Airbnb signs strategic partnership with Times of India
AirBnB has entered into a strategic partnership with the Times of India Group, and raised an undisclosed amount of investment from the group, according to a report this morning from Times Group publication the Economic Times. The Times of India Group will advertise and market AirBnB’s services in the country, provide support for operations, hiring and strategy, and help expand its local listings. Airbnb has previously expressed a desire to grow in the Indian outbound travel market, projected to be worth $40bn by 2020, and which Airbnb estimates grew by 185% in 2015 alone. 

NEW DELHI: Airbnb, the world's leading community-driven hospitality company, has announced a strategic partnership with the Times Group. The tie-up is part of Airbnb's plans to focus on developing the Indian travel market. The Times Group will drive awareness of Airbnb accommodations, and help the San Francisco-based company create a localized presence for India, leveraging the group's vast network of media and operational resources.This is a key partnership for Times Global Partners, an initiative from the Times Group, that supports the launch and expansion of emerging global digital companies in India. Previously, Times Global Partners has partnered with The Huffington Post, Coursera, as well as other digital companies.Commenting on the partnership, Times Internet managing director Satyan Gajwani said, "We are excited to partner with Airbnb to transform the way Indians travel. As a personal user, I've found that Airbnb has brought a new dimension of convenience, value, and uniqueness to travel. We look forward to working closely with Airbnb to evangelize community-driven hospitality."Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder & chief technology officer, Airbnb, said, "We are excited about the opportunity that India presents, and to have one of the most respected partners in the Times Group. We are working on adapting our product for the Indian market so that Indian travellers can live like a local anywhere in the world."