Airbnb has forecast that approximately 300 million people
will make use of the platform this year.
To better serve both the guests and hosts, the company is making the most extensive set of improvements
in its history, starting with the introduction of Airbnb Rooms, an
all-new take on the original Airbnb.
The company is also launching over 50
new features and upgrades that address feedback from
guests and hosts across the entire Airbnb experience.
Airbnb began as a way to stay in a
room in someone else’s home. This original idea of sharing a home
offers two unique benefits. First, it’s more affordable for
guests. More than 80% of private rooms are under $100/night, with
an average rate of $67/night. Second, staying with a host is a
great way to meet someone new and experience the city like a
local.
Airbnb Rooms, an all-new take on the original Airbnb,
has been created in response to feedback from guests who say they want to know more about who they’re staying
with. Every Airbnb Room features a Host Passport, which helps
guests get to know their host before booking their stay.
The company has
also created a Rooms category with over 1 million listings,
redesigned filters and new privacy features.
“With
Airbnb Rooms, we’re getting back to the idea that started it all –
back to our founding ethos of sharing,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb
co-founder and CEO. “Airbnb Rooms are often more affordable than
hotels, and they’re the most authentic way to experience a city.
This is the soul of Airbnb.”
– : Exclusive to
Airbnb Rooms, the Host Passport helps a guest to get to know their
host
before booking. Simply tap the Host Passport to view a
larger photo and details that hosts have shared about themselves,
including where they went to school, what they do for work, a fun
fact about themselves, and more.
– : A new category featuring a
curated set of 1 million private bedrooms. Each listing includes
access to shared spaces, such as the kitchen, living room and
backyard.
– :
The “type of
place” filter has been redesigned to make it easier to switch between Airbnb Rooms,
entire homes and all types of places. The enhanced price filter
that updates based on the choice of place makes it easier to see
the average price for each type of place.
– : All
Airbnb Rooms will clearly indicate if the bedroom door has a lock.
The listing page also shows whether the bathrooms are shared or
private, and whether people other than the host will be in the
home during your stay.
“Millions of people
have given us feedback on how to improve Airbnb. We’ve listened,”
said Brian Chesky. “Today, we’re introducing the most extensive
set of updates ever. Our design-driven approach means we’re always
making Airbnb better, and our over 50 new features and upgrades are just the beginning. We will never stop improving Airbnb.”
A few of the 50+ new features and upgrades
include:
– : Guests can view the total price with fees, before taxes,
across the entire app including in search results, price filter,
maps and listing pages.
– :
Guests can now view check-out instructions on the listing page
before booking, and they’ll receive a reminder before they leave
the home. During the review process, guests can tell Airbnb about any
excessive requests, and listings with repeated low ratings from
unreasonable chores will be removed from the platform.
– : Used by more than 80 percent of guests, Airbnb has updated maps
with faster performance, persistent pins when zooming and panning,
and more results when searching.
– : Wishlists now include a redesigned interface, one-tap saving, and
an improved calendar that shows availability of wish-listed homes.
Guests can also add notes to any wish-listed listing – making it
easier to remember why they chose it.
– : For stays over three months,
Airbnb is
significantly reducing the guest service fee after the third
month. Guests in the US can also save for stays over one month
when paying with their linked bank account. And when searching,
the new Months tab features an all-new interface that makes it
easy to dial in a range from 1-12 months.
– : A dedicated 24/7 support team has been established for
priority access when on a trip, with a goal of answering
90% of calls in English in two minutes or less.
– : Through a new partnership with Klarna, guests in the US and
Canada can apply to pay for stays in four interest-free
installments over six weeks. For bookings over $500, guests can
apply to pay monthly (US only). More countries are expected to be added
to this service throughout the year.
– : If a
host
cancels within 30 days of arrival, most guests will receive an
instant credit that can be used to rebook another stay
immediately.
As part of the 50+ new features and
upgrades, Airbnb is launching 25 improvements for hosts, including new
pricing tools to help hosts set competitive prices, easily add
weekly and monthly discounts, and compare their listing to similar
ones in their area. The company is also including a yearly view in calendar, the ability to easily enter check-out instructions, read
receipts and new quick replies in messaging, and more.
The changes started rolling out
this week, and hosts can try the new features by enrolling in Airbnb
Early Access.
