Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb co-founder and head of the company’s technical strategy, has announced plans for sustained investment in the Asia market during 2014, as the company strives to maintain its phenomenal growth.

In an interview for the Q1 edition of Leisure Management magazine, Blecharczyk tells Airbnb’s startling rags to riches narrative and outlines how the company will evolve in months to come.

The next year or so will see the company targeting Asia, which is seen as having huge potential for growth.

“We’ve had properties in Asia for a long time, but for the first time we have critical mass and sustained growth and we’re going to continue to invest over there,” says Blecharczyk.

The Airbnb service allows anyone to turn their spare room or home into a hotel.
The premise is simple – hosts get to share their homes, connect with other people from around the world and make some extra money, while users get a more unique and personal experience than they would in a hotel.

In the space of six years, the company has grown to the point where it is now operating in 34,000 cities across 192 countries, offering accommodation ranging from traditional houses and apartments to converted aeroplanes, historic castles, river boats and treehouses.

Blecharczyk adds: “It’s incredibly exciting to be doing things on a global scale and to realise that what you’re doing is not only helping individuals but also creating a macro economic trend – the sharing economy. It’s just amazing to be changing the world.”