Airbnb Reports 'Softness,' Looks to International and Hotels to Get Growth Mojo Back

Airbnb also plans to invest into its relaunched Experiences business as a growth driver. "On May 13, Airbnb will go beyond places to stay," it stated.

Airbnb's core business – guests staying in short-term rentals – grew less than 10% in 2024 and just 8% in the first quarter this year. Can Airbnb can get back to double-digit growth?

In a shareholder letter released with first-quarter results Thursday, Airbnb said it expected nights and experiences booked to "moderate" in the current quarter.

"In the U.S. we've seen softer results, which we believe has been largely driven by broader economic uncertainties," Airbnb stated.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said on an earnings call Thursday that international expansion would be a key growth driver. The shareholder letter noted that expansion markets grew more than twice as fast as Airbnb's core markets — the U.S., Canada, the UK, France an