Why doesn't Airbnb has a loyalty program?

The short-term rental company has hinted at adding its own reward system in the past, but now finds itself behind a competitor

Nearly every big travel brand offers customers a chance to earn points and status via loyalty programs. Airbnb, one of the most recognizable travel companies in the world, doesn’t. During the company’s last earnings call, CEO Brian Chesky said a classic points program isn’t the right approach for the company, but executives are thinking about ways to reward the best guests.

Key takeaways

• For Expedia, including Vrbo in a loyalty program as a way to gain on Airbnb makes sense, says Clay Voorhees, a University of Alabama marketing professor who has studied loyalty programs;
• Airbnb might not need a loyalty program, says Nicolas Graf, associate dean at New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality;
• Airbnb customers choose their stays with individual hosts based on location and price, rather than the specific travel brand.

Get the full story at The Wall Street Journal