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Hotels and motels

Airbnb Takes a Page from Hotels with New Services Feature

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the company that pioneered short-term rentals, Airbnb is changing its narrative by allowing users to buy 10 categories of amenities straight to their stay through a new feature called Airbnb Services. This move aims to give customers the best of both worlds - the space of an Airbnb with the services of a hotel. The new feature, which is available in 260 cities, allows users to purchase services such as chef-cooked meals, spa treatments, and personal training directly through the platform.

Key Takeaways:

  • Airbnb Services allows users to buy 10 categories of amenities, including chef-cooked meals, spa treatments, and personal training, in 260 cities.
  • The feature is designed to give customers the best of both worlds - the space of an Airbnb with the services of a hotel.
  • Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says that the company is prioritizing design to get travelers interested in experiences, and that the new Services feature is a key part of this strategy.
  • The company is also refreshing its Airbnb Experiences, which allows travelers to participate in events designed and hosted by locals, with a new hotel-concierge-like vibe.
  • Airbnb is emphasizing curation, with what it says are "extraordinary experiences hosted by the world's most interesting people."
  • The new Experiences platform will offer exclusive experiences, called Originals, with celebrities and notable figures.
  • The Airbnb app has been fully redesigned, with new social capabilities, including the ability to stay in touch with other guests from an Experience or share where you've visited.

Statistics:

  • 10 categories of amenities are available through Airbnb Services.
  • 260 cities are participating in Airbnb Services.
  • 650 cities globally will offer Airbnb Experiences.
  • The new Experiences platform will offer exclusive experiences, called Originals, with 2 celebrities (Sabrina Carpenter and Patrick Mahomes).
  • 17 years is the same amount of time Airbnb has been in operation.

Sources:

  • [Airbnb press release]
  • [AirDNA, a company that collects short-term rental data]
  • [Federal Trade Commission ruling]
  • [Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky]
  • [Jamie Lane, chief economist at AirDNA]

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