Airbnb expands into services and experiences, plans more social and AI features

As part of a broader app update, Airbnb on Tuesday introduced a new feature that allows travelers to book services and experiences, like getting a massage, haircut, or chef-prepared meal, or taking part in some activity. These new offerings can be added to your stay, but they can also be booked independently, Airbnb says. For instance, you can book a tour in a city you’ve traveled to, but where you’ve chosen to stay elsewhere, the company suggests. This is not the first time Airbnb has tried such a feature — it paused an earlier version of experiences in 2023 to improve its core offering of stays. Now the company once again wants customers to go beyond planning a trip. The move is meant to capitalize on the traffic Airbnb’s site already receives. During Airbnb’s Q1 2025 call, CEO Brian Chesky said that its service was accessed by over 1.5 billion devices in the last year, but pointed out that many people come to the site and don’t book a home. Image Credits:Airbnb It also brings A ... Read full article.