Airbnb Inc ABNB is betting big on its next experience with a trip of a lifetime for fans of the movie "Gladiator" or anyone who has ever wanted to be at the Roman Colosseum after dark.
What Happened: Billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg didn't end up fighting in the Roman Colosseum as once rumored, but the fans of past Romans may want to enter the latest experiences contest from Airbnb.
The online home rental and experiences company is offering an experience contest that will take place at the Roman Colosseum and coincides with the release of "Gladiator II" in theaters on Nov. 22.
"For centuries, the Roman Colosseum has been the stage for epic battles and legendary gladiators. Now, for the first time in nearly 2,000 years, the Colosseum returns to its original purpose as a venue for performances, inviting daring warriors to step foot inside the historic arena to forge their own paths and shape their destinies," Airbnb said.
Selected guests may book one of two, three-hour experiences at the Colosseum that will take place from May 7, 2025 to May 8, 2025. Each experience is free for the winners and has a capacity for up to 16 people — eight guests and their plus-ones.
Guests will be allowed in the Colosseum after sunset and take place in gladiator-themed historical lessons, food and training. Guest will not stay the night at the Colosseum with the listing stating the iconic European venue "is a place of combat, not of rest."
The booking for the experience begins on Nov. 27 at 9 a.m. ET PT and runs through Dec. 10 at 2:59 p.m. ET.
Selected guests will be responsible for their own travel costs and arrangements to and from Rome, Italy.
Airbnb said the experiences at the Colosseum are part of a revitalization effort for heritage tourism in Europe and the company will help support the restoration of the Colosseum's heritage.
Why It's Important: The "Gladiator II" experience comes from Airbnb with partnership with Paramount Global PARAPARAA.
The movie, starring Paul Mescal, is a sequel to the 2000 film "Gladiator" starring Russell Crowe.
The original 2000 film grossed $187.7 million domestically and $465.5 million globally. For 2000, the film was the third highest-grossing domestic film and second highest-grossing global film.
The movie was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning five including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. The film has been well-reviewed and ranks 35th on IMDb's top films list by user rating metrics.
For Airbnb, the Gladiator II experience is the latest from the company, which has offered up memorable experiences that mirror famous movie locations like the X-Men house, Up balloon house and more.
The travel company emphasized experiences during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
"This is the biggest event in Airbnb history," Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said of the Olympics.
Chesky said the Olympics and the company's Icons program could highlight that Airbnb is not just a place to stay, "it's about experiences."
Price Action: Airbnb stock is up 2% to $135.20 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $110.40 to $170.10. Airbnb stock is up 0.6% year-to-date in 2024.
Paramount stock is up 1% to $11.25 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $9.54 to $17.50. Paramount stock is down 21.8% year-to-date in 2024.
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Image via Airbnb and Paramount
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