Airbnb offers ‘Phantom of the Opera’-themed stay at Palais Garnier in Paris

PARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Airbnb (ABNB.O) is offering a evening for two in the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris this summer months, transforming a box in the theatre into a plush bedroom with sweeping views of the renowned auditorium.

The “Phantom of the Opera”-themed stay – a nod to the novel by Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical – arrives as tourism bounces back in Europe soon after various a long time of pandemic disruptions, with readers from the United States arriving in France in droves considering that last summer.

European capitals are also gearing up for the return of Chinese visitors, subsequent the lifting of vacation limitations.

Just before the pandemic, Airbnb experienced designed other unconventional overnight stays in the French capital, 1 of its vital markets. These provided a shark tank in the city’s aquarium, the cranium-lined catacombs, the Moulin Rouge cabaret and the glass pyramid in the Louvre.

The strategy is to inspire people “to travel and desire at the very same time — and increase a ton of thoughts all-around vacation,” Emmanuel Marill, Airbnb director of Europe, the Center East and Africa informed Reuters.

The Palais Garnier keep contains a tunes recital, dinner in an ornate rehearsal place backstage and a guiding-the-scenes tour of the elaborate 19th century creating, together with its underground pool, the inspiration for the phantom’s lair in the reserve and musical.

The Palais Garnier continue to be will be outlined on March 1 for 37 euros, also the range on the box, just one of the theatre’s most prestigious, which will be decked out with antique home furnishings specifically for the evening.

It will be made available on a initially-occur-to start with-provide basis to an applicant registered on the company’s on the internet rental system.

“It is a little bit of a fantasy. I think it will be a little bit unreal,” reported Veronique Dubrulle Leroux, the great-granddaughter of Phantom of the Opera writer Leroux, who will host the website visitors.

As element of the challenge, Airbnb will also fund the renovation of the theatre’s 19th century containers and assist the Opera de Paris to update its on line streaming platform.

Reporting by Mimosa Spencer and Manuel Ausloos. Modifying by Jane Merriman

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