Online rental and homestay company Airbnb has announced that it is opening a new technology hub in Bengaluru. The company said in a public statement that it will hire a few hundred professionals in the initial stages. 

“India is an incredibly important market for Airbnb. The opening of this technology hub will further our ongoing investment in the nation and is a testament to our long-term vision for growing our business locally into the future. We’re incredibly excited to be forging a deeper connection with Bengaluru, given the city is increasingly attracting and nurturing top technology talent. The tech hub we’re announcing today will bolster our ability to serve our global community while also providing fresh opportunities for talented local engineers and tech specialists,” Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder and chief strategy officer at the company, stated. 

Amanpreet Bajaj, the general manager of India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, welcomed the announcement adding that Airbnb intended to work with the government and stakeholders here to power economic growth in the country and help create more solid community circles through both direct investment and encouraging tourism. 

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky had earlier expressed enthusiasm about the Indian market. The company’s investments in the subcontinent are riding high on the hopes of a largely young population. “Investing in the Indian market is like making a long-term investment in what is and will be one of the largest economies in the world,” he noted. 

Just a week ago, multinational conglomerate 3M and Daimler Truck announced they were launching two tech hubs of their own in the city.