Airbnb is moving forward with the most significant expansion of its business since its founding, aiming to evolve from a short-term rental platform into a fully integrated travel services ecosystem.
With new features including car rentals, grocery delivery, airport transfers, luggage storage, boutique hotels, and exclusive experiences for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the company seeks to cover every stage of the travel journey within a single app.
As co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky stated, Airbnb’s goal is to make travel more meaningful by offering experiences that go beyond accommodation, extending into local culture, people, and authentic destinations.
The new services on Airbnb’s travel platform
Grocery delivery service
Airbnb is launching a grocery delivery service through a partnership with Instacart. Travelers will be able to order food and essentials before arriving at their accommodation, ensuring everything is ready upon check-in. In selected cities, hosts may also take care of stocking the property themselves.
The service will initially be available in more than 25 cities across the United States, offering free delivery and exclusive discounts for Airbnb users.
Airport transfers
The platform is also expanding into transportation through a partnership with Welcome Pickups. Users can book private airport transfers directly within the Airbnb app, with drivers tracking flight arrivals and greeting travelers upon landing.
This service will be available in over 160 cities worldwide, also featuring exclusive discounts.
Luggage storage
Through its collaboration with Bounce, Airbnb introduces luggage storage services before check-in or after check-out. Users can locate nearby storage points within the app, view distances from their accommodation, and benefit from discounted rates.
The network already covers more than 15,000 locations across 175 cities.
Car rentals within Airbnb
Airbnb is entering the car rental market, allowing users to book vehicles directly through its platform. Travelers will see available cars near their accommodation, with recommendations tailored to group size and trip type.
For first-time rentals, users will receive travel credits that can be used for future bookings.
Local experiences and guided tours
Airbnb is significantly expanding its “Experiences” offering, adding thousands of new activities worldwide. Travelers can explore iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London, Tokyo Skytree, and the Taj Mahal alongside knowledgeable locals.
High-end culinary experiences
The company is also investing heavily in гастрonomy tourism, introducing more than 2,500 new food and beverage experiences in collaboration with partners such as Chef’s Table.
These include fine dining with award-winning Italian chef Gianfranco Pascucci at Pascucci al Porticciolo, as well as cocktail masterclasses at De Vie, one of Paris’ most renowned cocktail bars.
Exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026 experiences
A key part of Airbnb’s new strategy focuses on the FIFA World Cup 2026. The platform will offer exclusive experiences in six host cities, including watch parties featuring football legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, as well as training sessions with former Argentine international Javier Mascherano.
Boutique and independent hotels
Airbnb is opening its platform to boutique and independent hotels, aiming to compete more directly with major travel platforms like Booking.com and Expedia.
The initial rollout will focus on top destinations such as New York City, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, and Singapore. The company clarified it will not host large hotel chains, but rather properties that stand out for design, location, and hospitality.
Artificial Intelligence tools
A major pillar of Airbnb’s strategy is the integration of Artificial Intelligence. The platform now uses AI to summarize reviews, highlighting key aspects such as location, cleanliness, and amenities.
It also introduces comparison tools powered by AI, as well as collaborative trip planning with interactive maps.
AI-powered customer support
Airbnb is also enhancing customer service through AI, with a virtual assistant already available in 11 languages. The assistant understands trip details and resolves issues through interactive conversations.
Voice support is expected to be added later this year, allowing users to receive assistance via phone as well.
The strategy behind the transformation
Through these initiatives, Airbnb clearly signals its ambition to become a fully integrated travel platform, extending beyond accommodation to include transportation, services, experiences, social interaction, and personalized AI-driven support.
The company is ultimately aiming to capture a larger share of the overall travel experience.
