In 2025, Airbnb is redefining what it means to travel. With the launch of Airbnb Services, Airbnb Experiences, and a completely redesigned app, the home-sharing pioneer no longer just offers a platform for booking places to stay. Instead, it now provides a one-stop travel ecosystem that blurs the line between the comfort of home, the convenience of hotels, and the adventure of exploring like a local.
From Sleep to Experience: The Evolution of Airbnb
When Airbnb launched in 2007, it disrupted the hospitality industry by letting people book homes instead of hotel rooms. Fast forward 17 years and the company has hosted over two billion guests worldwide. Now, it’s making a bold move that signals a broader mission: becoming the ultimate travel companion, from check-in to check-out and everything in between.
As part of this shift, Airbnb’s latest release introduces three core updates that travelers, digital nomads, and staycationers alike will want to know about.
Introducing Airbnb Services: Hotel-Style Perks at Your Airbnb
Ever wanted a massage in your vacation rental or a chef-prepared meal without leaving the couch? Now you can. Airbnb Services adds a luxurious (yet accessible) layer to the travel experience by offering curated, on-demand services in over 260 cities.
Specifically, these ten launch categories include personal chefs, spa treatments, fitness training, professional photography, and in-home beauty services like hair, makeup, and nails. Highly credentialed providers deliver many of these services, including talent from Michelin-starred restaurants and elite athletic programs. Additionally, you can book most services instantly through the app, and you don’t need to stay in an Airbnb to use them.
As a result, this launch positions Airbnb to compete directly with hotels and wellness resorts, delivering professional-grade amenities wherever you are, whether you’re on vacation or simply indulging at home.
Airbnb Experiences: Travel Like a Local, Not a Tourist
Airbnb Experiences isn’t new, but the company has completely reimagined it and expanded it globally. Now, in 650 cities, travelers can book immersive experiences hosted by locals who guide everything from ramen-making with renowned chefs to horseback explorations of ancient sites with cultural experts.
In addition to the relaunch, the platform now features Airbnb Originals, a new category of one-of-a-kind experiences created by celebrities, professionals, and local legends. Think cooking pastries with top French bakers, joining a lucha libre wrestling workshop, or spending a day with an NFL quarterback. These aren’t cookie-cutter tours. Rather, they deliver hyper-personalized, high-energy adventures unique to Airbnb.
Looking ahead, Airbnb will also introduce social features that let you connect with others in your group before and after your experience. Notably, the design caters not only to travelers but also to locals eager to explore their own city in new ways.
A New Airbnb App for a New Kind of Travel
To bring it all together, Airbnb has rebuilt its app from the ground up. The new interface lets users book homes, services, and experiences in one seamless place. Furthermore, the app offers smart suggestions based on your destination, shows all your bookings in a tidy trip itinerary, and provides real-time recommendations while you’re on the go.
Airbnb also revamped the host side of the app. Now, professionals can manage bookings, update listings, and sync calendars more efficiently. As a result, chefs, trainers, makeup artists, and other service providers can now join Airbnb’s growing platform more easily than ever.
Why This Matters
Airbnb’s latest rollout does more than introduce new features. On a broader level, it marks a strategic pivot that challenges hotels, travel agencies, and even local service providers. By combining where you stay, what you do, and how you indulge into one app, Airbnb aims to become the central hub for all things travel.
Even more importantly, these offerings don’t just target jet-setters. With many services priced under $50, and experiences available in your own city, Airbnb now creates new ways to live richly—whether you’re halfway across the world or relaxing in your own neighborhood.
