Airbnb plans to add hotel-like services

The company wants to offer more luxury amenities next year in a bid to sway more travelers from choosing to stay in hotels

Airbnb is preparing to expand its business beyond accommodations and experiences to “services that will make it better for guests to stay in Airbnbs,” the company said. Airbnb is considering services such as a personal chef, mid-week cleaning or improving ease of transportation and checking in.

Key takeaways

• The company is mulling new offerings with a few questions in mind: Why wouldn’t a traveler stay in an Airbnb, and what makes it easier to stay in a hotel? And, how can the company make its marketplace more seamless for hosts and guests?
• Airbnb executives have been offering more clues into possible new growth areas. Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky has said the company is ready to expand beyond its core rental offering after spending the past year refining the app to improve reliability, price transparency and removing lower-quality listings.
• Separately, the company also plans to boost its supply of boutique hotel rooms via HotelTonight. The company’s push into boutique hotel rooms has come partly in response to a patchwork of local regulations designed to crack down on home-sharing services like Airbnb.

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