Airbnb Relaunches Experiences and Debuts Services in Major 2025 Upgrade

Airbnb has unveiled its largest product overhaul in years, relaunching Experiences, introducing a new Services marketplace and rolling out an “everything” mobile app designed to keep travelers—and locals—engaged well beyond home bookings. The moves come after CEO Brian Chesky pledged up to $250 million this year to expand beyond the company’s core short-term rental business.

At an event in Los Angeles, Chesky said travelers have historically chosen hotels for full-service amenities and Airbnbs for space and character. “Now we’re giving you the best of both worlds,” he said, adding that Airbnb rebuilt its technology stack and application from scratch to support the new verticals. The refreshed Experiences platform launches in 650 cities and promises vetted, social activities hosted by locals. Visitors can see who else is attending an experience, message fellow participants and choose from categories such as food tours, outdoor adventures and exclusive “Airbnb Originals” with high-profile hosts like Megan Thee Stallion or NFL star Patrick Mahomes.

The brand-new Airbnb Services marketplace targets both trip add-ons and everyday needs. Ten initial categories—professional chefs, prepared meals, catering, massage therapists, spa treatments, personal trainers, photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists and nail technicians—can be booked to a rental or any location, opening year-round revenue streams for providers. Hosts undergo ID verification, and Airbnb points to averages of 10 years’ professional experience among providers.

Both Experiences and Services live inside Airbnb’s rebuilt mobile app, which now merges inspiration, booking, trip management and social networking. The Explore tab surfaces personalized homes, activities and services, while a Trips tab aggregates itineraries, check-in details and messaging. Users can share photos, videos and travel histories, and eventually import flight details, inching toward Chesky’s vision of a connected trip handled in one place.

For hosts, the app adds a Today dashboard, upgraded calendar and listing tools for managing experiences and services alongside properties. Chesky called the new application six apps in one: marketplace, itinerary, calendar, reservation system, social feed and messenger.

Industry reaction was mixed. AirDNA economist Jamie Lane praised the calendar integration and potential for Ancillary revenue, while Magpie CEO Christian Watts said competitive pressure on online travel agencies will intensify. Mount founder Madison Rifkin expressed disappointment on LinkedIn, arguing the update feels more like “a better branded Expedia.” Tour operator community leaders reported onboarding glitches, warning Airbnb must balance rapid expansion with supplier support.

The launches follow a quarter where Airbnb delivered record revenue but softer profit, highlighting the need to capture more traveler spending. Chesky hinted at future flight and itinerary integrations, saying Airbnb wants to pull external reservations into its planner even if customers don’t book airfare on the platform—a clear nod to the long-promised connected-trip concept pursued by rivals like Booking Holdings.

By pushing deeper into activities, services and social engagement, Airbnb aims to turn occasional guests into frequent users and to defend share against hotels that lean on in-house amenities. “Seventeen years ago we changed where people stay,” Chesky said. “With Experiences and Services, we’re changing how people travel and live.”

Tags: phocuswire, SyndicEx250629B

Airbnb Relaunches Experiences and Debuts Services in Major 2025 Upgrade

Related Posts