18 Nov 2016

Airbnb Launches Trips

Airbnb made a major announcement today at the company’s annual conference, Airbnb Open, in Los Angeles. In addition to already allowing their users to book rooms and homes from other hosts, Airbnb is highlighting a new feature that lets guests plan their trip as an entire experience. It’s interesting because the way in which they described it really resonated with me. I don’t often plan many trips unless they have a purpose – party, event, visiting, etc. and when I begin to think about a trip that I could take for myself that is fun, it sort of stresses me out! Where would I go? What would I do that allows me to have the entire experience and isn’t completely touristy and you know, *basic?* Their new feature was designed exactly for people that have the same travel anxieties as I do. With Airbnb trips, which will launch in 50+ cities next year, you can filter through activities that you want to include on your trip either as a one-time thing or several activities that can last a few days – also called “immersions.” Basically, you’d be allowed to pick and choose from different experiences to create a travel schedule for yourself.

“If you want to have an amazing trip, you end up basically on a research project,” says CEO Brian Chesky, who announced the news onstage today at the company’s annual Airbnb Open conference in Los Angeles. Still, he adds, “you’re in line, you’re lonely, you’re outside, and you’re doing things locals never do.” Airbnb Trips is a way around that, Chesky says. “if you have a passion, an interest, or a hobby, you can share your community with other sin the world.” Airbnb is starting with 12 cities, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Paris. The goal is to launch Trips in more than 50 cities by next year.

[Source]

Posted on November 18, in Design