Airbnb has officially announced the launch of a tours and activities platform, as it takes its first major step to diversify into an integrated travel company.
The company also aims to take ownership of the entire trip planning process with the ability to make flight bookings through the platform in the future.
Formally unveiled at the annual Airbnb Open conference in Los Angeles, the ‘Trips’ service offers experiences in selected cities led by local experts.
The Experience category includes about 500 activities including food, music and cultural trips in a dozen destinations so far – Detroit, London, Paris, Nairobi, Havana, San Francisco, Cape Town, Florence, Miami, Seoul, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
This will be expanded to 50 cities next year.
Airbnb promised an ‘eclectic’ list of activities including a Tokyo samurai sword workshop and hunting for truffles in Tuscany.
"These aren’t tours. You actually participate, you immerse," said Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.
"Today, Airbnb is launching Trips, bringing together where you stay, what you do, and the people you meet all in one place. We want to make travel magical again by putting people back at the heart of every trip.
"Having already transformed where people stay when they travel through people-powered hospitality, Airbnb is taking this same people-focused approach to the rest of the trip and, in doing so, providing a way for people to make money from their passions and interests."
He estimates about 10% of tours will be led by Airbnb hosts themselves.
Chesky said Airbnb would offer flight bookings and other ‘services’ in the future, although gave no specifics at this time.
