AmiSight 5/28: Airbnb’s Bold New Direction: Virtual Storefronts, Local Experiences, and More
- Ami Kassar
- May 28
- 1 min read
After leading his short-term home rental company through the pandemic, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is in prime position to roll out the first stage of the company’s $200 million-plus reinvention.
Wired reports that this month, Airbnb plans to launch a virtual storefront of more than 10,000 vendors offering a wide range of services in 260 cities in 30 countries. The company is also reviving an unsuccessful experiment the company began in 2016—offering bespoke local activities, or what it calls “experiences.”
Looking ahead, Cheksy imagines upgrading Airbnb profiles to become “almost like a passport.” He also envisions offering “hundreds” of services, including plumbing, guitar lessons, and tutoring—all while collecting a 15% fee.
Chesky hopes the total redesign of Airbnb’s app will draw in users much more frequently than the typical two or three times per year when booking a home.
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