubt the truth or value of something
• seamlessly: smoothly and continuously, without gaps, breaks or flaws
• replica: an exact copy, model or reproduction of something
• immortalised: making someone or something famous for a very long time
• fantastical: surprising, strange, wonderful or fanciful in concept or appearance
• lottery: a game of chance

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QUICK QUIZ

1. Where is the Up short stay experience going to be?
2. Which other iconic house was previously successful as a themed Airbnb property?
3. How many bookings are expected for these Icons listing this year?
4. How much per guest will each listing cost and how will bookings be taken?
5. What is the Icons experience that is based in Italy?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Dream Airbnb
How amazing is Airbnb bringing these movie houses to life in its “Icons” range of accommodation?!

If you could choose a place from your favourite movie or book to bring to life and become a real Airbnb to sleep in, what would it be?

Sketch the setting and design of your dream Airbnb movie house below. Label its special features and how you would want it to look in real life.

Where would you like it to be built and rented out from?

How much would you charge per night for the experience?

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
The Airbnb CEO states that “as life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world”.

How else could you suggest families and companies do this?

What is one imaginative thing you could do with your family that doesn’t involve screens or technology?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Vocabulary recycle
There is some vivid vocabulary being used in the article, and I am not just talking about the glossary words. Go through the article and highlight the high-level language that you are impressed by in yellow.

See if you can borrow two of these wow words to reuse in your own way.

Remember vocabulary is a great way to connect with the audience, but you need to think about who your audience is so you make great word choices.

Who will the audience be in your recycled sentences?