A personal meal made by a Michelin-star chef. Lucha Libre training with professional Luchador Retro. NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes' afternoon game. These are just some of the experiences available to Airbnb now. Yesterday (May 14) Home Giant launched a wide range of hotel-style services and local events.
The company's grand brand is designed to win travelers who still love hotels, and it's Airbnb's most powerful competitor. “People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space,” CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement. “Now, we give you the best of both worlds.”
While the hotel has long been known for its built-in privileges such as room service and on-site gyms, Airbnb now offers comparable amenities in 260 cities around the world. Through the app, users can book everything from massage and spa treatments to professional photos, catering and personal training courses.
Airbnb's new service “host” has an average of 10 years of professional experience and must complete the company's identity verification process and submit any relevant licenses and certificates. These services are priced on a wide budget ($50 per person or less) and they are open to anyone, not just travelers or Airbnb guests.
In addition to these services, Airbnb is also improving its experience platform. The initiative, originally launched in 2016, strives to gain traction due to personalization and limited affordability.
Now, the company is having another stab wound. The updated experience is sold in 650 cities around the world, including unique products with one of the Cathedral’s restoration architects, such as the ramen class led by award-winning chef Saburo Ishigōka, and horse riding at the ruins of the ancient INCA in Peru. According to Airbnb, the average cost of the experience is about $66.
Airbnb also introduces a new “original” category that contains experiences hosted by particularly famous or unconventional characters. These include a beach volleyball conference with Carolina Solberg in Rio Leblon Beach, a gorgeous conference with pop star Sabrina Carpenter, and an anime themed event with Megan Thee Stallion, as well as aforementioned football and football experience with Patrick Mahomes.
To support the launch, Airbnb refreshed its app, redesigned the Explore and Travel tab, and updated its messaging and profiles for easy navigation. Later this year, the company plans to launch a new social component that enables users to connect with experienced participants before and after the event.
This hub is not entirely unexpected. Earlier this year, CEO Brian Chesky described 2025 as the “starting of the new Airbnb” – a hub designed to serve as a hub not only for rent, but for a wider lifestyle services and experience.
Founded in 2007, Airbnb has spent nearly two decades challenging the hospitality industry with its flexible (usually cheaper accommodation), presenting challenges to more than 2 billion guests in the process. Now, the company is expanding its ambitions. “Seventeen years ago, we changed the way people travel,” Chesky said in a statement. “With the launch of services and experiences, we changed travel again. Now you can be more Airbnb than Airbnb.”
