Home services expansion announced by Airbnb: insights into the brand's latest offerings
Revamped Airbnb: Your Home Just Got Luxurious 🏡
Stepping into uncharted territory, Airbnb is now your one-stop shop for more than just vacation rentals. On May 13, this groundbreaking platform announced a fresh new tab on its app: home services. "Hotels have something we don't have, services," Airbnb co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky, lamented at a recent Los Angeles conference. "You can order meals to your room. You have access to a mini gym, a spa, you get a massage..."
Currently, the home services offerings are set to spill into 260 cities worldwide, extendable to anyone — not just Airbnb guests. Go ahead and schedule that long-awaited massage, book a personalized photoshoot, or organize a private chef for a stunning dinner party. Airbnb assures that the professionals behind these services meet high standards, with an average of 10 years of experience[2]. Identity and certification proof is a requirement.
Redesigning Experiences
In synchronicity, Airbnb plans to breathe new life into the experiences section of its app, which debuted in 2016. These offerings enable travelers to immerse themselves in the city they're visiting through curated activities like guided tours, cooking classes, and more. The developers have upped the criteria for these experiences and consistently check them to ensure they meet top-notch quality standards.
Alongside this revamp, Airbnb has teamed up with celebrities to create exclusive experiences called "Airbnb Originals" for its user base. Beach volleyball with Olympic athlete Carol Solberg on a Rio beach and a chance to meet American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, inspired by the world of anime, are just a few examples[3].
Customers have been itching to return to traveling, and Airbnb has recovered since the pandemic. In 2024, the company generated $11 billion in revenue, up 12% from the prior year, and recorded a net profit of $2.6 billion[1]. However, controversy still looms as authorities in key cities, such as Paris, New York, and beyond, blame Airbnb for exacerbating rent increases and the scarcity of long-term rentals[1].
Brace yourself for a new age of Airbnb, where the comfort of home merges with the amenities of a luxury resort.
[1] Airbnb Announces Home Services to Compete with Thumbtack and TaskRabbit: Here's What You Need to Know[2] Airbnb Home Services: A Deep Dive into Details, Categories, and Competitive Analysis[3] Exclusive Airbnb Experiences Hosted by Celebrities: A New Era of Luxury[4] Airbnb Services and Experiences: What's Changing and Why You Should Care
In this new era of Airbnb, the experiences section of the app is being reimagined to offer top-notch quality standards, merging curated activities with technology for an immersive city exploration. For those seeking a taste of luxury, Airbnb is also venturing into real estate, providing home services such as personalized photoshoots or private chefs, expanding beyond vacation rentals and into property services.
