Airbnb expands – Airbnb is pushing deeper into everyday travel convenience with hotels, in-app grocery delivery, airport pickups, luggage drop-offs, and car rentals arriving this summer, plus a broader slate of experiences.
A suitcase was never meant to be the main character of a trip—yet too often it is. Airbnb is trying to change that starting this summer, pulling more “what you need next” services into its app as travelers plan, arrive, and settle in.
Hotels are the headline. Airbnb will let people book hotels starting this summer. adding thousands more boutique and independent hotels in major cities around the world. including New York. Paris. London. Madrid. Rome. and Singapore. The company says it’s featuring “hotels that feel like Airbnb. ” and it promises a price-match if you find a featured hotel elsewhere for a lower price. For guests who reserve one of those featured hotels. Airbnb will also provide up to 15 percent in credit usable for a future booking.
The details are practical in a way that feels aimed at daily friction. Alongside hotels, Airbnb is introducing in-app grocery delivery. Travelers can request groceries to be delivered anytime during their trip. In select cities, groceries can also be sent to the rental before arrival, so the host can stock the place. Airbnb says grocery delivery is free for Airbnb guests, and orders worth $50 or more come with a $10 discount. At the moment, grocery delivery is available in 25 US cities through a partnership with Instacart.
Airbnb’s convenience push doesn’t stop at the doorstep. The company is also adding airport pickups in partnership with Welcome Pickups. Drivers will track flights and meet guests when they arrive in 160 cities around the world. Booking through Airbnb as a guest earns a 20 percent discount on every ride. For the moments when check-in timing doesn’t match travel timing. Airbnb has teamed up with luggage storage company Bounce. letting users view the nearest drop-off locations in the app. Airbnb says users will be able to see exactly how far drop-offs are from their listing. and they can leave luggage there if their rental isn’t ready yet. Guests receive 20 percent credit back toward their next booking.
This summer also brings car rentals to Airbnb. The platform will show vehicles near a user’s listing, and Airbnb will return 20 percent of what was spent for the first car rental as credit.
The shift is paired with more options inside the app’s experience lineup. Airbnb says it’s adding thousands of new experiences this summer. including options focused on popular landmarks such as the Tokyo Skytree and the Taj Mahal. It’s also expanding food culture experiences and is offering FIFA World Cup experiences across six host cities. including host parties with previous champions.
For Airbnb, the push is clear: the app isn’t just where trips are booked anymore. It’s where travelers want help booking hotels, handling the first meal in a new place, getting from the airport, storing luggage, and lining up a car—then filling the calendar with experiences to match the destination.
Airbnb hotel bookings grocery delivery Instacart airport pickups Welcome Pickups luggage storage Bounce car rentals travel app experiences FIFA World Cup Tokyo Skytree Taj Mahal
So Airbnb’s just becoming Expedia now? Cool.
Not gonna lie, groceries being sent before arrival sounds kinda nice. But aren’t hosts already supposed to have stuff stocked? Like where does that money even come from, Airbnb charging extra or what.
If they’re doing price-match and credit, that’s great I guess… but it always ends up like “price match” with fine print. Also hotels that “feel like Airbnb”?? That’s just marketing lol. I feel like they’re gonna squeeze small hotels out in NYC.
Airbnb doing airport pickups and luggage drop-offs now, next they’re gonna do your taxes. I saw this and thought it meant you can bring a suitcase to a hotel like some kind of service line. Also is the grocery delivery free for everyone or only if you’re paying more already? Because $50 minimum is still like… not free at all in my opinion.