Airbnb may go public during its most uncertain period in history

Airbnb plans to file for an IPO in August, according to a Wall Street Journal report. That means we could see a listing sometime this year, though the exact timeline will depend on the Security and Exchange Commission’s review process and how the market looks. Per the Journal, the company has tapped Morgan Stanley to lead the offering, with Goldman Sachs “playing a key role.”

The news comes at a time when Airbnb faces high costs and extra hurdles due to COVID-19. The home-sharing giant lost hundreds of millions after the pandemic ground travel to a halt and caused bookings to tank in cities around the world. The company had to issue millions in refunds to hosts whose guests canceled their stays.

Continue reading…