Airbnb now has a 10pc share of the beds and accommodation market worldwide and intends to grow that further, CEO Brian Chesky told journalists in a market update yesterday,
In Q3, Airbnb reported a 14pc year-over-year increase with 113.2 million nights and experiences booked.
Amongst the changes announced yesterday, Airbnb is revamping its ratings and reviews pages and laying more stress “guest favourites” with near-perfect ratings of 4.9 or above, about 2m of their 7m listed properties.
These homes earn higher rates in terms of reviews, reliability, ease of check-in, cleanliness, listing accuracy, host communication, location, and value. The platform also redesigned its ratings page and launched new tools for hosts, including an AI-powered photo tour and the ability to connect compatible smart locks.
Airbnb says it aims to capture more travel demand by offering a reliable experience for travellers, despite the higher post pandemic costs. Further improvements to its customer service will be announced next summer based on feedback from guests and hosts.
The changes come a month after Mr Chesky said the AirBnb model was ‘fundamentally broken’ and vulnerable to disrupters such as Vrbo, Agoda and Outdoorsy.
Mr Chesky denies that the platform creates housing shortages in cities like Barcelona, Lisbon and New York, which recently implemented rules against short-term rentals but acknowledged that there can be unintended consequences resulting from Airbnb’s popularity.
Airbnb is a major hospitality firm that offers over seven million properties worldwide for bookings.
In response to new regulations in New York City, Airbnb has adjusted its offerings, focusing primarily on stays of 30 days or longer, while complying with rules that limit guest numbers and require hosts to be present.
