HotelTonight, the hotel booking app owned by Airbnb, has introduced a new rewards perk that allows users to earn Airbnb credit for every stay booked through its app. This new feature, part of the HT Perks program, marks the first time Airbnb has offered a reward mechanism of this kind, raising questions about whether it could be a stepping stone toward a broader loyalty program from Airbnb itself.
How the new perk works
The new feature is now available to travelers in the UK and the US, allowing HotelTonight users to receive 10% of their booking value (excluding taxes and fees) back in Airbnb credit. These credits can be redeemed for future Airbnb stays or experiences and remain valid for one year from the stay date.
To access the credit, users must link their Airbnb account after checking out via HotelTonight. From then on, every new booking made through HotelTonight will automatically generate new credits, enabling frequent travelers to accumulate more savings over time.
Airbnb and loyalty programs: A first step?
Until now, Airbnb has not had a loyalty or rewards program, unlike its competitors in the travel industry, such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Expedia Rewards. However, this initiative through HotelTonight appears to be an experiment that could pave the way for a future Airbnb loyalty program.
Ron Sandel, General Manager of HotelTonight, told Skift that this move has a dual purpose: to increase bookings through HotelTonight while also introducing more users to Airbnb. “Nine out of ten nights are booked at hotels, so we see this as a great way to bring our audience to Airbnb,” he said.
Since acquiring HotelTonight in 2019, Airbnb seems to be leveraging the app’s popularity to create a stronger bridge between hotel stays and short-term rentals. Through this strategy, the company can attract new travelers who may not have previously considered Airbnb while maintaining the interest of frequent HotelTonight users.
The rise of hybrid travelers
This new perk caters to the growing segment of “hybrid” travelers who mix hotel stays and short-term rentals depending on their travel needs—whether for business or leisure. By integrating HotelTonight with its ecosystem, Airbnb is looking to capitalize on this trend, offering travelers “the best of both worlds”—discounted hotel stays with the flexibility of Airbnb.
Competition and future prospects
This move places Airbnb and HotelTonight in more direct competition with other booking platforms like Expedia and Booking.com, both of which already have established loyalty programs. Additionally, given that HotelTonight is known for last-minute and same-day hotel deals, Airbnb may be aiming to attract “spontaneous travelers“—those who book accommodations on short notice.
If HotelTonight’s new rewards program proves successful, Airbnb may consider expanding this approach into a broader rewards strategy of its own, bringing it closer to the loyalty models of major hotel chains and OTAs.
Summarizing the new initiative, Ron Sandel stated: “HotelTonight has always been about delivering the best price and overwhelming value. With this new offering, our guests don’t need to choose between different accommodation types. All their hotel stays—whether for business or leisure—can contribute to future Airbnb bookings, giving them more value and more options for upcoming trips.”
Perhaps this is just the beginning of a new era of loyalty programs at Airbnb.