Airbnb Launches New Business Model —  Services and Experiences

Airbnb Launches New Business Model —  Services and Experiences

 

Airbnb is reinventing itself. The company, founded by RISD alumni — one of whom is working with Elon Musk on the DOGE initiative — is now expanding its services and experiences beyond travel.

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One of the co-founders is Joe Gebbia, who joined the Trump administration earlier this year. He is one of Elon Musk's closest friends and serves on Tesla’s board. Gebbia has owned, through an LLC he controls, a massive townhouse in Providence’s College Hill and he continues to sit on the company's board of directors.

According to the company, the new model includes:

- Airbnb Services – Incredible services to make your stay more special.
- Airbnb Experiences – Explore a city with the locals who know it best.
- All-new Airbnb app – A redesigned app that makes it easy to book homes, services, and experiences—all in one place.

“Seventeen years ago, we changed the way people travel. More than two billion guests later, Airbnb is synonymous with a place to stay,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb.”

Airbnb Services

People often choose hotels because of the services they offer, like room service, access to a gym, or an appointment at the spa. Starting today, you can get those services, and more, right at your Airbnb.

Introducing Airbnb Services—incredible services to make your stay more special. We’re launching with 10 categories in 260 cities, with new offerings and locations dropping regularly in the Airbnb app. The first 10 categories are:

Chefs – Fully customizable in-home meals from professional chefs.
Photography – Personalized photo sessions from experienced photographers.
Massage – Restorative massages including Swedish, deep tissue, and reflexology from certified therapists.
Spa treatments – Facials, microdermabrasion, body scrubs, and other treatments provided by licensed estheticians.
Personal training – Yoga, strength training, HIIT, and more, with personal trainers, including renowned fitness professionals and world champion athletes.
Hair – Professional haircuts, blowouts, and more from experienced stylists.
Makeup – Makeup for every day or special occasions from professional makeup artists. 
Nails – Manicures and pedicures from experienced nail specialists.
Prepared meals – Ready-to-eat meals prepared by professional chefs.
Catering – Full-service catering with custom menus, decor, and equipment, plus setup and cleanup.

Airbnb Services are vetted for quality through an evaluation of expertise and reputation. Services hosts have an average of 10 years of experience, have completed Airbnb’s identity verification process, and are required to submit relevant licenses and certifications. Many hosts are renowned in their fields—including chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, award-winning photographers, and elite trainers. 

The company says Airbnb is the only app where you can book thousands of these services in one place, in 260 cities around the world. Detailed listing pages highlight each host’s qualifications, offerings, and pricing. And unlike many services platforms, booking on Airbnb is easy—with the ability to book instantly in just a few taps. Best of all, you don’t need to stay at an Airbnb or even be on a trip to get these services. Schedule a blowout, training session, or massage right at home.

“People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space,” added Chesky. “Now, we’re giving you the best of both worlds—amazing homes with services that make them even more special.”