Seems like Airbnb’s expansion beyond providing alternative short-term rentals is paying off. Airbnb launched Trips a little over a year ago with the objective of offering unique experiences while their travelers are visiting certain areas. The company is investing US$5 million to expand this part of the business for 200 cities in the US. There are currently 4,000 experiences being offered globally with 1,000 of them being offered in the US. Airbnb describes Trips as helping “small business owners, new entrepreneurs, and community non-profits to create immersive experiences for travelers.”
It seems growing beyond offering rentals has helped the company. According to Airbnb, global weekly guest bookings have risen by more than 2,000 percent year-on-year, while the number of experiences offered has increased by 500 percent.
Source: Digital Trends