How Airbnb is Transforming Travel with New app Features

Airbnb announced Tuesday it is introducing Airbnb Services and Airbnb Experiences in a new, redesigned version of its app. This update will allow users to further personalize their vacations.

Airbnb Services offer a variety of options. Users can order them directly to their place of stay. The services include chefs, spa treatments, personal training, and professional makeup artists, among others. The feature will be launching with 10 service types across 260 cities. New offerings and locations will drop “regularly” in the Airbnb app, the company said in a news release.

Airbnb Experiences, on the other hand, will allow locals to host a variety of events. These events include trips to museums and landmarks, cooking classes, and outdoor experiences. This feature will launch in 650 cities around the world, with the company planning to add more every day.

“Seventeen years ago, we changed the way people travel. After hosting over two billion guests, Airbnb is now synonymous with a place to stay.” Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO, said this in the news release. “With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb.”

What services can I find on Airbnb Services?

According to Airbnb, users will be able to book services in the following 10 categories right at their Airbnb:

• Chefs: Customizable in-home meals from professional chefs
• Photography: Photo sessions from photographers
• Massage: Restorative massages from certified therapists
• Spa treatments: Facials, microdermabrasion, body scrubs, and other treatments provided by licensed estheticians
• Personal training: Yoga, strength training, HIIT, and more, with personal trainers
• Hair: Professional haircuts, blowouts, and more from stylists
• Makeup: Makeup for every day or special occasions from professional makeup artists
• Nails: Manicures and pedicures from nail specialists
• Prepared meals: Ready-to-eat meals prepared by professional chefs
• Catering: Full-service catering including menus, decor, and equipment, plus setup and cleanup.
• Airbnb says its services are vetted for quality through an evaluation of “expertise and reputation.” Service hosts have an average of 10 years of experience. The company says the hosts have completed the company’s identity verification process. They are required to submit “relevant licenses and certifications.”
• Services are available at “nearly every price,” the company said, and many services include an entry offering below $50.
• “People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space,” Chesky said in the news release. “Now, we’re giving you the best of both worlds − amazing homes with services that make them even more special.”
• What experiences can I find on Airbnb Experiences?
• The experiences are “hosted by locals who know their city best,” according to Airbnb, and include experiences such as:
• Landmark, museum and cultural experiences
• Food tours, cooking classes and dining experiences
• Outdoors, water sports, and wildlife experiences
• Gallery tours, art workshops, and shopping experiences
• Workout, wellness, and beauty experiences
• The company said experiences are “vetted for quality, with a focus on expertise, reputation, and authenticity.”
• Also new are Airbnb Originals, which are “extraordinary experiences hosted by the world’s most interesting people,” the company said. These experiences include a pastry-making class with chef Raphaelle Elbaz. You can also enjoy an anime experience with Megan Thee Stallion. Alternatively, spend a Sunday with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
• “Today’s travel activities offer no real connection to the city you’re visiting,” said Chesky in the news release. “The most authentic way to explore a city is with the locals who know it best. With Airbnb Experiences, don’t just see a place − experience it.”
• What else is new in the Airbnb app?
• The company says it has “rebuilt the app from the ground up” so users can book everything in one place.
• Airbnb says that after users book their homes, the app will suggest services and experiences. It will recommend options it thinks you will love. These suggestions will be based on where you’re staying and who you’re staying with.
• The app now gives users a detailed itinerary upon arrival. This includes check-in details. It also shows a day-by-day view of everything you booked on Airbnb.
• The company also says it rebuilt the app for hosts. It includes everything they need to manage their home, service, or experience.
• source-ustoday