As Airbnb celebrates ten years, the now ubiquitous home rental site is releasing new options that seem aimed wooing hotel-lovers who have yet to come around to renting a bed in a stranger’s home.
Currently Airbnb users can sort properties based on shared space, private room and entire home. But this summer, there will be more ways for travellers to find the exact kind of stay they want with the addition of categories for vacation homes, unique spaces, B&Bs, and boutique hotel listings. That means, if you’re looking for something special like a treehouse, or even something a bit fancier, you can filter out the options quicker.
There will also be a new feature that is aimed an enticing travellers who just can’t break their hotel habit. Airbnb Plus is designed for those looking for “beautiful homes, exceptional hosts and added peace of mind”. Starting with 2000 homes in 13 cities, the homes will be verified for quality and comfort against a 100-point checklist that covers cleanliness, comfort and design.
Following the company’s acquisition of Luxury Retreats, Airbnb is creating “Beyond by Airbnb”, that will appeal to luxury travellers. It will launch in the spring and will offer “custom-designed trips of a lifetime, including the world’s finest homes, custom experiences and world-class hospitality”.
The platform was also originally designed for solo travellers looking for an inexpensive place to stay. But over time, families use Airbnb to find a place where they can book, or business travellers use it to find a place where they can combine business and leisure. To help match their accommodation to the occasion, Airbnb is also launching a new feature called Collection. To begin, there will be Airbnb for Family and Airbnb for Work, with upcoming collections for weddings, honeymoons, dinner parties, group getaways and more launching later this year.
