Stay a night in Ferrari’s museum or at the Musée d'Orsay

Creating experiences you never imagined

👋 Hi friends, it's Hesam with issue #30 of 4 bits. 4 bits is a biweekly newsletter where I share thoughts and musings on how to build memorable experiences.

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🎶 Here’s what I’ve been listening to: Armin van Buuren and Gryffin - What Took You So Long (Spotify).

For a quarter of a century (!), I’ve been listening to Armin van Buuren. He was one of the first DJs I came across in my journey into electronic dance music. I’ll never forget traveling to Washington, D.C. with my two college roommates to see him perform live in 2002. Or the time I flew halfway across the world to see him perform a 9 hour set in 2008. This new track is a collaboration with Gryffin, another artist I enjoy.

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An unforgettable experience

The clock room in Paris’ Musée d'Orsay redesigned to be a bedroom, complete with floating bed.

For one night only, like a marvelous apparition, the clock room will become your bedroom. Adorned entirely in wood paneling, from the Versailles parquet floor to the vaulted ceiling, this space is designed as a daydream.

The oversized glass and steel clock offer unparalleled views of the city, enhancing the beauty of the Parisian night. Your bed, suspended above the ground and the city, is the centerpiece.

Two luminous ceramic flowers frame the headboard, while expansive, organically shaped sofas create a private lounge ambiance.

Imagine staying in the Musee D'Orsay, watching the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony in Paris from your private terrace.

Or going to Italy and attending one of the world's premier racing events as a VIP, having dinner at the same restaurant Enzo Ferrari used to dine at, and spending the night on a bed stitched with Ferrari leather in Ferrari’s museum surrounded by 110 trophies and the cars that won them.

And of course, waking up the next morning racing a Ferrari on a private track with a professional race car driver sitting next to you.

This isn't a daydream. It's real.

Last week, Airbnb revealed their newest set of experiences: Icons. To start, they've designed 11 opportunities to take part in what would undoubtedly be an experience you'll never forget including a stay at Marvel Animation's X-Mansion, a night with Kevin Hart at a secret speakeasy and comedy show, and the chance to stay in the floating house from the movie Up which includes more than 8,000 balloons.

Sleep inside the floating Up house, complete with 8,000 balloons. If you’re terrified of heights, this is not the experience for you.

There will be more Icons released throughout the year. But for now, Airbnb's latest move has me thinking about what makes Icons special.

• Airbnb is making the impossible possible: If you were to ask me to imagine ideas for new experiences to extend Airbnb's offerings, I never would have thought they’d attach a Disney/Pixar house from a movie to a crane and let you stay there. They’re dreaming up experiences we never could have guessed. It reminds me of founder Brian Chesky’s ambition to create 10 star experiences, where he thinks about how Airbnb could delight guests in the most extraordinary way possible.

#7: 10 star experiences

• Icons let you immerse yourself as a fan: I have a friend who couldn’t own a Ferrari, but has every piece of Ferrari apparel imaginable. The shoes. The bags. The jacket. They could spot a Ferrari from a distance and instantly tell you the model, engine, and how much horsepower it produces. The Icons Ferrari museum experience is designed for super fans like them, who now have the opportunity to connect with a brand they care about in a different way. This isn’t your average museum visit. It’s a fantasy come true.

• Exclusivity and scarcity make it even more special: Anyone can sign up for a chance to attend one of the Icons, but only a few lucky guests will be chosen. Guests will receive a golden ticket (nod to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory) if they are selected. While it’s easy to add yourself to the list, it’s followed by the anticipation of whether you’ll get chosen. And since some of these Icons are one time only, you might never get the chance again.

• Airbnb as curator: Airbnb’s founders hosted their first guests back in 2007 with only an air mattress in their loft. Last year, Airbnb has more than 190 million bookings offered by hosts around the world. By creating Icons, Airbnb is curating their own special experiences and collaborations rather than relying on Airbnb’s traditional hosts.

Airbnb is changing from a marketplace for where to stay to a service with unique experiences. And while I may never win a golden ticket, I’ll be following what magical new experience they dream up next.