Airbnb Inc., which operates an online marketplace for short-term and long-term homestays, is planning to introduce changes to its business model to sway more travelers to choose the service over staying in hotels.
During a Q2 earnings call with investors, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky teased plans to relaunch "experiences" on its platforms, as reported by Tech Crunch. First introduced in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb's experiences would allow guests to book outings, tours, and other things to do near their stay.
For instance, a search for "experiences" near Dallas, Texas, yielded results such as a custom candle-making class, a body butter workshop, a chance to cuddle up with Kunekune pigs, and a guided JFK assassination walking tour.
Airbnb paused submissions for new "experiences" in April 2023 to focus on its core offerings. The option is expected to be relaunched in 2025 and include "more affordable" offerings unique to Airbnb, Chesky said in the call.
Co-Hosting and Luxury Services
In addition to relaunching experiences, Airbnb also plans to offer co-hosting services this fall. Co-hosting would work by connecting homeowners who do not have time to manage their listings with those who have the time but may not necessarily have any home to offer on the platform.
"What if we could match those two people together? That would unlock a lot more inventory," Chesky said.
A Co-Hosting fact sheet posted on Airbnb's website noted that the primary host can also add professionals to their team to help them respond to any listing inquiries and message booked guests. The primary host will be able to set up permissions for each co-host.
Furthermore, Airbnb could soon offer luxury services to guests as part of an effort to encourage travelers to book homestays instead of hotels. These luxury services include a personal chef, mid-week cleaning, refrigerator stocking, spa services, or improving ease of transportation and checking in. Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson teased the plans in an interview while attending the Paris Olympics, as first reported by Bloomberg.
Stephenson added that more details about the services will be included in a formal announcement that may come "early next year."
