Airbnb Relaunches Experiences, Adds Hotel-Style Services – Latest Move to Go Beyond Rentals
CEO Brian Chesky has been pushing the idea for a while that he wants to expand beyond the core business of short-term rentals. Now the company is investing upwards of $250 million.
After several stops and starts, Airbnb is once again trying to expand beyond short-term rentals: It said Tuesday it is relaunching its experiences product and debuting a services offering that adds hotel-style amenities like chefs and massage therapists.
Users will be able to book services in 10 categories: Chefs, photography, massage, spa treatments, personal training, hair, makeup, nails, prepared meals, and catering. It is launching in 260 cities, with more offerings and cities coming.
The updated experiences offering is relaunching in 650 cities. Examples include:
A tour of the newly reopened Notre-Dame with Axelle Ponsonnet, an architect from the restoration team Ramen cooking class in Japan with Michelin-recognized chef Saburo Ishigōka The company is also introducing Airbnb Originals, curated experiences exclusive to the company: Baking lessons with French Bastards chef Raphaelle Elbaz; a beach volleyball game with Olympian Carol Solberg on Rio’s Leblon Beach, and hangouts with celebrities like Megan Thee Stalli
skift.
