Airbnb, Inc. Class A (ABNB.US) aims to become the "Amazon.com of the travel industry": launching hotels, car rentals, and grocery delivery services online to create an integrated super app.

Airbnb, Inc. Class A (ABNB.US) announced on Wednesday that it will be adding thousands of boutique and independent hotels, car rentals, grocery delivery, airport transfers, and luggage storage services to its application, signaling a significant expansion of its business far beyond its initial positioning as a home rental market. The company stated that the hotel listings do not include large chain hotels and will be available in 20 cities including New York, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, and Singapore, with plans to expand to more locations in the future. Guests booking featured hotels will receive up to 15% cash back that can be used for future Airbnb, Inc. Class A accommodations; in addition, if users find a lower price elsewhere, the "Price Match Guarantee" provided by Airbnb, Inc. Class A will match the difference in the form of cash back. The new services also include offering grocery delivery services in more than 25 US cities through a partnership with Instacart; providing car rental services with a 20% cash back for first-time use to be used for future accommodations; offering airport transfer services in over 160 cities worldwide through Welcome Pickups; and providing luggage storage services in more than 15,000 locations in 175 cities through Bounce. Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky stated in a release, "Travel should not only be for convenience, it should be meaningful." "The best trips help you explore, learn, and come back a little different from when you left." Chesky told the media that he envisions the platform ultimately offering dozens or even hundreds of service categories. He said, "I think we can build a platform that's a bit like the 'Amazon.com, Inc. of services,' at least in the travel and living context." He also mentioned in an interview that the ultimate goal for the platform is to become a "super app for travel and living," with the application itself eventually leveraging AI intelligence. The new release also includes new AI features: a review summary tool, an AI customer support assistant now available in 11 languages, and a shared itinerary feature that can mark booking information on a map and display nearby restaurants and activities simultaneously. The company stated that they also plan to launch an AI-powered housing comparison tool and a voice assistant for customer support later this year. Airbnb, Inc. Class A will also offer 2026 FIFA World Cup experience activities covering six host cities, including viewing parties and training camps with former players Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Javier Mascherano. Analysts point out that this move into new business areas comes at a time when local governments are increasingly pressuring Airbnb, Inc. Class A over its core home rental model. Last December, Spain fined the company 65 million (around $75 million), Barcelona has decided not to renew lease permits expiring in 2028, and New York has implemented nearly comprehensive bans on short-term private rentals since 2023. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $2.68 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase, and raised its full-year revenue guidance. The company expects the FIFA World Cup to be its largest single event in history in terms of guest volume, with over 100,000 new listings added in host cities markets since October.