Will buying HotelTonight help Airbnb’s messy booking experience?

The rumors are true. HotelTonight, the millennial-focused booking app that's known for last-minute travel deals, is being acquired by Airbnb.

Of course, the days when Airbnb was still a quirky way to book a spare room in a flat have been behind us for a while now. But the acquisition of HotelTonight—which hoteliers love for its ability to lure valuable millennial travelers with last-minute and secret deals—is another indication of Airbnb's appetite to swallow even more of the travel industry ahead of a potential IPO. 

For now, the two sites will continue to operate independently, with Airbnb adding HotelTonight-curated properties that fit its standards onto its platform over time. That's good news for fans of what is arguably one of HotelTonight's most unique selling points: being able to confidently book a vetted hotel room quickly, without the millions of open tabs that lead to paralysis by analysis.