Airbnb has revealed that it will add four new property types to its platform – Vacation Home, Unique Space, B&B and Boutique – in order to allow hosts better showcase their product.
The rental company argues the move will give greater choice of accommodation options to guests and provide more transparency over the types of accommodation available.
The new options will be in addition to the existing Shared Space, Private Room and Entire Home listings.
From today, Airbnb is making tools available to hosts to categorise their listings to a new level of detail, not only making it possible to organise everything by these seven core property types, but also opening the door to sophisticated search capabilities that will allow any traveller to find a host.
All seven property types will launch to guests this summer.
Airbnb revealed the change as it looks to the next decade of growth.
Ten years ago, Airbnb co-founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia inflated three airbeds in their San Francisco apartment and started what has become a global travel platform.
Today, Airbnb is one of the world’s largest accommodation providers, offering 4.5 million places to stay in 81,000 cities.
Chesky said: “Ten years ago we never dreamed of what Airbnb could become.
“In fact, people thought the idea that strangers would stay in each other’s homes was crazy.
“Today, millions of people every night do just that.
“But we want to go further by supporting and expanding our community so that in ten years time, more than one billion people per year will experience the benefits of magical travel on Airbnb.”
To broaden the appeal of Airbnb to even more guests, the company is also launching a new tier of homes that have been verified for quality and comfort.
Starting with 2,000 homes in 13 cities available to book right now, Airbnb Plus is intended for guests looking for beautiful homes, exceptional hosts, and added peace of mind.
These homes have been inspected and verified in person against a 100+ point checklist covering cleanliness, comfort, and design.
These hosts benefit from top placement, in-home services such as design consultation and expert photography, and premium support.
Following last year’s acquisition of Luxury Retreats, Airbnb also today previews a new standard in travel – Beyond by Airbnb.
Launching this spring, the service will offer custom designed trips of a lifetime, including the world’s finest homes, custom experiences, and world-class hospitality.
Airbnb was initially designed mainly for solo travel, but over the years millions of people have found the platform suited to a range of different types of travel, whether that be families who want extra space and a place to cook or adventurers who are looking for somewhere to stay off the beaten track.
To meet the needs of such a diverse range of travellers, Airbnb is launching Collections – perfect homes for every occasion.
Launching today are Airbnb for Family and Airbnb for Work with Collections for social stays, weddings, honeymoons, group getaways and dinner parties coming later this year.