Airbnb might launch a premium option where the rooms are just like hotels

Airbnb wants to be more like the hotels it's disrupting.

The short-term home rental platform is getting ready to launch a premium tier of rentals that would compete more directly with hotels, according to a report in Bloomberg.

The service would match higher-paying guests with high-quality home rentals, checked by Airbnb's very own inspectors. To pass inspection, Airbnb hosts would have to treat their listings like hotels and provide fancy towels and bed linens and travel-size shampoo and conditioner. They'd even have to keep the kitchen stocked with bottled water, coffee, and tea.

Hosts who make the cut will have their listings featured in a special, prominent section of Airbnb's website. They'd also get the help of a professional photographer and an interior decorator provided by Airbnb.

Airbnb hasn't confirmed their plans yet. According to Bloomberg, the program is already inviting hosts to participate and could be called Select.

"We're continually experimenting with new ways to create meaningful experiences on Airbnb," Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas said.

For hosts who are already basically Airbnb professionals, it's a way to make some extra money. For Airbnb, it's a way to gain traction with business travelers and customers who are swayed by the reliability of traditional hotel amenities.