In May 2025, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky took the stage in Los Angeles. He spoke before thousands of homeowners and hosts. Chesky unveiled the transformative Summer Release. This launch marked significant changes for Airbnb.
It evolved from a simple home-booking platform into a travel and lifestyle app. The app is designed to centralize the entire travel and user experience. Guests can seamlessly book homes, services, and experiences all in one place.
Key features include Airbnb Services, revamped Airbnb Experiences, and a redesigned app with new tools for guests and hosts. These innovations are reshaping how travelers explore destinations. They also improve how hosts manage listings.
Airbnb Services, now available in 260 cities, bring hotel-like amenities to Airbnb stays. Guests can book professional services directly through the app. What makes this feature innovative is its flexibility. Services can be enjoyed at an Airbnb property, at the provider’s location, or even at a guest’s own home.
This expands Airbnb’s reach beyond traditional travel. The platform is no longer limited to travelers. Anyone with the app can book these services.
The initial 10 categories include:
Airbnb maintains high standards by carefully vetting service providers for expertise. They require an average of 10 years of professional experience, identity verification, and relevant certifications. Guests can enjoy a wide range of options for every budget, from entry-level services under $50. Premium offerings like celebrity trainer sessions. Listings showcase provider qualifications and credentials, allowing guests to browse details and book instantly with a few taps.
For hosts, it’s important to present listings with high-quality photos and accurate descriptions, as Airbnb charges a 15% service fee on all reservations (minimum $6 USD or local currency) and strong visuals help attract bookings and set clear guest expectations.
By default, all listings are automatically opted into allowing services. A chef or trainer could operate at your property without prior notification unless the guest informs you. Hosts who prefer more control can opt out of specific service categories by contacting Airbnb Support.
While hosts cannot currently offer their own services, they can recommend local providers through messages or Airbnb’s referral program. Referring a provider who joins can earn hosts up to $100. Hosts should align cancellation policies with local laws and Airbnb’s updated guidelines.
Third-party services may raise legal or liability concerns, like violations of building rules or zoning laws. It’s advisable to review your insurance coverage and local ordinances. Airbnb’s Experiences & Services Liability Insurance offers coverage, but hosts should verify compatibility with their own insurance.
The relaunched Airbnb Experiences, available in 650 cities, focus on authentic, high-quality activities led by locals with deep city knowledge. Unlike the original version, which suffered from inconsistent quality, the new version is more selective. It ensures higher quality and makes booking easier by integrating experiences into the app. Guests receive personalized recommendations based on their preferences.
Categories include:
Examples include exploring Chicago’s hidden architecture or paddling a transparent kayak in Florida’s Shell Key Preserve. Guests can marvel at Washington, DC’s National Mall at night or walk a goat farm in Black Mountain, North Carolina, with cheese tastings. They can also create street art with local artists in Atlanta. These activities offer unique, local-led adventures.
One of the most notable additions is Airbnb Originals—exclusive experiences you can’t find anywhere else, hosted by notable figures and celebrities. Examples include joining Megan Thee Stallion for her Otaku Hottie Quest, an anime-inspired experience, or spending time with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes learning football skills while enjoying Kansas City barbecue.
Other Originals feature Michelin-starred chefs, Olympians, and cultural icons. The Experiences are designed exclusively for Airbnb. They offer access to personalities and activities not available elsewhere. Airbnb charges a 20% service fee for experience reservations. These unique offerings ensure memorable, high-quality adventures.
Most experiences on the platform are hosted by regular locals—not celebrities—who share their deep knowledge and passion for their cities. Take a street food tour through Queens in New York City, tasting global dishes, or learn to sail on Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore.
Explore hidden architectural gems in Chicago or paddle a transparent kayak through Tierra Verde, Florida’s Shell Key Preserve. Guests can marvel at Washington, DC’s National Mall illuminated at night, take guided horseback rides in Smokey Mountain, Tennessee, with cheese tastings, or create street art with local artists in Atlanta. These authentic, local-led experiences offer insider perspectives you won’t find in typical tourist guides.
New Social Features
Experience hosts are carefully vetted for expertise, local connection, and guest feedback. Airbnb regularly reviews Experiences to ensure high standards. The social layer sets the platform apart. Guests can see who’s attending before booking.
They can message others in group chats during the activity. The Connections feature lets them stay connected afterward. User profiles display shared Experiences. This builds trust among over 200 million verified users.
Privacy controls let users manage visibility and interactions. Locals can book Experiences in their own city. This fosters real-world relationships. It aligns with Airbnb’s mission to combat loneliness. Guests open the app regularly, not just for travel. Airbnb is now a community-building platform.
Becoming an Experience Host
Want to host an Experience? Apply at Airbnb.com/host/experiences. Applications need uniqueness, authenticity, and local expertise. Strict quality standards apply. These social features make Airbnb a one-stop platform for travel and connections.
Airbnb rebuilt its app with a new tech stack to support the expanded platform. It now integrates homes, services, and experiences into a single interface. Previously focused solely on booking accommodations since 2010, the app is now a one-stop platform.
It suggests Services and Experiences based on your destination and travel group. It displays a consolidated itinerary with check-in details and day-by-day bookings. It recommends nearby Experiences throughout your stay. The vibrant, animated interface makes planning engaging and effortless.
The Summer Release repositions Airbnb as a lifestyle platform for regular engagement. Guests enjoy a seamless app for travel and connections, while hosts gain tools to streamline operations and achieve Guest Favorite status.
These features streamline operations. They act as a “co-host in your pocket.” The app’s design makes hosting and planning delightful.
The May 2025 Summer Release repositions Airbnb as a lifestyle platform. It’s designed for regular engagement, not just occasional use. Guests enjoy a one-stop app for homes, Services, and Experiences. Personalized recommendations and social features foster connections. Hosts gain tools to streamline operations. They must review third-party service policies and local laws.
Airbnb’s focus on curated, high-quality offerings sets it apart from competitors like Booking.com. It targets travelers seeking unique, experience-driven trips. Hosts can differentiate listings with new tools or opt for traditional hosting. Review settings and risks to maximize bookings and enhance guest experiences.
