The neon sign of travel has flickered on and off throughout your life—sometimes a beacon of possibility, other times just an expensive headache with questionable Wi-Fi. But Airbnb’s latest overhaul feels like someone finally figured out that travelers want more than just four walls and a shower with puzzling water pressure controls.
On May 13, Airbnb launched what it’s calling its most significant expansion since its founding, introducing both Airbnb Services and a reimagined Experiences platform. The redesign transforms the platform from simply a place to find lodging into something that rivals both hotels and travel agencies.
If you’re tired of figuring out how to source a chef in a city you’ve never visited, Airbnb Services now lets users book professionals across 10 different categories in 260 cities worldwide—chefs, spa treatments, personal trainers, makeup artists, and more. The magic twist? You don’t even need to book a stay to access these vetted professionals.
Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s CEO, frames it with appropriate grandeur: “With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again.” The revamped Experiences platform has expanded to 650 cities, offering everything from museum visits to cooking classes, with “Airbnb Originals” featuring celebrities like Olympian Carol Solberg and pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
The app now offers personalized recommendations based on your location and group composition—suggesting the perfect private chef to prepare roasted pork chops with sage and champ, or family-friendly activities for those traveling with children. There’s something deeply satisfying about an algorithm that understands the difference between a bachelorette weekend and a family reunion.
For travelers planning to test these new features, booking services at least 72 hours in advance is recommended, especially for specialized providers like chefs.
Not everyone is convinced Airbnb can successfully pivot to this expanded vision. Critics question whether the company can change consumer habits enough to generate significant revenue from these new offerings. The company has committed $200-$250 million to the services venture, expecting these features to become billion-dollar businesseswithin 3-5 years.
What feels most revolutionary about this update is how it blurs the line between traveler and local. By allowing anyone to book services and experiences without staying at an Airbnb, the company is positioning itself as a lifestyle platform rather than just a travel service.
