May 14, 2025, 1:24 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Airbnb no longer wants to just broker accommodations. The platform is introducing globally bookable experiences and services to compete more strongly with hotels.
The online broker Airbnb is expanding its business model to include a comprehensive range of services directly in the app. In 260 cities worldwide, users can now book everyday services such as massages, hairdressers, or private chefs—independent of travel. Additionally, bookable experiences like horseback riding or museum visits are available. The goal is to integrate the platform more into daily life and create a new usage scenario.
New Airbnb Services for Everyday Life
What was primarily used during travel is now set to become part of everyday life. Airbnb is introducing ten service categories, including fitness trainers, caterers, and photographers. The company based this on user surveys. The approach is to expand the platform so that offerings like cleaning or handyman services are conceivable—services that, according to Airbnb co-founder Nate Blecharczyk, are already needed by many accommodation providers today.
The vision: Users should be able to use Airbnb not just during a trip, but anytime—for example, for a massage at home or a photo shoot in the neighborhood. This fundamentally changes the app’s orientation, according to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The app has been revised accordingly and now recommends suitable experiences or services near a booked accommodation, as reported by “COMPUTER BILD” (part of Axel Springer SE like TECHBOOK) based on dpa.
This is how Airbnb plans to ensure quality: Providers must apply and are selected based on experience and reviews. Users can report unwanted contacts, as is already the case with accommodation bookings. Additionally, the company relies on machine learning to detect problematic interactions early.
Fee Model and New Business Perspectives
For the new services, Airbnb charges a platform fee of 15 percent for services and 20 percent for experiences. These revenues cover costs for transactions, customer service, and insurance. According to Blecharczyk, these offerings could economically become even larger than the traditional accommodation business, as travelers often spend multiples on excursions and consumption.
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Part of the new strategy is to position Airbnb more as a social network. Participants in experiences should be able to stay in touch through the app and share content like photos or videos. Under the label “Airbnb Originals,” exclusive events with celebrities are also offered—such as a day with NFL star Patrick Mahomes or an architectural tour of Notre-Dame in Paris.