Airbnb launches new services ahead of summer travel season

By Yi-Jin Yu

Airbnb is taking on hotels… again.

The vacation rental platform is redesigning its app and expanding its offerings with the launch of Airbnb Services and Airbnb Experiences, letting users go beyond booking a room or home stay and choose from a variety of amenities, similar to what hotel chains and cruises offer to guests.

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The logo of Airbnb, Inc. is displayed on a smartphone screen, with the company's branding visible in the background.

"With the launch of services and experiences, we're changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb," Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said in a statement.

With Airbnb Services, users can book services in 10 categories: catering, chefs, hair, makeup, massage, nails, personal training, photography, prepared meals and spa treatments. Users aren't required to stay in an Airbnb or be on a trip to access services.

Airbnb

Airbnb is expanding its offerings, including a Services option that lets users host and buy difference services, such as in-home meals, photography sessions and more.

The new feature is launching in 260 cities globally, and Airbnb promised "new offerings and locations dropping regularly in the Airbnb app" going forward.

"People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space," Chesky continued. "Now, we're giving you the best of both worlds -- amazing homes with services that make them even more special."

The company said the service hosts and their services will be "vetted for quality through an evaluation of expertise and reputation" and touted high-quality hosts such as Michelin-starred chefs and elite personal trainers as examples. Airbnb said it will require service hosts to provide proof of identity and submit licenses and certifications in order to provide services on the platform.

Along with services, Airbnb is introducing "reimagined" Airbnb Experiences and Airbnb Originals as well. Users can reserve an array of activities such as cultural experiences, shopping trips, food tours, outdoor excursions, workout sessions and wildlife encounters in 650 cities. Airbnb Originals also takes these activities to the next level with celebrity hosts, including a beach volleyball game with Olympian Carol Solberg, for example, or a visit to the Short n' Sweet set with pop star Sabrina Carpenter.