With a $250 million investment, Airbnb aims to become a one-stop travel platform for stays, activities, and on-demand services
May 14, 2025
Airbnb is relaunching its “Experiences” and introducing a new suite of hotel-style “Services” as part of a $250 million investment to expand beyond short-term rentals. With a focus on curated, local, and professionally vetted experiences and services — from cooking classes to massage therapy — Airbnb aims to become a full-service travel platform, signaling a strategic shift toward becoming a comprehensive trip-planning and lifestyle brand.
Key takeaways
- New offerings: Airbnb is relaunching “Experiences” in 650 cities and debuting “Services” – bookable hotel-style offerings like private chefs, spa treatments, personal trainers, and more in 260 cities.
- Curated content: New “Airbnb Originals” include exclusive, high-profile experiences featuring chefs, Olympians, and celebrities.
- Focus on quality: Services hosts average 10 years of experience; all hosts are thoroughly vetted for skills and local knowledge.
- Updated app: Airbnb redesigned its app to act more like a travel concierge, integrating stays, experiences, and services under a single interface, with itinerary-building features.
- Strategic vision: CEO Brian Chesky envisions Airbnb offering more than just accommodations, aiming to launch multiple billion-dollar revenue verticals in the coming years.
- Investment and growth: Airbnb is investing up to $250 million in 2025 to scale Experiences and Services, although it doesn’t expect meaningful revenue contribution this year.
- Social and personalization features: New social elements allow users to interact with fellow guests, and offerings are personalized based on traveler profiles and location.
- Future potential: While no flights or rideshare integrations have launched yet, Airbnb hinted at expanding trip-planning functionality further in the future.
Get the full story at Skift (subscription required)
