Airbnb’s overhauled app offers on-demand chefs, massages and other hotel-like amenities
Airbnb is on a quest to make the homeshare experience more and more like staying at a hotel.
Now, 17 years after the service "changed the way people travel," according to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, the company is launching bookable hotel-like services. These revamped Airbnb experiences will allow travelers or locals to explore destinations through a totally redesigned Airbnb app.
“With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again," Chesky said.
Here's a rundown of these new services and changes, all available now.
Airbnb Services
One major benefit of a hotel is the ability to, oftentimes, quickly access nearly anything you want: breakfast in bed, a spa treatment at the property or even a quick blowout in the salon.
With Airbnb Services, people staying in an Airbnb, as well as people in their own homes, can now book those services directly from the Airbnb app, across 10 different categories:
- Chefs — fully customizable in-home meals from professional chefs
- Photography — personalized photo sessions from experienced photographers
- Massage — restorative massages, including Swedish, deep tissue and reflexology, from certified therapists
- Spa treatments — facials, microdermabrasion, body scrubs and other treatments provided by licensed estheticians
- Personal training — yoga, strength training, HIIT and more with personal trainers who include renowned fitness professionals and world champion athletes
- Hair — professional haircuts, blowouts and more from experienced stylists
- Makeup — makeup for everyday or special occasions from professional makeup artists
- Nails — manicures and pedicures from experienced nail specialists
- Prepared meals — ready-to-eat meals prepared by professional chefs
- Catering — full-service catering with custom menus, decor, and equipment, plus setup and cleanup
Starting below $50 and rolling out in 260 cities around the world, available services are all from providers that have been vetted by Airbnb through its identity verification process and have professional licenses and certifications.
Related: How to earn cash back or points when booking Airbnbs, Vrbo rentals, hostels and more
Airbnb Experiences
For years, Airbnb Experiences has offered travelers and locals a series of activities to get out and explore, maybe through a hands-on cooking class or a photography workshop in a beautiful neighborhood.
Now, Airbnb has reimagined the Experiences platform and honed in on making Airbnb Experiences "a more authentic way to experience a city," according to the brand. Available now in at least 650 cities around the world, these new experiences include touring Paris' restored Notre Dame with an architect who worked on the renovation, learning the art of the Mexican luchador in the actual ring on a visit to Mexico City and learning how to make ramen with a Michelin Bib Gourmand award winner in Japan.
“The most authentic way to explore a city is with the locals who know it best," Chesky said about Airbnb Experiences.
According to Airbnb, Experiences are vetted for expertise, reputation, authenticity and quality, and are constantly reassessed through guest feedback.
Airbnb Experiences are also being redesigned to offer a more social component via new features coming later this year that will allow users to see who is joining the Experience and reach out to the group or individual members before or after (or not at all, thanks to "simple and transparent privacy controls").
Airbnb Originals (with some celebrity guests)
A new category of Airbnb Experiences, called "Airbnb Originals," is also launching with "extraordinary experiences hosted by the world’s most interesting people, designed exclusively for Airbnb." Think of each offering as a sort of once-in-a-lifetime experience that includes a master of their craft or a celebrity you adore.
Some of the first Airbnb Original experiences include transforming into your "anime alter-ego" with Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, spending a Sunday "learning how to throw the perfect spiral and enjoying Kansas City barbecue" with NFL star Patrick Mahomes and joining Sabrina Carpenter for a day of glam and espresso.
Redesigned Airbnb app
If you open the Airbnb app on your phone, you might notice it looks a little different from the last time you checked.
With a new focus on Experiences and Services, the app has been redesigned to help you find the perfect place to stay — and then curate your visit with recommendations to enhance your trip and tools to organize everything you've booked and ultimately streamline your trip.
These reimagined features include:
- Explore tab — an all-new homepage to discover homes in popular destinations, experiences that fit your schedule and services around the world
- Trips tab — an advanced travel itinerary with a schedule of your trip, details about your home and the services and experiences you’ve booked
- Messages — a revamped messaging platform with photo and video sharing and integrated payments for customizing services
- Profile — a redesigned Airbnb profile lets you share where you’ve traveled on Airbnb and see the people you’ve met along the way; Airbnb profiles also highlight the over 200 million guests and hosts worldwide who have completed the brand's identity verification process
On the host side, new features will also be available to help manage bookings and listings.
Bottom line
We can all agree there's a time and a place for an Airbnb, and there's a time and a place for a hotel stay. But with these new changes, Airbnb is starting to blur the lines more and more. With Airbnb Services, a homestay might feel more like a hotel stay, but it's also interesting to see how Airbnb is starting to aggregate and commodify local talent and cater to folks in their own homes.
Ultimately, with Services, Experiences and the all-new app, Airbnb is trying to offer full-service trip planning, almost like a little concierge right in your pocket.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.