Airbnb to be valued at $30bn after additional investment

Airbnb is in talks to secure a new round of investment that would value the company at around $30 billion, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

If it succeeds in securing the new funds, the short-term home rental company will have tripled its valuation in two years, the Times said citing anonymous sources.

The daily reported that the San Francisco-based Airbnb plans to use the financing for additional growth, including plans to expand internationally.

Airbnb has been rapidly expanding in new markets over the last two years, with a 700 percent increase in business from Chinese travellers, the company has said.

Airbnb is also experimenting with alternative lines of revenue, for example, by letting tourists include add-on services in their trips like restaurant reservations and museum tours, the Times reported.

News reports earlier this month said Airbnb already has secured a $1 billion debt facility, the Times wrote.