Airbnb is no longer just trying to replace hotels – it wants to become your entire holiday.
The travel giant is rolling out a major expansion that adds grocery deliveries, airport pickups, luggage storage, car rentals and experiences, including behind-the-scenes World Cup access, as it pushes further into full-service travel.
Last year, the holiday rental platform launched Airbnb Experiences and Airbnb Services, which allowed users to not only book a place to stay, but to explore a city with a local or have a private chef cook you dinner.
Now, it’s aiming to make trips more seamless and is also adding boutique and independent hotels to their listings.
Airbnb is also jumping on the AI bandwagon and launching AI-powered tools on its app to assist with planning and troubleshooting stays.
Here’s everything you can expect as Airbnb expands
So much of a successful trip is down to the planning before you even arrive at your destination.
In the US, Airbnb users in 25 cities will be able to get groceries delivered to their properties before they reach their accommodation.
Worldwide, travellers can book an airport pickup with 20% off when they book through Airbnb – and drivers will track flights to ensure they’re at the right place at the right time.
If you prefer to drive yourself, you’ll be able to rent cars directly in the Airbnb app, starting this summer. It will suggest the ideal car for your group, and first-time bookers get 20% credit back toward their next stay or experience.
According to the platform, experiences have been a popular offering, with guests rating them 4.93/5 on average.
As a result, it’s adding plenty more from this summer, from landmarks to food culture and events.
Guests can explore landmarks with local experts, or visit a city’s best food markets.
This year, Airbnb is partnering with Chef’s Table and Grand Central Market, and travellers can join chef Gianfranco Pascucci of the Michelin-starred Pascucci al Porticciolo in Rome for a six-course food and wine pairing experience, or mix cocktails at Paris’s De Vie, named as one of the world’s best bars.
This summer is all about football and, to celebrate the FIFA World Cup, the body is offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences across six host cities.
Think a watch party in Los Angeles with US Women’s World Cup winners Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, or a chance to train on the pitch with Argentine football icon and former manager of Inter Miami, Javier Mascherano.
Boutique hotels and AI planning
Across 20 top destinations worldwide, Airbnb is adding thousands of boutique and independent hotels to its roster.
The company says it has picked the hotels which feel like Airbnbs, rather than big chains, and is focusing on location, design, and hospitality. Guests will get 15% back as Airbnb home credit when they book and, if they find a lower price for the same hotel anywhere else, the company will refund the difference, also in credit.
Travelling in large groups can be taxing, but Airbnb has now added a new map on its app in the Trips tab, which shows reservations alongside nearby restaurants, experiences, and things to do, along with travel times from your stay.
Like so many other companies, Airbnb has opted to get involved with the ongoing trend for AI – but it’s aiming to use it to help its customers.
For instance, the platform has more than one billion guest and host reviews but, as of this year, AI will synthesise the feedback for each listing, focusing on the likes of location, amenities and family-friendliness.
