As part of an extensive app update, Tuesday Airbnb introduced a new feature that allows travelers to book services and experiences, such as a message, haircut or cooking meals or some activities. This new product can be added to accommodation, but it can be made independently, Airbnb says.
For example, you can book a trip in a traveled city, but I suggest a place to stay elsewhere.
This is not the first time Airbnb has tried that feature. In 2023, in 2023, the company suspended its previous version in 2023. Now the company wants to go beyond the travel plan once again.
This measure is to use the already received traffic Air B & B site. In the first quarter of Air B & B’s call, CEO Brian Chesky said that more than 1.5 billion devices have access to the service last year, but many people point out that they do not come to the site.
It also provides more Airbnb in competition with other travel companies such as Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Viator and Geteourguide and service providers such as Yelp.
At first with Airbnb, you can make a reservation in 10 categories: chefs, catering, prepared meals, photos, massage, spa treatment, personal training, hair, nails and makeup. This service will be provided in 100 cities around the world.
Users can use the service where they stay, but they usually need to travel to the place for experience.
At first, experience includes cultural and museum tours. Outdoor, water sports and wildlife experiences; Food travel and cooking classes; Art workshop and shopping experience; Exercise, health and beauty experience. The company is starting to experience in 19 categories in 1,000 cities around the world.
Airbnb is also starting an exclusive experience on a platform called Airbnb Originals related to celebrity partnerships. This includes things such as acting Beam VolleyBall with the olympian carol solberg in the French Bastards Bakery with the chef Raphaelle Elbaz or in the Leblon Beach of RIO.
JUDSON COPLAN, vice president of product marketing in Airbnb, told TechCrunch Over Call, “These experiences and services are a way to experience the same city as locals.We think that this product is a natural expansion for the house, and the advantage of Airbnb is that you can get a unique accommodation that cannot be found elsewhere elsewhere. Will.
Koflan believes that Airbnb experience can inspire people to travel and not think. He also believes that new products can make people find new things in their cities.
Airbnb is reduced by 20% in the service reduction and experience in the service. However, users can only see one price when searching or booking categories. The company said that the host of these categories will go through verification and quality inspection, including experience, online location, education and necessary licenses.
Airbnb’s new app adds social play
The addition of services and experiences is part of a larger app update, which will be modified to allow both apps and hosts to accommodate new categories.
You can search and book in accommodation, service and experience categories. And if a traveler books a trip that is already coming, the app suggests relevant experiences or services. On the other hand, the host has calendars and listing functions to help manage reservations and offerings.
Air B & B is also preparing to launch social features later this year.
Today’s app has a group messaging function for travel planning, but we plan to add group chat functions for those who have experienced together. This allows you to talk about your experience, share photos and videos, or recommend other travels.
Airbnb hopes that this wants people to travel more and use the platform.
The company said that it is creating a safe experience for users by developing personal information protection functions centered on these social connections.
Social features were able to explain more about themselves, including the updated profile pages last year, including places where users can explain more, speaking language and other facts about themselves.
COPLAN said that after the release, the number of finished profiles on the platform increased 15 times.
“There have been a lot of people who want to share more about themselves. It was a clue that travel was about connection,” he explained. “Whether it’s a host, a traveler, or a person who follows the road. In particular, there is a desire to connect with others at this moment.”
Customer service scaling with AI
COPLAN mentioned how AIRBNB provides customer service using AI and how AI assistants can handle travel plans and inspiration over time.
Earlier this month, Chesky introduced Airbnb’s AI -based customer service agent. Unlike the previous version of the bot, which redirects the user as a support article, the assistant now provides the answer within the chat.
This bot can be used by users who speak English at first and will be completely released by the end of the month. COPLAN will offer this feature in more countries and languages later this year, COPLAN told Techcrunch.
He said that over time, AIRBNB will add more functions to AI assistants, including the inline action buttons for quick tasks such as personalized answers and cancellation of reservations for travel and reservation.
The updated Airbnb websites and iOS and Android apps have been released to all users around the world since today.