Airbnb today announced a new hotel-like tier of service on its platform the company is calling Airbnb Plus. The news, which went live on Airbnb’s website in conjunction with a story in The New York Times ahead of a big reveal event in San Francisco this morning, confirms rumors that Airbnb has been working on a higher-end accommodations offering that would let it more easily compete with hotels. Airbnb Plus is being marketed as a more standardized style of service that is “verified for quality” and includes a set of amenities one might typically find in a hotel.

“Every Airbnb Plus home is one-of-a-kind, thoughtfully designed, and equipped with a standard set of amenities — whether you’re in a private room or have the entire place to…

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